I read some explanations, but I haven’t been convinced as to why this confection was called goosefoot in the first place. If I had to describe it, this is the Hungarian equivalent of death by chocolate. The lúdláb is a thick layer of rococo cream sandwiched between two thin layers of chocolate cake with a dozen rum soaked sour cherries hidden within the cream layer and then topped with a layer of dark chocolate glaze. Decorated with sour cherries or not. This is an adult dessert, not only because of the rum content, but obviously finding cherries among the rococo cream would not be a child’s delight. I remember having a lúdláb from the Hauer, only to be terribly disappointed when I got a rum soaked sour cherry with a bite. But now all grown up and lúdláb makes sense.
Cake:
4 egg yolks
4 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp cake flour, sifted
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa, sifted
4 egg whites
Filling:
2 cups pitted sour cherries
1/3 cup rum
1 batch of rococo cream
Chocolate Glaze:
3 squares of bittersweet chocolate
2 Tbsp butter
• Soak the pitted sour cherries in rum.
• Make the cake next.
• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Fully line a round spring form cake pan with parchment paper.
• A dab of butter will keep the paper in place.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar for 5 minutes.
• Add the sifted cake flour and the sifted cocoa and beat to combine.
• In a separate bowl with clean beaters beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Gradually fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
• Bake the cake in the preheated oven until the middle springs back.
• While the cake bakes, make the rococo cream.
• Remove cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
• Gently cut along the edge and open up the springs.
• Remove the cake from the pan and place back on the wire rack to cool down completely.
• Place the cake on a platter.
• With a serrated knife cut off the upper 1/3 of the cake and place the top back on the wire rack.
• Drizzle 3-4 Tbsp from the soaking rum over both layers.
• Carefully flip over the top cake layer, placing the rum soaked top on the bottom.
• Place a baking pan under the wire rack. This will act as a catch tray.
• In a double boiler, slowly melt the bittersweet chocolate squares with 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter. Do not overheat the chocolate.
• Spread the top layer with melted chocolate and set it aside to cool down.
• Spread the bottom layer with 1/3 of the rococo cream.
• Arrange the sour cherries on the top.
• Cover the cherries with half of the remaining rococo cream.
• Place the chocolate glazed cake layer on top of the rococo cream layer.
• Spread the remaining rococo cream on the outside, leaving the bottom cake layer exposed.
• Decorate the top with rum soaked sour cherries.
• Chill the cake for half an hour and then score the top for easy slicing later.
• Chill the cake thoroughly before slicing.
