Craving a slice of Italian home baking without eggs, butter, or milk? This jam cake comes together in one bowl with just six pantry staples, baked until golden with a glossy layer of apricot jam on top — simple, honest, and ready in about an hour.
Info
- Difficulty: Easy
- Total time: 1 hour
- Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- Strong wheat flour (Italian W260 type, similar to bread flour): 1¾ cups (220 g)
- Apricot jam, divided: about 1 cup (320 g)
- Corn oil: 3½ tbsp (50 g)
- Sugar: ¼ cup (50 g)
- Lemon, juiced: 1
- Baking powder: about 1 tbsp (1 packet/16 g)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, 100 g (3.5 oz) of the jam, the lemon juice, and the oil.
- Mix well with a spatula until smooth.
- Add the baking powder and stir to combine.
- Preheat a conventional (static) oven to 350°F (180°C), rack in the middle position.
- Line a 24 cm (9.5-inch) cake pan with parchment paper.
- Pour the batter into the pan and spread the remaining jam evenly on top.
- Bake for about 45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
... and now, let's enjoy!
Tips
Use a good-quality jam and spread it in an even layer so it bakes into a smooth, glossy topping rather than pooling unevenly. Let the cake cool completely before slicing — it firms up as it cools, giving a cleaner cut and a more compact crumb.
Additional Info
Torta alla marmellata is a staple of Italian home baking — a simple, no-fuss cake built around basic pantry ingredients rather than butter or eggs. It belongs to the same family as the pastry-based crostata di marmellata, but skips the shortcrust base entirely for a quicker, one-bowl batter, which is why it’s such a common everyday bake in Italian kitchens rather than a special-occasion dessert.
Substitutions & Variations
The jam itself is the main variable: apricot is classic, but cherry, strawberry, and mixed berry versions are just as common. Some home bakers add a handful of chopped nuts to the batter, or use a shortcrust pastry base instead of a simple batter for a more crostata-style result.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at breakfast with milk, tea, or coffee, or as an afternoon snack — its delicate sweetness also makes it a fitting simple dessert to close a meal.
