Bolo de Fubá (Brazilian Cornmeal Cake)
In short: A tender, golden cornmeal cake blended in minutes and scented with fennel seed, a coffee-time classic from the farms of Minas Gerais. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 305 kcal
Bolo de fubá is the cake of the Brazilian countryside, baked for afternoon coffee and for festa junina in June. Fine cornmeal gives it a sunny color, a soft crumb and a gentle corn flavor. The batter is made in the blender, so the cake comes together quickly. Many families add a spoonful of fennel seed, called erva-doce, for a faint licorice note.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Butter a 23 cm (9 in) round or ring pan and dust it with cornmeal, tapping out the excess.
- Blend the eggs, milk, oil, sugar and salt for 1 minute, until smooth.
- Add the cornmeal and flour and blend for 30 seconds, until no lumps remain. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes so the cornmeal softens.
- Stir in the baking powder and fennel seeds by hand. Pour the batter into the pan.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. The top may crack slightly.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out. Serve warm or at room temperature with coffee.
Tips
- Use fine cornmeal. If you only have coarse polenta cornmeal, grind it in a blender or spice grinder until it is the texture of flour.
- For a savory edge, stir 60 g (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan or Minas cheese into the batter at the end.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between fubá and polenta?
Fubá is fine-ground cornmeal, almost like flour. Polenta cornmeal is coarser and gives a gritty cake.
Can I make bolo de fubá gluten-free?
Yes. Replace the wheat flour with the same weight of rice flour. The crumb will be slightly more delicate.
Why add fennel seeds?
Erva-doce is a traditional flavoring that gives a faint licorice aroma. Leave it out if you do not like aniseed flavors.
How long does it take to make Bolo de Fubá (Brazilian Cornmeal Cake)?
About 55 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bolo de Fubá (Brazilian Cornmeal Cake)?
About 305 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 40 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 305 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
