The “Gateau au Beurre” or butter cake is the most traditional of Haitian desserts. It is light, fluffy, and easy to make. What gives this delicious cake such a unique flavor, is just a few distinctive ingredients!
May is Haitian Heritage Month in the United States! Cities across the nation with large Haitian populations usually have events to celebrate Haitian history and culture. Celebrate by whipping up this tasty Haitian cake during the month of May or any time you want a sweet treat!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 35 minutes
- Cooling Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Servings: 12 slices
- Prep Level: Beginner +
What You’ll Love
- Bright, Citrusy Flavor – The fresh lemon zest adds a burst of flavor that balances the cake’s richness.
- Simple Pantry Ingredients – Made with everyday staples like flour, butter, eggs, and sugar.
- Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether served at your next party, Sunday dinner, or just as a treat, this cake is a delicious, easy recipe without being complicated.
- Cultural Comfort Food – Known as Gâteau Haïtien, this traditional cake brings classic Haitian flavors to home baking.
Ingredient Notes
- Granulated sugar – Brown sugar can be substituted just keep in mind the following: The level of sweetness is exactly the same as well as the ratio, 1:1. Brown sugar is made with dark robust flavored molasses that can change the color and taste of your baked goods.
- Rum – This simple cake is traditionally made with authentic Haitian Rhum Barbancourt which is made in Haiti. Haitian rum is what gives the cake a distinct delicious flavor but you can use any spiced rum!
- Lemon zest – Lime zest or orange zest works!
- Evaporated milk – Coconut milk can be used. Quite often orange juice is used in place of milk turning it into what is known as a Haitian Orange Cake.
- Sea salt – Kosher salt or any salt that does not contain iodine.
- Glaze – Guava jelly is often used.
- Mix 1/2 cup of jelly with 2 tablespoons of cold water and drizzle over the cake.
Simple Glaze
- Fresh lemon juice
- Fresh lemon zest
- Powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
- Sweetened shredded coconut – optional
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven.
- Zest the lemon.
- Prepare a bundt pan by spraying with cooking spray.
- Sift the flour with baking powder and set aside. Sifting helps remove large lumps and promotes consistency so it is recommended for cake recipes that are light and fluffy such as angel food cakes and sponge cakes.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer and mix the butter and sugar on medium speed until combined, then cream the batter on high speed.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating throughly.
- Add salt, nutmeg, rum, almond, vanilla, and lemon zest. Beat well.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk. Beat until fully incorporated.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Place the cake batter in a preheated oven and bake. (see Top Tips).
- Remove the cake from the oven, place it on a wire rack, and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- To complete the cooling process, place the wire rack over the top of the cake pan.
- Flip the cake onto the wire rack to fully cool.
The Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine the fresh lemon juice, powdered sugar, and lemon zest. Whisk until smooth.
- Once the cake is fully cooled, drizzle the glaze over the cake.
- For a little extra sweetness, sprinkle the top of the cake with shredded coconut.
Tips & Tricks
- Only use room temperature ingredients – Room temperature eggs mix better with the batter and rise more easily. Softer butter creams (whips up) the best.
- Beat / mix the full time as stated in the instructions – This will help create the airiness you want in the cake batter.
- Oven temperatures vary which means the cooking time may vary. After 30 minutes of baking, start keeping an eye on the cake. vary, so check at 15 minutes to prevent overcooking.
Bundt Pan
A Bundt pan has a very distinctive doughnut shape inspired by a traditional European cake known as Gugelhupf.
Bundt cakes are not any specific type of cake, it’s all about the decorative shapes. Although Bundt cakes are highly decorative, you can use a 13×9 inch pan instead of a full size 12 cup Bundt pan.
More Sweet Treats to Try
- Easy 6 Ingredient Classic Greek Almond Cookies Recipe – gluten free!
- Mini Pecan Raisin Tarts -super easy!
- Easy 3-Ingredient Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie With Caramel – kids love this!
- Easy Coconut Cream Pie from South in your Mouth
Yield: 12-15 slices
How To Make Traditional Haitian Cake With Lemon Zest
The “Gateau au Beurre” or butter cake is the most traditional of Haitian desserts.
It is light, fluffy and easy to make.
What gives this delicious cake such a unique flavor is just a few distinctive ingredients!
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Additional Time
30 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 35 minutes
Ingredients
- Cake Ingredients:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (see Top Tips)
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 3 large eggs (see Top Tips)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons dark rum (see FAQ’s)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 can evaporated milk (12 ounces)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Cooking spray
- Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut – optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 350 degrees.
- Zest the lemon.
- Prepare a bundt pan or other baking pan by spraying well with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, sift the flour with baking powder and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer and mix the butter and sugar on medium speed until combined.
- Once combined, beat the cream batter an additional 3 minutes on high speed.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating throughly after adding each egg.
- Add salt, nutmeg, rum, almond, vanilla, and lemon zest.
- Beat for a full 4 minutes.
- Add half of the flour mixture and half of the milk. Beat a full 3 minutes.
- Repeat with the remaining flour and milk, beating an additional 3 full minutes.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Place the cake batter in a preheated oven and bake 30 – 40 minutes. (see Top Tips).
- After 30 minutes check the doneness of the cake by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. The cake is done baking when the tester comes out clean not gummy.
- Remove the cake from the oven, place it on a wire rack, and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Do not let the cake sit in the pan to fully cool, it will get stuck. You may need to use a small rubber/silicone spatula and run it around the cake to help loosen it from the sides of the pan. The best way to complete the cooling process is to place the wire rack over the top of the cake pan. Flip the cake onto the wire rack to fully cool.
- FOR THE GLAZE – In a small bowl, combine the fresh lemon juice, powdered sugar and lemon zest. Whisk until smooth.
- Once the cake is fully cooled, drizzle the glaze over the cake.
- For a little extra sweetness, sprinkle the top of the cake with shredded coconut.
Notes
Helpful Equipment / Tools
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand up)
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium bowl
- Full size 12 cup Bundt baking pan
- Sifter
- Zester
- Nutmeg grinder
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Wire cooling rack
Haitian rum is what gives the cake a distinct delicious flavor but you can use any spiced rum!
Top Tips
- Only use room temperature eggs for this traditional cake recipe. Room temperature eggs mix better with the batter and rise more easily.
- Make sure that your sticks of butter are also at room temperature, not cold or melted. Softer butter creams (whips up) the best.
- Beat / mix the full time as stated in the instructions. This will help create the airiness you want in the cake batter.
- Oven temperatures vary which means the cooking time may vary. After 30 minutes of baking, start keeping an eye on the cake.
Variations And Substitutions For Haitia
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