Kue Cubit: Mini Pancakes From Jakarta Street Carts
Kue Cubit: the mini puffed pancake from Jakarta
Kue cubit is a small, round, puffed cake cooked in a mould with rows of little round cups. It is one of the best-known snacks in Jakarta, where it is sold by the piece and eaten by hand. The centre is soft and spongy, the edges are lightly set, and the top is often finished with chocolate or cheese. It is a snack for an evening stroll or a quick treat between errands, and it is easy to share.
The batter and why it puffs
The batter is built from wheat flour, sugar and milk, and many recipes add flavourings on top of that base. Each seller tends to have a house style, so the simplest way to learn a particular version is to watch the batter being made and then taste the result.
The batter is smooth and pourable, and it is poured into the moulds while still liquid. A leavening agent in the mixture is what makes the cake rise. When the batter reaches the heated mould, the trapped air and the leavening expand, pushing the top into a dome. The top sets while the base browns. A batter that is too thick will not rise well, and one that is too thin will spread and turn flat. Getting the consistency right is what gives the cake its shape.
The small round moulds
The mould is a metal pan with a set of small round cups. It is greased before the batter goes in, and the cups are filled until they are only part full, leaving room for the dome to rise. The round shape and the puffed top come from this pan, and they are the main visual feature of the snack.
The cakes cook from the bottom up. The cook turns them with a thin stick or a spoon once the edges have set, so the other side can brown. The timing is quick, and a busy stall can produce many batches in a short period. When the cakes are golden underneath and set on top, they are lifted out and placed on a plate or tray.
The state of the mould is a useful thing to notice when you are choosing where to buy. It should look clean and lightly greased rather than dry or burnt. Black patches or stuck batter suggest the pan is not being cleaned between batches, and that will show in the flavour and the colour of the cakes.
The usual toppings
Chocolate and cheese are the two most common toppings. Chocolate usually comes as a sprinkle of chocolate pieces, a sweet chocolate sauce or grated chocolate. Cheese is grated or sliced and melts softly over the warm cake. Some sellers also offer newer flavours, such as green tea, and a few add other sweet fillings. The menu board at the stall will show what is on offer that day.
Toppings are added while the cakes are still warm, so the cheese or chocolate softens slightly against the surface. That is why the cakes taste best soon after they are topped. Most sellers will add the topping you name, and many people choose two toppings on one piece, or one topping on each of several pieces, which makes it easy to compare.
How to order at a stall
Ask for kue cubit by name and say how many pieces you want. Then name the toppings. The Indonesian words for the two most common are keju for cheese and cokelat for chocolate. Saying the topping in Indonesian is quicker than pointing, and most sellers will understand you at once. Many stalls sell the snack in small paper boxes or bags, so you can take it away. Payment is usually made at the stall once the order is ready.
It helps to order a few pieces with different toppings on your first visit. That way you learn which combination you like, and you can ask for the same one next time. If the name on the board is unfamiliar, ask the seller to explain the options; they are usually happy to do so.
Where it is found
Kue cubit is widely sold in Jakarta, and it is one of the city’s most familiar snacks. It is sold by street vendors, and it can be found in more than one kind of setting. The best place to try it is wherever a busy vendor is making fresh batches, because freshness matters more to the result than the setting.
Choosing a good stall
Look at the moulds before you order. They should be clean and lightly greased. Watch the batter being poured and the cakes being turned. A busy stall with a steady flow of fresh pieces is a good sign, because the cakes are being made and sold quickly. Check that the toppings look fresh and are kept covered, especially cheese. If the tray looks as though it has been standing, ask for a fresh batch.
Reading how busy a stall is
A queue is one of the best signs. A stall that sells quickly is usually turning over its stock, so the cakes are fresh. A stall with an empty counter and a tray of cold pieces is worth skipping. If you are unsure, stand and watch for a few minutes before you order. The pace of the cook and the number of people waiting will tell you most of what you need to know.
Comparing it with other Jakarta pancakes
Kue cubit is a thick, puffed cake with a soft centre and toppings added after cooking. If you want another cake to compare with it, the kue ape page covers a different style, and tasting one of each makes the difference clear.
For the wider food traditions of the city, the Betawi cuisine page places Jakarta’s home-style cooking in context, which helps explain why these small sweets are so popular in the capital.
Eating it
Eat kue cubit warm, while the topping is still soft. The pieces are small and can be eaten in a few bites, or two or three at a time. Many people share a box with friends, trying different toppings and passing them around. It is a snack made for walking, so people often eat it on the way home or on a bench. Keep the paper box closed, because the chocolate and cheese are at their best while the pieces are still warm.
In hot weather the toppings soften quickly, so eat the snack soon after buying it. A piece left in a bag for a long time loses its texture and becomes soft and damp, and that is the point at which the snack has lost most of its appeal.
Who will enjoy it and who should skip it
Kue cubit suits a visitor who enjoys sweet street snacks and wants to try a popular Jakarta treat. It is a good choice in the evening, when the stalls are busy and the city feels lively, and it is an easy snack to share. It also works well for a visitor travelling with children, because the pieces are small and the toppings are familiar.
It is less suitable for someone who avoids dairy, or who prefers a crisp texture to a soft, spongy centre. The batter contains wheat flour and milk, so a visitor with a wheat or dairy allergy should ask about the ingredients before eating. If you want something crisp, look for a different snack on the same street.
What to drink with it
A cold drink balances the sweetness of the toppings. A fresh juice or a plain iced tea works well, and a sweet drink such as es teh manis is a common partner for a casual evening snack. For a lighter pairing, plain water clears the palate between pieces with different toppings.
Questions people ask about kue cubit
Is kue cubit a cake or a pancake?
The batter is poured into a mould and cooked until it domes, so it has the lightness of a small cake with the shape of a pancake.
Why does it puff up?
The batter contains a leavening agent and trapped air. When it hits the hot mould, the air and the leavening expand and push the top into a dome. The top then sets as the base browns.
Can I choose my own toppings?
Yes. Most stalls let you choose one or more toppings for each piece. Name the topping you want, and the seller will add it while the cake is warm.
How long does it stay fresh?
Kue cubit is best eaten soon after it is made. The cake softens and the toppings change as it cools, so eat it soon after buying.
Is it a dessert or a snack?
It is usually a snack, sold on the street and eaten by hand. The sweeter toppings give it the feel of a dessert, and that is part of its appeal.
A street snack to try in Jakarta
Kue cubit is one of the simplest and most enjoyable snacks in Jakarta. Its puffed shape, soft centre and choice of toppings make it easy to share and easy to enjoy. Pick a busy stall, check the moulds, and order a few pieces with different toppings to find your favourite. Then compare it with a different cake, and you will notice how much the thickness and the toppings change the experience.
More snacks to try: pisang bakar, ranginang and kue jipang.