This cake, often called “Himalaya” slices or Himalaya Cheesecake, is a true classic! It gets its name from the striking contrast between the dark, cocoa-rich base and the “snow-capped” peaks of grated dough on top of the towering white cottage cheese layer.
Here is a foolproof recipe for this majestic dessert!
🍫 Ingredients
For the Cocoa Dough:
- 400 g all-purpose flour
- 250 g cold butter or margarine
- 150 g powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp dark cocoa powder
- 1 packet (10-12 g) baking powder
- 1 egg yolk
- 1-2 tbsp sour cream (just enough to bring the dough together)
For the Cottage Cheese Filling:
- 750 g cottage cheese (pressed “túró” style, crumbled/mashed)
- 200 g powdered sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp extract)
- 3 egg yolks
- 4 egg whites (whipped into stiff peaks)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp cornstarch or semolina (to absorb moisture)
👩🍳 Preparation
- Prepare the Dough: Mix the flour, baking powder, cocoa, and powdered sugar. Rub in the cold butter until crumbly. Add the egg yolk and sour cream, then knead quickly into a smooth dough.
- The Chilling Secret: Divide the dough into two parts (60% and 40%). Wrap them in plastic. Put the larger piece in the fridge and the smaller piece in the freezer for about 30-40 minutes.
- Make the Filling: Mix the cottage cheese with the sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, starch, and 3 egg yolks. Finally, gently fold in the 4 stiffly beaten egg whites to keep it airy.
- Assembly:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Roll out the larger piece of dough and place it in a greased/floured baking tray (standard rectangular size).
- Spread the cottage cheese cream evenly over the base.
- Take the frozen dough and grate it using a large-hole grater over the top of the white cream. These are your “Himalayan peaks.”
- Baking: Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let it cool completely in the pan—the filling needs time to set!
✨ Serving Suggestion
Once cooled, dust the top with a little powdered sugar. It will look like fresh snow has just fallen on your chocolate mountains.
Would you like me to help you adjust the quantities for a specific tray size, or are you looking for a lower-sugar version?