Name: How to Make Passion Fruit Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup avocado oil or 2 sticks unsalted butter (, softened); 400 g (3 cups) all-purpose flour, sifted; 20 g (1 tablespoon baking powder plus 1 1/2 teaspoons) baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 400 g (2 cups) Granulated Sugar; 3 eggs (, room temperature); 8 oz (1 cup) unsweetened passion fruit pulp such as Goya; 8 tablespoons Goya passion fruit pulp; 1/2 cup condensed milk ((full-fat)); 1 Passion Fruit (, for garnish)

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Today, I'm sharing my family's all-time favorite Passion Fruit Cake, "Bolo de Maracuja." Made with natural passion fruit pulp and glazed with a rich combination of condensed milk and passion fruit for a double dose of sweet tanginess. Our passion fruit cake recipe is easy to make, moist, and delicious; this will be one of your favorite passion fruit cakes! 🎂😋

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What is Passion Fruit Cake?
Brief highlights of our Passion Fruit Cake recipe:
Passion Fruit Cake Ingredient
Tools you'll need
How to Make Passion Fruit Cake
How to Make Passion Fruit Glaze
Substitutions
Variations
How to Serve
How to Store & Re-Heat
Make-Ahead
How to Freeze
Tips for Making The Best Passion Fruit Cake
FAQ
Related Recipes:
📋 Recipe

What is Passion Fruit Cake?

Passion Fruit Cake is a cake with a tropical twist, thanks to the use of passion fruit pulp in the batter and the glaze. It is a moist and flavorful cake with a slightly tangy taste from the passion fruit. The cake is typically made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, avocado oil, or unsalted butter. The passion fruit pulp adds a distinctly tropical flavor to the cake, and the glaze, made with condensed milk and other passion fruit pulp, adds a sweet and tangy finish. Passion Fruit Cake is a delicious and unique dessert perfect for any occasion, especially for those who love tropical flavors.

Brief highlights of our Passion Fruit Cake recipe:

Taste: Passion Fruit Cake is a delightful dessert with a tropical twist, featuring the natural tanginess of passion fruit pulp in both the batter and the glaze. It offers a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making it an irresistible treat that's sure to please your taste buds.
Texture: This cake boasts a moist and tender crumb, courtesy of the avocado oil or unsalted butter used in the batter. The glaze, made with condensed milk and passion fruit, adds a luscious and slightly gooey texture to the cake's top. Together, these textures create a harmonious combination that's both enjoyable and satisfying.
Method: Making Passion Fruit Cake is a straightforward process. Start by preheating the oven and preparing a nonstick Bundt pan. Then, sift the dry ingredients and beat the wet ingredients together until well combined. Carefully fold in the passion fruit pulp and bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. The glaze is made by whisking condensed milk and passion fruit pulp, which is poured over the cooled cake, creating a sweet and tangy finish. This recipe is easy to follow and results in a moist, delicious dessert with a tropical twist that everyone will love! 🎂😋

Passion Fruit Cake Ingredient

Note: The full ingredients list is provided in the recipe card below.

For the Passion Fruit Cake:

Avocado oil or unsalted butter: Used to give the cake moisture and richness.
All-purpose flour: Provides structure and stability to the cake.
Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent to help the cake rise and become fluffy.
Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor of the cake.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the cake.
Eggs: Used as a binding agent to hold the cake together.
Unsweetened passion fruit pulp: Adds a tangy tropical flavor to the cake.

For the Passion Fruit & Condensed Milk Glaze:

Goya passion fruit pulp: Used to add more passion fruit flavor to the glaze.
Condensed milk: Adds sweetness and thickness to the glaze.
Passion fruit: Used as a garnish to decorate the top of the cake.

Tools you'll need

How to Make Passion Fruit Cake

Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a nonstick 12-cup Bundt pan. Sift the flour and the baking powder into a medium bowl.

Beat the oil and the granulated sugar in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until combined, at least 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the vanilla. Add about one-third of the flour mixture and half the passion fruit; beat until almost incorporated. Add another one-third of the flour mixture and the remaining passion fruit. Beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed until just combined.

Add the remaining flour mixture and beat for 30 seconds. Finish incorporating the flour by hand to avoid overmixing. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan; smooth the top. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Run a small sharp knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake, then invert it onto the rack to cool completely.

How to Make Passion Fruit Glaze

Whisk the condensed milk and 8 tablespoons of passion fruit pulp in a bowl; if the glaze is too thick, whisk in up to 1 more tablespoon of passion fruit pulp, a little at a time. Pour the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides, and spoon the Maracuja seeds for garnish. Enjoy!

Substitutions

Avocado oil or unsalted butter: You can use any neutral-flavored oil or vegan butter as a substitute for avocado oil or unsalted butter.
All-purpose flour: You can substitute it with cake or gluten-free flour if you avoid gluten.
Baking powder: You can use baking soda as a substitute for baking powder. However, you must add an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or vinegar to activate it properly.
Granulated sugar: You can substitute brown or coconut sugar for granulated sugar. Keep in mind that this will alter the taste and texture of the cake slightly.
Eggs: You can use flax eggs (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water) or applesauce as a substitute for eggs. Keep in mind that this will alter the texture of the cake slightly.
Unsweetened passion fruit pulp: If you can't find passion fruit pulp, you can use any other fruit pulp you like, such as mango or pineapple.

Variations

Coconut Passion Fruit Cake: Add 1 cup of shredded coconut to the cake batter for a tropical twist.
Chocolate Passion Fruit Cake: Add ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the cake batter to make a chocolatey version of the cake.
Cream Cheese Passion Fruit Cake: Add 8 oz of softened cream cheese to the cake batter to make a creamier and richer version of the cake.
Lemon Passion Fruit Cake: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the cake batter to give it a zesty and refreshing flavor.
Mini Passion Fruit Bundt Cakes: Use a mini bundt cake pan instead of a regular cake pan to make individual mini cakes.
Passion Fruit Cupcakes: Use a muffin tin instead of a cake pan to make cupcakes. Top with the passion fruit glaze and fresh passion fruit pulp for a fun and festive dessert.
Gluten-Free Passion Fruit Cake: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make a gluten-free version of the cake.

How to Serve

Passion Fruit Cake is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be served in various ways. Once the cake is baked and the glaze is poured, you can serve it warm or at room temperature. To add more color and flavor, you can also garnish it with fresh passion fruit pulp or other tropical fruits, such as mango or pineapple. If you're fancy, dust the cake with powdered sugar or top it with whipped cream.

Passion Fruit Cake is a great dessert for a summer barbecue, a tropical-themed party, or special occasion. It's also a perfect dessert to enjoy with coffee or tea. Whether you serve it plain or dressed up, Passion Fruit Cake will surely be a hit with anyone who loves tropical flavors.

How to Store & Re-Heat

To store: You can wrap it tightly in plastic or aluminum foil and keep it at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to keep it longer, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure to wrap it well to prevent it from drying out.

To reheat: You can wrap it in aluminum foil and warm it up in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes or until it's heated through. You can also microwave individual slices for 10-15 seconds until warm. If you're reheating a slice, add a whipped cream or fresh fruit dollop to freshen it up. With these tips, you can enjoy your Passion Fruit Cake even after a few days or when you want a warm slice.

Make-Ahead

If you want to make Passion Fruit Cake ahead of time, you can bake it and store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to serve it. To store it in the refrigerator, wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic or aluminum foil and store it for up to 3 days. If you want to store it in the freezer, wrap it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and store it for up to 2 months.

When you're ready to serve the cake, let it thaw in the fridge overnight if it's frozen, then bring it to room temperature before serving. Warm up individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until warm. With these make-ahead tips, you can have a delicious Passion Fruit Cake ready to serve whenever you want, without the stress of having to bake it on the day you plan to serve it.

How to Freeze

To freeze Passion Fruit Cake, allow the cake to cool completely after baking. Next, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, sealing it well. Then, wrap it in aluminum foil to protect it from freezer burn. Finally, label the package with the date and place it in the freezer. The cake can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Remove it from the freezer to thaw the cake, and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Once fully thawed, remove it from the wrapping and let it come to room temperature before serving. Alternatively, microwave individual slices for 10-15 seconds until warm. Freezing Passion Fruit Cake is a great option if you want to make it ahead of time or if you have leftovers you want to save for later.

Tips for Making The Best Passion Fruit Cake

Use fresh passion fruit pulp if possible: Fresh passion fruit has a more intense flavor than canned or frozen pulp.
Ensure all of your ingredients are at room temperature before you start baking: This will help them incorporate more easily, resulting in a more even batter.
Do not overmix the batter: Mix the ingredients until combined, as overmixing can result in a tough and dense cake.
Use a good quality baking pan to ensure the cake bakes evenly: A non-stick or silicone-coated pan is ideal.
Test the cake for doneness with a toothpick: Insert the toothpick into the center of the cake, and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
Let the cake cool completely before glazing or frosting it: If you glaze or frost the cake while it's still warm, the glaze or frosting may melt and slide off the cake.
Let the cake cool completely before slicing it: Cutting into a warm cake can result in it falling apart or losing shape.

FAQ

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

You can make this recipe gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

You can make this recipe dairy-free by using avocado oil instead of butter and ensuring that your passion fruit pulp is unsweetened and doesn't contain any dairy products.

Can I make this recipe without eggs?

You can make this recipe without eggs using a flax egg or applesauce as a substitute. However, remember that this may alter the texture of the cake slightly.

Can I use a different fruit pulp instead of passion fruit?

You can use a different fruit pulp instead of passion fruit. Some good options include mango, pineapple, or guava.

Can I make this recipe into cupcakes instead of a cake?

You can make this recipe into cupcakes instead of a cake. Adjust the baking time accordingly and top each cupcake with the passion fruit glaze and fresh passion fruit pulp.

The Best Passion Fruit Cake | Bolo de Maracuja

What is Passion Fruit Cake?

Brief highlights of our Passion Fruit Cake recipe: