In Morocco every meal is a special occasion, and almond-paste sweets are always part of the menu. M'hanncha (snake) is made from rolled phyllo pastry coiled to look like a serpent. The orange-flower water and cinnamon flavorings are very North African, revealing the Persian influences in the region.
Date-Lime Snake Cake
For the paste, reduce the almonds to 1 1/2 cups, add 1 1/2 cups chopped dates, and replace the orange juice and zest with lime juice and zest.
Individual Snake Cakes
Cut the folded phyllo sheets into 4- by 10-inch pieces, and stack and butter as directed. Place one almond paste log on top of each stack, roll into a cylinder, and shape into a small coil.
Walnut-Lemon Snake Cake
For the paste, replace the almonds with walnuts, replace the orange juice and zest with lemon juice and zest, and add 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 1 cake (serves 6 to 8)
Ingredients
Orange-Almond Paste
Assembly
Toppings
Preparation
To Make the Orange-Almond Paste:
Step 1
Combine the almonds, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a food processor or blender and pulse to grind into a coarse meal. Add the butter and egg yolks and pulse until blended. Scrape the paste into a bowl, and stir in the orange-flower water, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla. Divide the paste into 12 balls, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Step 2
Set the balls on a work surface dusted with confectioners' sugar. Roll each one into a 3 1/2-inch-long log. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
To Assemble the Cake:
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a large baking sheet. Dust a work surface with confectioners' sugar. Place a sheet of phyllo pastry on the sugared work surface, and fold it in thirds to form a 4- by 17-inch rectangle. Brush the sheet with melted butter. Add another folded phyllo sheet, brush with butter, and repeat, until you have four buttered sheets.
Step 4
Set four orange-almond paste logs in a row down one long end of the phyllo, and roll the pastry up over them into a cylinder. Fold over the ends and brush on some melted butter to seal the seams. Shape the cylinder into a small, tight coil and place on the baking sheet, seam side down.
Step 5
Repeat to prepare two more phyllo rolls. Add each to the end of the coil on the baking sheet, forming a large coil.
Step 6
Combine the egg yolks, water, and cinnamon. Brush the mixture over the top of the cake.
To Bake:
Step 7
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove the cake from the oven, and let cool on the baking sheet.
To Serve:
Step 8
Stir together the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on the cake, and top with sliced almonds.
Recipe notes
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