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Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake)

Salvadoran · Dessert · Easy

Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake)

Total
1 hr 20 min
Prep
45 min
Serves
9
Calories
290
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Rice flour, sour cream, and salty cheese bake into a tender, sesame-topped square, a coffee-table sweet from El Salvador.

A little salt from the cheese keeps Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake) from tasting like an ordinary sponge. The rice-flour crumb is tender and slightly sandy beneath a toasted sesame top, a familiar bakery sweet in El Salvador.

Finely grate the cheese so it disappears into the batter rather than forming pockets. Let the cake cool before cutting; warm rice-flour cakes are delicate and can crumble if moved straight from the oven.

SweetCheesyRichBakingMake AheadGluten-freeNut-free

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush an 8-inch square baking pan with a little of the measured butter and line the bottom with parchment.

  2. Beat the eggs and sugar for until thick and pale. Whisk in the remaining melted butter, sour cream, and queso fresco until evenly blended.

  3. Stir the rice flour, baking powder, and salt together, then fold into the egg mixture just until no dry flour remains. Spread in the pan and sprinkle with sesame seed.

  4. Bake for until golden, the center is set, and a skewer comes out without wet batter. Cool in the pan for before cutting into nine squares.

Forkue tips

  • Finely grated Parmesan can stand in for queso duro in a sharper version. Choose queso fresco made with vegetable or microbial rennet if you need the cake to be vegetarian.

Storing and reheating

Keep covered in the fridge for 4 days. Bring a square to room temperature or warm it briefly in a low oven to soften the butter-rich crumb. Freeze wrapped squares for 1 month.

Kitchen gear

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Nutrition per serving, estimated

290Calories
6gProtein
31gCarbs
16gFat

Image: AI-generated picture of the finished dish, made by Forkue. Yours will look like home cooking.

Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake): FAQ

Is this a tortilla quesadilla?

No. The Salvadoran bakery sweet is a cheese-enriched cake, often topped with sesame. It is cut into pieces and served with coffee.

Why did the cake crumble when sliced?

Rice flour has no gluten to hold a hot crumb together. Let the cake cool in its pan and cut with a thin sharp knife rather than lifting it while warm.

How do I store and reheat Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake)?

Keep covered in the fridge for 4 days. Bring a square to room temperature or warm it briefly in a low oven to soften the butter-rich crumb. Freeze wrapped squares for 1 month.

How long does Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake) take?

About 1 hr 20 min in total: 45 min prep and 35 min cooking.

What do I need to make Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake)?

The key ingredients are rice flour, eggs, butter, sour cream, queso fresco and baking powder, plus pantry basics.

Any tips for Quesadilla Salvadorena (Sweet Cheese Cake)?

Finely grated Parmesan can stand in for queso duro in a sharper version. Choose queso fresco made with vegetable or microbial rennet if you need the cake to be vegetarian.

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