bolo de maracujá or passion fruit cake

My friend Sandy recently gave me a big bag of fresh passion fruit she grows in her own backyard in the Silicon Valley. She’s so lucky to be able to produce this quintessential tropical fruit at home. It is such a treat! I don’t often see them for sale. This time she was extra generous, giving me at least twenty of these marvelous fruit. Thank you Sandy!

Initially, I let them sit in a decorative dish atop the wine bar for few days as a decoration and just to let them infuse the air with their tropical perfume. Soon, I started eating them as little snacks here and there. I could eat them all in one sitting, but I wanted to savor them for as long as possible. Once I was down to the last eight, I decided to spread the wealth and make a passion fruit cake. These are very popular in Brazil but I rarely see them in the U.S. The cake really shines with a big cup of coffee or perhaps tea. I assure you that your lucky guests will be in awe!

bolo de maracujá or passion fruit cake

for the cake:

1½ sticks butter (about 150grams)
Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups flour
Pinch salt
1 tsp baking powder

for the topping:

¾ cup passion fruit (seeds, pulp and juice; about eight fruit)
1/3 cup sugar

Sandy's homegrown passion fruit

passion fruit interior

Preheat over to 350F. Grease a glass baking dish with butter, dust with flour, and set aside.

Using your electric mixer, beat sugar, lemon zest and butter for about 4 minutes or until incorporated. Add vanilla extract and eggs. Continue beating for a few minutes more. Retire the mixer at this point.

Sift flour, salt and baking powder together and carefully fold into dough using a spatula or a whisk.

Transfer batter to pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a tooth pick in the center. If it comes out clean then you know it’s ready. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides a bit with a knife. Invert onto a plate and turn right side up again. Poke small holes in the cake using a fork or a skewer to allow passion fruit topping to infuse into cake.

For the topping, whisk together sugar and passion fruit for about a minute and pour mixture over hot cake. Let cool and serve.

yummy slice of bolo de maracujá or passion fruit cake

passion fruit cake is perfect anytime, but especially on a warm tropical night