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A slice of sapin-sapin topped with latik

Sapin-Sapin

A colorful Filipino layered rice cake made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. Soft, chewy, and beautifully sweet.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 325 grams (2½ cups) glutinous rice flour
  • 300 grams (1½ cups) granulated white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cans (27 oz) coconut milk. 1 can = 13.5 oz
  • ½ teaspoon ube extract
  • ¼ teaspoon jackfruit extract
  • 1 can coconut cream (optional) for latik topping

Equipment

  • 9"x2" round cake pan
  • large steamer that is at least 11" wide to fit cake pan

Method
 

  1. Prepare by boiling water in a pot for steaming. Oil a 9”x2” cake pan, making sure to generously cover the bottom and sides of the pan.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the glutinous rice flour, sugar, and salt. Whisk together, then pour both cans of coconut milk into the bowl and whisk vigorously until there are no more lumps.
  3. Split the mixture into three equal parts, each in their separate bowl. In one bowl, add the ube extract and mix until fully incorporated. In the second bowl, add the jackfruit extract and mix until fully incorporated. Leave the third bowl alone, this will be the plain coconut flavor.
  4. Pour the mixture with ube extract into the cake pan first. Place the pan inside a steamer basket, and place it above the pot of boiling water. Cover with a lid and lower the flame to low and steam for 8-10 minutes until the layer is almost (but not fully) set.
  5. Slowly pour the mixture with jackfruit extract on top of the ube layer, and place the lid back on top to steam for another 8-10 minutes until almost set.
  6. Finally, pour the plain mixture on top of the jackfruit layer, and steam for 15-20 minutes until the top layer is fully set.
  7. Allow the sapin sapin to rest and fully cool. Take an oiled butter knife and carefully loosen the edges of the rice cake.
  8. Invert the rice cake onto a plate. Sprinkle latik (coconut curds) on top of sapin sapin to serve (optional). Enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee!

Notes

The photo shows sapin-sapin topped with latik. Latik is coconut curds which you can learn how to make on my instructional page.