Kueh Lapis (Nine-Layer Cake / Jiu Ceng Gao)

Step 1

Wash the pandan leaves and drain dry. Then twist the leaves to break up the veins, and tie the pandan leaves into a bundle.

Step 2

Add water, sugar, pandan leaves and salt to a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 mins until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup smells aromatic.

Step 3

Transfer the syrup into a large heat-proof bowl through a sieve, then add the chilled coconut milk into the sugar syrup to help cool it down.

Step 4

Add tapioca flour and rice flour into a seperate bowl and mix well.

Step 5

Once the sugar syrup is cool, add the flour mixture into the syrup mixture a little at a time, and stir with a hand whisk.

Step 6

Sieve the batter to remove any lumps, then divide the batter into 3 equal portions. Add red and green food colouring to two of the portions, leaving the last portion white.

Step 7

Grease the bottom and sides of the non-stick square tin with oil.

Step 8

Fill the Panasonic Cubie Steam Oven water tank with water. Then place the square tin on the lower rack of the Panasonic Cubie Steam oven, and set the oven to 'Steam-High' for 3 minutes.

Step 9

Stir the white batter, then use a ladle to pour in enough white batter to completely cover the bottom of the square tin. Then set the oven to 'Steam-High' for 4 minutes.

Step 10

Check that the first layer of batter is completely set, then pour in just enough green batter to cover the first white layer, and set the oven to 'Steam-High' for 3 minutes. Repeat this process until you have 9 layers of alternating white, green and red layers.

Step 11

For the final layer (red), set the oven to 'Steam-High' for 10-12 minutes (instead of 3 minutes) to allow the whole Kueh to set.

Step 12

Remove the Kueh Lapis from heat and allow to completely cool down (4-6 hours).

Step 13

Use a greased silicone spatula to loosen the sides of the Kueh Lapis from the square tin tray, then invert the tray over a piece of baking paper.

Step 14

Flip the kueh over so the red colour is on top. Then use a sharp greased knife to slice the Kueh Lapis into 32 (8xor 24 (6xpieces.

Step 15

Garnish the sliced Kueh Lapis with some cut pandan leaves and serve.