This Torta Maria Luisa is simple to make and perfect for any occasion. You can layer the cake with your favorite fruit preserve or jam.
As I've mentioned before, I get a lot of e-mails from my readers asking me for traditional Colombian recipes, Torta Maria Luisa being one of them. Well, after some phone calls to my family and friends in Colombia, I finally have this recipe for all of you that have requested it.
What is Torta Maria Luisa?
It's a cake layered with jam or dulce de leche very popular in Colombia and other Latin American countries.
Like many traditional recipes there are many versions of this cake depending of the cook and country. It's made with flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, milk, orange juice and zest. You can use your favorite preserves to layer your cake, but it is traditionally filled with berry preserves or jam.
Torta Maria Luisa Recipe (Maria Luisa Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 cup berry marmalade for the filling or your favorite flavor
- Powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of 2 nonstick, round baking pans. Set aside.
- In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder and orange peel. Mix for 20 seconds at low speed until the zest is incorporated. Add the orange juice, eggs, sugar and butter.
- Blend at low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and mix for about 2 minutes, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula, as needed.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes come out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- To assemble the cake: Arrange 1 cake layer, flat side up, on a cake stand. Using a spatula, spread the marmalade on top leaving a ½-inch border. Place the other cake layer on top of the existing layer then sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut the cake into wedges with a slightly wet knife and serve.
Nutrition
If you are looking for the perfect cake for your next birthday, holiday or special event this Maria Luisa Cake is perfect for you.
Tips to Make this Recipe
*Don't over mix the batter or you’ll have a tough cake. Mix everything until just combined.
*The best way to let your butter come to room temperature is to take it out of the fridge 2 to 3 hours before using and let it sit on your kitchen counter.
*Make sure you allow the cake to cool fully before you add the jam. I like using strawberry jam, but you can use your favorite flavor, such as orange, guava, raspberry, blueberry or blackberry jam. I recommend using a good quality jam or make it at home.
More Cake Recipes to Try
Divina
Sounds wonderful. That's a very nice, moist and flavorful cake.
Tangled Noodle
It looks so moist and I love the citrus flavors! Sprinkling it with powdered sugar is perfect - it seems too delicate to cover with frosting.
tasteofbeirut
Sounds like a wonderful rendition of a sponge cake, with the marmalade addition it is perfect.
Lyndsey
Thanks for sharing such great traditional Colombian recipes! It looks so moist and delicious!
Ben
I had never heard of that torta before, but it sounds very easy and delicious. And I didn't know in Colombia they called cakes tortas, for us in Mexico that word means something completely different 🙂
Laura Tolton
Absolutely delicious
Erica
Thank you guys 😉
Pilar
Maria Luisa's are also filled with arequipe (Colombian name for Dulce de Leche).
Erica
Pilar- Thank you! I will try it with arequipe next time 🙂
5 Star Foodie
This cake looks wonderful, I like the orange marmalade filing!
Sandra G
This cake looks so moist and yummy, can't wait to make it!
Rachana Kothari
Thats such a moist, soft and a beautiful looking Cake... Would love to have a bite:)
Baking is my Zen
Looks nice and moist. I'm not a fan of orange marmalade...so I may switch to peach.
Doña Masita
This looks so delicious! It made me really hungry! Looking forward to prepare it!
Abrazos,
Doña Masita
Kim
What a lovely and delicate cake. I love the flavor of orange in my cakes and this sounds perfect! I think this would be great for the upcoming spring holidays like Easter and Mother's Day!
Maria
I've never heard of this cake ... it looks divine! So moist and flavorful. Will definitely have to try it some time.
Joy
That picture says it all, I can taste it from here! A proper cake! Yum!
Faith
This looks so moist and yummy! I love the layer of orange marmalade!
Erica
Thank you all! I truly appreciate all your comments!
Bo
This really does look so delicious! I love orange marmalade!
Velva
I can see why you have been receiving requests for this cake-delicious! I know I would love it...Is this an everyday cake or only for special occassions?
Erica
Velva-This is an everyday cake.
Ivy
I also get the same from my Cypriot readers and have to make some phone calls back home to get some forgotten recipes.
The cake sounds delicious and looks great, airy and moist.
grace
this cake pretty much defines the word 'moist.' so tender and soft, so flavorful. excellent treat, erica--thanks for sharing the recipe!
Joanne
That cake looks so moist and fluffy! I'm all about the citrus flavors lately so I love the orange marmalade infusion.
Norma
So moist... It reminds me od my childhood days
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
Looks like a lovely cake, Erica!
nazarina
Wow! this torta is to die for! yum. It looks so soft and yummy. No matter where we go, our roots are not far behind!
Soma
Very sensual! I love anything orange dessert and this is sure a great one Erica. Will make this sometimes.
Karen
This looks wonderful! I made some marmalade earlier this year that would be a great filling for this!
Oysterculture
This sounds wonderful - I love the addition of marmalade. You say its traditional - is it traditionally served for a specific event? I'll be coming up with my own traditions to serve this one!
Sue
Erica, what size cake pan I have 8 and 9 inch round pans.
Erica
Sue- 8 inches.
Erica
Thank you everyone!
Ruby
This cake did not turn out right for me. I made it exactly as shown and I couldn't get it. It turned out very dense and too greasy. The butter was all over the top of the cake. I tried it again with less butter and it still didn't work. It was not fluffy at all. Help! what am I doing wrong?
Erica
Ruby- It was perfect to me!
Anonymous
Try creaming the butter and sugar first, then add the remaining dry and wet ingredients in alternating stages while mixing.
Sandra
Hola , soy fan de la Maria Luisa ,pero me temo que la receta en Medellin es un poco diferente pues lleva maicena que la hace arenosita , aqui se las dejo por si la quieren intentar.
-1 barra de mantequilla o 250g
-1 t de azucar
-1 1/2 t de harina
-1 1/2 t de maicena
-4 huevos
-2/3 de t de leche
-3 cucharadas de P-H
-1/2 c sal
-ralladura de limon.
La Torta maria luisa se ha ido modificando con el tiempo, pero la original era con mermelada de mora .
se divide la mezcla en dos moldes,luego cuando esten se juntan con mermelada de mora en el centro y se le rocia azucar.
Erica
Hola sandra,
Gracias por la receta. Cuando la vuelva hacer...la hago con tu receta. Suene muy rica tambien!
Isabel
Erica,
Tu sabes como hacer torta negra Colombiana?
Bendiciones en este tiempo de tu vida y tu bebe!
Anonymous
I have made this several times. Always great and always requested for special occasions. The key is to have everything at room temperature. Enjoy!
Ana C
Gracias Erica.... Hice la Maria Luisa siguiendo tus indicaciones y quedo "DE ATAQUE" como dijo alguna otra paisa en uno de sus comentarios... Bien por tu iniciativa de dar a conocer nuestro pais desde otro ambito que no sea el de la violencia y el delito... Vivo como tu, en USA y saborear estas delicias de nuestra tierra es maravilloso!!! Mi esposo, que tambien es colombiano, ya pidio esta receta para su cumpleanhos....
Betzie
me pueden poner la receta en español gracias
Claudia
Hice la receta pero la torta no me crecio casi y por supuesto Tampoco quedo esponjosa. Sugerencias?
alvaron
Era la torta favorita en la casa de mis abuelos!Mi abuela siempre tenía una sobre la refrigeradora que desaparecía en un santiamén! Gracias Erica!
grace
this cake looks SUPER moist! and that layer of marmalade in the middle is quite a blast of color!
Anonymous
I think a lot of people were confused by the orange juice in the cake.. Its actually just in the cake. The post said to use a "berry marmalade". But I dont see any place where it says to use orange marmalade..
Ghislaine
Veo que el azucar es muy barato en Colombia!
Podemos reducir la cantidad del azucar para nuestro salud?
Salud!
Jennifer C.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
I made this for Easter dessert and it was a hit. I used seedless raspberry jam and it really complemented the orange. A slice of this cake goes perfect with a cup of coffee! 🙂
T.
I made it the other day! with blackcurrant jam. My kids are the best critics and they loved it! 🙂 Me too also because its quick and easy!. I will do again! I did not use a 20 cm diameter round form but shaped as a heart. Lol. tastes the same I guess.