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CNN Crowns Two Southeast Asian Desserts as the World's Most Delicious National Cakes

CNN Crowns Two Southeast Asian Desserts as the World's Most Delicious National Cakes
Lapis Legit © CNN

CNN published the list of “Cakes of the World”, the world’s best and most delicious national cake. Cakes are sweet, mouthwatering, and warming for any occasion. I myself is guilty of skipping my diet for a slice or two, especially now I have learned to bake my own batch!

The list spanned from all over the globe, and two most favourite (and my own!) traditional cakes from Southeast Asia made it to the list! Here is the complete list:

 

Italy: Tiramisu

Meaning "pick me up" in Italian, with caffeinated cake  or ladyfingers with mascarpone cheese with eggs and sugar. 

Tiramisu. Image: CNN
Tiramisu. Image: CNN

 

Germany: Black Forest Cake

The traditional recipe calls for half a cup of kirschwasser--cherry brandy to the cherry filling. It is like a dessert cocktail for the grown-ups.

Black forest cake. Image: Germanculture.com.ua
Black forest cake. Image: Germanculture.com.ua

 

United States: Cheesecake

Gaining popularity in New York, it is sweetened cream cheese with a crushed biscuit base.

Cheesecake. Image: CNN
Cheesecake. Image: CNN

 

Malaysia/Singapore: Pandan Cake

Green-coloured juice from pandan leaves, giving woodsy fragrance and taste to a chiffon cake. The green cakes are particularly loved in Malaysia and Singapore, and also often found in Indonesia.

Pandan Cake. Image: CNN
Pandan Cake. Image: CNN

 

Indonesia: Lapis Legit

It is a delicious masterpiece for its long and complicated process to create this cake. It usually consists of 18 very thin layers, made of heart attack-inducing levels of butter and eggs. It is sweet, moist, and firm served as a holiday treat or gift.

Lapis Legit. Image: Indonesia.travel
Lapis Legit. Image: Indonesia.travel

 

France: Madeleine

This french delicacy is shaped like a small scallop best served with tea.

Madeleines. Image: CNN
Madeleines. Image: CNN

 

Australia: Lamington

It is a plain sponge caked coated with chocolate and coconut sprinkle.

Lamington. Image: Taste.com.au
Lamington. Image: Taste.com.au

 

New Zealand: Pavlova

Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova (according to the Oxford English Dictionary), it is a meringue treat served with whipped cream and fresh and tangy summer fruits.

Pavlova. Image: New Zealand
Pavlova. Image: New Zealand

 

Hong Kong: Ma Lai Go

It is a steamed sponge cake, part of dishes in dim sum meal. It is chewy with a satisfying caramel flavour.

Ma Lai Go. Image: CNN
Ma Lai Go. Image: CNN

 

Mexico: Tres Leches Cake

It is a sponge cake soaked in three different kinds of milk: condensed, evaporated, and regular milk, and topped with whipped cream. 

Tres Leches. Image: CNN
Tres Leches. Image: CNN

 

Uruguay: Postre Chaja

It is layers of soft cake, cream, and peach encased in a meringue shell.

Postre Chaja. Image: CNN
Postre Chaja. Image: CNN

 

United Kingdom: Victoria Sponge

It is considered the easiest cake with no room for error. A slice of home made Victoria sponge with raspberry jam and double cream will always bright up your teatime. 

Victoria Sponge. Image: BBC Good Food
Victoria Sponge. Image: BBC Good Food

 

Turkey: Baklava

Layers of filo pastry filled with semolina cream and pistachio nuts. It is the first Turkish product to be recognised by European Union in 2013. 

Baklava. Image: CNN
Baklava. Image: CNN

 

Sweden: Swedish Princess Cake

A sheet of green marzipan covers the sponge cake with jam, custard, and cream. A beautiful, blissful, dessert cake best served with coffee.

Swedish Princes Cake. Image: CNN
Swedish Princes Cake. Image: CNN

 

Japan: Dorayaki

Asian young and olds remember this disc-shaped cake as the favorite snack of anime character Doraemon. It is a sponge pancake patty with sweet adzuki red bean paste. 

Dorayaki. Image: CNN
Dorayaki. Image: CNN

 

 

Denmark/Norway: Kransekage

It's composed of stacks of different-sized ring cakes made from egg whites, sugar and almonds, with the smallest ring on top.

Kansekage. Image: CNN
Kansekage. Image: CNN

 

 

 



Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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