Harum Manis

I made Harum Manis a few days ago. It is a type of steamed sponge cake topped with slices of banana. As the name suggests, it's literally sweet smelling. Thanks to the the fragrant caramel-like gula Melaka & the pleasant aroma of the steamed pisang raja. 

Harum Manis

Recipe by Siti Mastura from Resipi Pesta Perut 2002.

Ingredients:

300g gula Melaka (palm sugar)

350ml water

1 pandan leaf (I added.)

50g butter

3 eggs

200g sugar

350g plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder (I used double-acting.)

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp vanilla essence

8-9 banana - sliced into about 1/2 cm thick (I used pisang raja.)

Method:

1. Combine gula Melaka, water & pandan leave in a pot & boil over medium fire until  gula Melaka dissolves. Strain syrup & add in  butter. Stir well. Leave to cool completely.
2. Prepare steamer & grease moulds with oil or butter. (I used  kuih lompang moulds.)
3. Combine plain flour, baking powder,  baking soda & salt. Sift set aside.
4. Beat eggs & sugar until light & fluffy.
5. Fold in flour.
6. Pour in gula Melaka syrup a little at a time, stirring until well blended.
7. Pour batter into moulds until 3/4 full. Top with sliced bananas.
8. Steam for 15-20 minutes.
9. Leave to cool completely & remove cakes from moulds.

Makes about 56 pieces.

I'm also linking this post to Cook-Your-Books #2 hosted by Joyce of  Kitchen Flavours.