Doberge cake facts for kids
A variation on Doberge layers
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| Type | Layer cake |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Created by | Beulah Ledner |
| Main ingredients | Cake, dessert pudding, butter cream |
Doberge cake is a special layered dessert from New Orleans, Louisiana. It was created by a baker named Beulah Ledner. This cake is a twist on a famous Hungarian cake called Dobos torte.
Doberge cakes have many thin layers of cake. Creamy pudding is placed between each layer. Often, half of the pudding is chocolate and the other half is lemon! The outside is covered with a thin layer of butter cream and a smooth fondant shell. Sometimes, it has a shiny poured glaze instead. These cakes usually have six or more layers. You can find them in classic flavors like chocolate, lemon, or caramel.
The Story of Doberge Cake
Beulah Levy Ledner was born in St. Rose, Louisiana. She opened her own bakery in New Orleans in 1933. Beulah became very famous for her "Doberge cake." She got the idea from the Dobos Cake, which is a cake from Hungary or Austria.
How Doberge Cake is Different
The original Dobos Cake has nine layers of light sponge cake, called génoise cake. It is filled with buttercream and topped with a hard caramel glaze. Beulah Ledner changed this recipe. She used a creamy custard filling instead of buttercream. She also covered her cakes with buttercream and a thin layer of fondant.
Beulah Ledner's Legacy
Beulah Ledner's special recipe can be found in a cookbook. It is called Let's bake with Beulah Ledner: A legendary New Orleans Lady. This book was written by Maxine Wolchansky.
In 1946, a man named Joe Gambino bought Beulah's bakery. He bought her recipes, including the Doberge cake recipe. He also bought her shop. Beulah later opened a new bakery in Metairie. Her business grew very popular. Her son, Albert, even designed a new machine. This machine helped make many sheet cakes using his mother's recipes.
Beulah opened her new bakery on May 21, 1970. She ran it until she retired in 1981. She was 87 years old when she sold her shop. She also sold the Doberge recipe to Maurice's French Pastries. This company still bakes and sells Doberge cakes in Metairie today!
