Last Updated on September 26, 2020 by Chef Mireille
Sandtorte
Known as Sandtorte in Germany and Hiekkakakku in Finland and Sandkaka in Sweden, this potato starch pound cake has an amazingly light texture that just melts in your mouth!
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By whichever name you call it, this delicious tea time cake is popular in several countries of Europe. Utilizing potato starch, the cake has an amazing melt in your mouth light texture. However, before we get to this delicious pound cake, do you know the difference between potato flour and potato starch?
What is the difference between potato starch and potato flour?
First of all, let me start off by saying I have seen different variations of this cake – some made with all potato starch or potato flour and some part starch and part all purpose flour. So some versions made with 100% potato starch is a gluten free pound cake. However, that is not the case with my version.
I have asked my German friends, I asked people when I visited Iceland (as I also saw the cake there) and there were varying responses.
by the way, if you’re planning on visiting Iceland, you might want to check out some of my Iceland travel posts – Iceland in October & Viking Food Stories in Iceland.
Even after all of the research I do, I have not been able to find if the original traditional version was made with potato starch or potato flour. Each person says a different thing.
However, since potato starch is a common ingredient used in this part of the world like in Uppakra – Swedish Butter Cookies, I am going to make the educated assumption that the original version was made with potato starch.
Potato Flour
Potato flour is made from whole potatoes. The potatoes are cooked, dried and then ground into a fine flour.
Potato Starch
To make potato starch, the potatoes are crushed and then washed to release the starch. The starch is then dried.
Both potato flour and potato starch are gluten free products.
Substitutions
I have never utilized potato flour, therefore, I cannot tell you if substituting potato flour for potato starch will affect the texture of the cake.
However, you can substitute other starch products like cornstarch, arrowroot or tapioca starch for the potato starch.
This light cake is great to have around when the grazers come around looking for a snack.
Tea time just got better!
Are you ready to try this delicious Sandtorte Pound Cake?
You won’t be able to stop with just one bite!
Except the for the potato starch, all of the other ingredients are basic things you probably already keep supplied at home.
Here’s your shopping list, just in case you have run out of some things.
Shopping List
- butter
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- lemon zest
- Cognac (optional)
- eggs
- all purpose flour
- potato starch
- baking powder
- non stick spray
Suggested Tools
- Stand Mixer
- Cake Pan
- Cake Marker (for even slicing)
- Cake Server
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
Now you are all set to make Sandtorte – Potato Starch Pound Cake today!
Sandtorte – Potato Starch Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon Cognac
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon potato starch
- a pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- non stick spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a cake pan with non stick spray.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, potato starch, salt and baking powder.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, zest and Cognac and mix well. Add eggs separately, beating well after each addition.
- Add flour combination in 3 parts, beating well after each addition.
- Transfer to prepared baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
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Your Finnish version pound cake has turned out perfect. Moist and fluffy.
The Finish pound cake looks so soft and spongy.The name is difficult to pronounce but the cake is so delicious to eat.
The pound cake is so fluffy and soft, perfectly baked:)
Pound cake with potato starch is so interesting. Looks very soft and the texture is wonderful.
Wow, that is yummy looking Finnish pound cake. Looks so soft & delicious,
The pound cake has got the perfect texture to it..good one..
This pound cake looks so soft and fluffy..
Very interesting pound cake..very different with those starches. looks amazing
I am very interested to find out how this tastes, my mind says citrusy cornbread by looking at the picture and reading the recipe lol; so I will definitely have to try this recipe this weekend.
The pound cake looks like just how a perfect pound cake should look like – moist and fluffy.
I like the texture of this pound cake fantastic..
indeed looks like an anytime cake t me…this is going straight into my to do list now
Cognac in cake.. I bet it would have added the extra kick to this cake. Awesome.
Beautiful sandtorte, love to have a slice rite now.
Pound cake has nice texture and looks yummy
Such a lovely version of the pound cake. Loved your Finnish touch Mir!!
The finnish pound cake looks spongy.Lovely choice for this alphabet
That name seems bit difficult to pronounce… Pound cake would be an ideal accompaniment to evening tea
Please what size cake pan?
You can use either an 8″ or a 9″ pan.