Baked rice pudding cake recipe (Zapekanka)

This baked rice pudding cake is so delicious! In Ukraine, we call it zapekanka or zapikanka. Use this recipe for a simple and healthy dessert

I’ll tell you a secret… I’m a baked rice pudding cake addict… haha… But I have a simple and undeniable excuse: this Ukrainian sweet zapekanka or zapikanka with apples, carrots, and raisins is not just a dessert. This recipe brings lots of happy childhood memories to me.

The combination of rice and apples has always been my favorite. My grandma knew about this, so she often prepared me the best zapekanka for breakfast. But it wasn’t a simple apple rice pudding in the oven, it was the most delicious treat in the world!

My grandma’s baked rice pudding cake recipe

All grandmothers have one skill in common – they know how to easily turn a simple dish into a real masterpiece. This is some kind of secret that is known only to grandmothers: they take a basic recipe, adapt the ingredients according to the preferences of their children and grandchildren, add a handful of special spices, a glass of love, a spoonful of kindness, and get a fantastic dish that is then passed down from generation to generation.

This is exactly how this baked rice pudding cake recipe appeared in our house. This is the dessert I grew up with. And I still prepare it pretty often, especially when apples are in season. With this recipe you can use simple non – expensive ingredients to create a fantastic treat. Trust me, this Ukrainian zapekanka is absolutely – fantastically – fabulously delicious!

Two types of rice pudding

There are two main types of this dessert:

1. A stovetop, spoonable version. It’s creamy and soupy.
2. A baked rice pudding. It’s a cakelike pudding. It’s dry and thick enough – you can easily cut it into squares. It’s pretty creamy, but it’s not supposed to be wet.  This is exactly what Ukrainian zapikanka (or zapekanka) is.

Both types are delicious, but I prefer the texture of the baked one.

Which rice is best for zapikanka?

Ukrainian baked rice pudding cake is a delicate creamy dessert that can be cut into portions and served as a pie or cake. Therefore, choose the right type of rice:

• Arborio or Carnaroli. These types are great not only for risotto but also for zapekanka. Use them for the most delicious, creamy, and tender apple rice pudding.
• Any round short-grain one. Usually, this type contains the “right” amount of starch for this recipe. The consistency of the dessert will be creamy, but not mushy.

I don’t recommend using long-grain and steamed rice. Zapikanka will fall apart and will not have a cake texture. Brown rice is also not suitable – it’s too firm for this dessert. Don’t use sushi type either – it’s too glutinous.

Useful tips for the best baked rice pudding cake

This baked rice pudding cake recipe is very simple and works every time. Let me give you just a few tips to dispel any doubts.

• Any milk is suitable for this recipe. But remember: the fatter it is, the creamier the consistency of zapikanka will be.
• Don’t like dairy milk? You can use any non-dairy one – soy, almond, oat, or cashew. Coconut milk is also good.
• Don’t replace butter with margarine. Margarine will negatively affect the taste and structure of this dessert.
• Sour cream is important in this recipe. Let it be only 2Tbsp but even such a small amount will take the consistency of zapekanka to a higher level. You can replace sour cream with Greek yogurt.
• This recipe gives you complete freedom with your choice of spices. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger… it all depends only on your preferences.
• If spices aren’t your thing, you can omit them (however, I highly recommend adding vanilla). Zapikanka will be great even without spices, although a significant aromatic part and the mystery of the taste will still be lost.

Recipe variations and substitutions

You can easily customize this baked rice pudding cake recipe.

The main ingredients in this recipe are rice, eggs, milk, and butter. You can change everything else to your own taste.

White sugar can be replaced with brown sugar or honey.

If you don’t like raisins, replace them with:

• dried cherries or cranberries
• chocolate chips morsels
• prunes or dried apricots
• chopped dates
• chopped nuts
• fresh blueberries
• desiccated coconut

This apple rice pudding tastes great both warm and cold.

Actually, it’s a recipe for any time of the year. In the summer, zapekanka is perfect with a scoop of your favorite ice cream, a glass of cold milk, or lemonade. It’s also a perfect homemade comforting treat for cold winter nights – serve it with a cup of hot tea.

It’s a great recipe to make in advance. In fact, zapikanka tastes even better the next day. That’s why I advise you to prepare it the night before you plan to serve it and leave it overnight in the fridge.

Ingredients

I use a rectangular baking form 28cm x 18cm (11″ x 7″)

• 500ml (2cups + 1Tbsp) milk
• 200g (1cup) uncooked rice
• 50g (4Tbsp) unsalted butter
• 3 eggs
• 150g (2/3 cup) sugar
• 2Tbsp sour cream
• ½ cup raisins
• 2 large sweet apples
• 2 medium carrots
• grated zest of 1 lemon
• grated zest of 1 orange
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• vanilla

How to make baked rice pudding cake

Pour milk over the rice and cook over low heat until it absorbs all the milk. Don’t worry if the rice isn’t fully cooked – we’ll cook it in the oven afterwards.

Remove from heat and immediately add butter. Stir until it melts

Grate apples and carrots on a fine grater. Add them to the rice and mix well

Add raisins. Beat the eggs, sour cream, and sugar with a whisk

Add a mixture of eggs, sour cream, and sugar to the rice. Add cinnamon, vanilla, lemon and orange zest too

Mix everything well. Grease a baking dish with oil or butter and pour the prepared mixture into it. Cook zapekanka in the oven preheated to 180C (350F) for about 45 minutes (until a golden crust)

It tastes great both warm and fully chilled. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar and enjoy!

What to serve this dessert with

This baked rice pudding cake is perfect and fabulously delicious on its own. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar and enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a sweet snack. However, if you want to experience real culinary ecstasy, serve this dish with:

• whipped cream
• a scoop of vanilla ice cream
• lemon curd
• your favorite jam (I love thick Peach Jam with cinnamon, it will perfectly emphasize the taste of zapikanka)
• caramel sauce
• a few tablespoons of thick homemade sour cream (this is a classic of my childhood)

FAQ

Let this baked rice pudding cake put you in a good mood. I hope this simple Ukrainian zapekanka recipe will complement your culinary collection.

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