Maksuba and Kue Delapan Jam, Two Palembang Cakes that Almost Never Absent during Lebaran

JAKARTA - In addition to pempek, in Palembang, South Sumatra, there are two cakes that often appear during Idulfitri, Iduladha, or large family events, namely maksuba and eight-hour cake. Both are sweet, dense, and luxurious. Both are also synonymous with the dining table. However, once cut and tasted, people immediately know: these are two different cakes.

Maksuba is first known for its appearance. The color is tan, the surface is smooth, and when cut it looks thin layers inside. In Palembang, this cake is commonly served during big days, from Lebaran to weddings.

The main ingredients are actually simple, namely eggs, sugar, condensed milk, butter or margarine, vanilla, and a little salt. What makes it different is the large number of eggs and the way it is cooked gradually. The dough is baked layer by layer. One is cooked, only the next layer is added. Therefore, maksuba takes time, patience, and a skillful hand.

Meanwhile, the eight-hour cake, whose name immediately explains how to cook it. This cake is cooked for a long time, about eight hours. The basic ingredients are similar, namely duck eggs, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter, sometimes added to powdered milk. The difference is that the eight-hour cake is not made in layers like maksuba. The dough is cooked whole by steaming for a long time, then sometimes baked for a short time so that the top is more set.

From there, the character of these two cakes begins to be seen. Maksuba tends to be denser, firmer, and more neat when cut. There is a trace of the grill that feels on the tongue. The eight-hour cake is actually softer, wetter, and smoother when it enters the mouth. Both are legit, but the sweet impression is not the same.

That's why Palembang people don't just exchange maksuba with eight-hour cakes. One is sought after for its layers and density. The other is loved for its softness and the taste of the egg that is more felt. The two have their own place.

Maksuba and eight-hour cake may still survive because they were not born from shortcuts. One is made in layers, the other is cooked for hours. The results are different, but both leave a taste that is hard to forget. Palembang people have a simple expression for it, namely lemak nian or delicious.