Schiacciata Fiorentina (Carnival Florentine’s Cake)

Recipe of Marco Giudizio, Pastry Chef

This is the most famous Carnival Cake in Florence. It’s difficult to find a right recipe. I tried more times before obtaining the real Schiacciata Fiorentina. This is my own recipe and I feel it’s special… Read with attention and take your time before you begin. You can fill it with pastry cream (optional). The orange and vanilla taste is amazing and the texture it’s soft like a cloud.

Ingredients

First dough:

• 10 g of fresh yeast
• 50 g of lukewarm water
• 90 g of all-purpose flour

Second dough:

• 410 g of all-purpose flour
• 50 g of lukewarm milk
• 100 g of lukewarm water
• 150 g of caster sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 6 g of salt
• 100 g of lard of good quality
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean seeds
• 1 orange peel
• Icing sugar h.n. for dusting

Directions:

1. For first dough: Dissolve fresh yeast into lukewarm water and pour in the flour, obtaining a soft, smooth and compact ball. Put in a bowl covered with food wrap until doubling (in the oven switched off/light on to 28⁰ C/82⁰ F).
2. For second dough: Put in a food processor with a steel blade in place (hook) or in a big kitchen container, first dough and half water, milk, sugar and flour until incorporating. Continue with remaining water, flour, milk and sugar. Incorporate one at time eggs and flavors in the batter. Add lard a little at time, and at the end salt. Cover with cling wrap until doubling (same method).
3. Take dough and push gently removing air bubbles. Place the dough in one or two greased baking tray/s (about 4 cm/1.5″ of height) until you fill in the ¾ level. Cover tray/s with food wrap to proof until doubling.
4. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes and then to 180⁰ C / 350⁰ F for about 8-9 minutes. Bring out and let cool. Dust with confectioner’s / icing sugar. Serve at room temperature.