Bolo Xadrez — Felicia Sampaio's Version
This formula, published in Roteiro Gastronómico de Portugal by Felicia Sampaio, combines plain and chocolate batters with guava paste and a chocolate coating. Its checkerboard comes from alternating and reassembling strips; it is an attributed version distinct from the buttercream shop architecture documented by Fabrico Próprio.
- Yields
- Not stated
- Prep
- Not stated
- Cook
- 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 250 g / 8.8 oz Butter for the batter
- 250 g / 8.8 oz; the method reserves 2 tbsp for the whites Sugar
- 280 g / 9.9 oz Wheat flour
- 80 g / 2.8 oz Cocoa or chocolate powder
- 5 Eggs, separated
- 1 dessert spoon Baking powder
- 200 ml / 6.8 fl oz Whole milk
- 250 g / 8.8 oz Guava paste for joining
- 4 tbsp Water for the guava paste
- 250 g / 8.8 oz Cooking chocolate for the coating
- 2 tbsp Butter for the coating
- 1 tbsp Cream for the coating
- 200 g / 7.1 oz Egg-yolk threads for decoration
- as needed Chocolate shavings
- as needed Butter and parchment for the trays
Method
Heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F. Grease two equal trays, line them with parchment and grease the paper.
Separate the eggs. Whip the whites, add two tablespoons taken from the 250 g sugar and continue beating until firm.
Beat the 250 g butter with the remaining sugar until creamy. Add the yolks one at a time, followed by the milk.
Sift the flour with the baking powder and incorporate it into the batter. Carefully fold in the whites. Divide the batter equally and mix the cocoa or chocolate powder into one half.
Spread each batter in one tray and bake for about 30 minutes. Turn out and cool completely.
Heat the guava paste with the four tablespoons water until spreadable. Cut both cakes into regular rectangles and join them in alternating colours with thin layers of guava paste.
Cut the assembled block lengthwise, turn the pieces and join them again with guava paste so the colours offset into a checkerboard pattern.
Melt the cooking chocolate with the two tablespoons butter and one tablespoon cream. Coat the cake and finish with egg-yolk threads and chocolate shavings.
Sources for this recipe
The quantities and method were checked against the references below. Family recipes may vary; where no single official formula exists, we present a representative practical version and say so plainly.
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