Boiled sweet potato with garlic served with fresh parsley Garlic Infused Sweet Potatoes Nutella mascarpone cake decorated with whipped cream and chocolate shavings Nutella & mascarpone layer cake Fresh, homemade cinnamon sugar pretzels, crunchy and golden brown Cinnamon sugar pretzels Rum and raisin cannoli served on a plate Rum & raisin cannoli Oreo macaron Oreo Macarons Elk Meat Doughnut served fresh Elk meat doughnuts (venison) Spinach rice served Greek spinach rice Cauliflower and pea samosas served Spiced cauliflower and pea samosas Honey ginger lemonade freshly served Zesty honey and ginger lemonade Khao soi soup served Khao soi (Northern Thai curry noodle soup) Natto with mustard served with coriander Japanese natto with karashi mustard & spring onion Malai Sondesh with cream, garnished with fresh cottage cheese and rosewater Malai Sondesh Bicol Express pork with coconut milk sauce and chilli peppers Bicol Express with Coconut Milk Galaktoboureko with lemon syrup, filo pastry and semolina filling Galaktoboureko with lemon syrup Broken wheat payasam with coconut milk and spices, rich Indian dessert Broken wheat payasam Lomo saltado served with beef and roasted vegetables Lomo Saltado with Roasted Vegetables Smoked meat pelmeni served with sour cream Russian smoked meat pelmeni Butter scones served All-butter puff scones Creamy spicy tomato soup served Spicy cream of tomato soup Taco bowl served Deconstructed taco bowl Boiled sweet potato with garlic served with fresh parsley Garlic Infused Sweet Potatoes Nutella mascarpone cake decorated with whipped cream and chocolate shavings Nutella & mascarpone layer cake Fresh, homemade cinnamon sugar pretzels, crunchy and golden brown Cinnamon sugar pretzels Rum and raisin cannoli served on a plate Rum & raisin cannoli Oreo macaron Oreo Macarons Elk Meat Doughnut served fresh Elk meat doughnuts (venison) Spinach rice served Greek spinach rice Cauliflower and pea samosas served Spiced cauliflower and pea samosas Honey ginger lemonade freshly served Zesty honey and ginger lemonade Khao soi soup served Khao soi (Northern Thai curry noodle soup) Natto with mustard served with coriander Japanese natto with karashi mustard & spring onion Malai Sondesh with cream, garnished with fresh cottage cheese and rosewater Malai Sondesh Bicol Express pork with coconut milk sauce and chilli peppers Bicol Express with Coconut Milk Galaktoboureko with lemon syrup, filo pastry and semolina filling Galaktoboureko with lemon syrup Broken wheat payasam with coconut milk and spices, rich Indian dessert Broken wheat payasam Lomo saltado served with beef and roasted vegetables Lomo Saltado with Roasted Vegetables Smoked meat pelmeni served with sour cream Russian smoked meat pelmeni Butter scones served All-butter puff scones Creamy spicy tomato soup served Spicy cream of tomato soup Taco bowl served Deconstructed taco bowl
Homemade Gerbeaud cake with crumbly dough, walnut filling, and chocolate coating
Crumbly Gerbeaud cake with walnut and apricot jam layers, topped with dark chocolate

Gerbeaud cake (Zserbo)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Cakes and Desserts
Zserbo is not just a cake, but architecture with walnuts and apricot jam. Emil Gerbeaud's legacy relies on the perfect ratio of crumbly yeast dough and rich filling. The secret is patience: layers must be left to set so the acidity of the jam and oiliness of walnuts become one with the dough. The jewel of festive tables, which only gets better by the next day.
🕒 Prep Time 45 mins
🍳 Cook Time 35 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
🍽️ Servings 12 servings
🔥 Calories 520 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Hungarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Baking tray (approx. 30x20 cm)
  • Rolling pin
  • Fork (for docking)

Allergen Information

⚠️ Cereals containing gluten
⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Eggs
⚠️ Nuts

Instructions

1 ✓

Crumble the flour with cold butter until it resembles wet sand. Crumble in the yeast too.

Tip: Cold butter is important: if it melts from hand warmth, the dough won't be crumbly but hard (fat layers must remain).
2 ✓

Add the egg, sour cream, and a spoonful of icing sugar. Knead quickly until it comes together. Don't overwork!

Tip: The acidity of sour cream helps make the dough 'fragile', making it truly delicious.
3 ✓

Divide dough into three equal balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Tip: During chilling, butter hardens again, making it easier to roll without sticking.
4 ✓

Mix ground walnuts with remaining icing sugar.

Tip: Sugar prevents walnuts from clumping into a block and caramelises during baking.
5 ✓

Roll out the first ball to tray size and lay in buttered tray. Spread half the jam and sprinkle half the sugary walnuts.

Tip: Use baking paper at the bottom to ensure easy removal.
6 ✓

Place second rolled sheet on top, spread remaining jam, and sprinkle remaining walnuts.

Tip: Press edges down slightly so jam doesn't flow out.
7 ✓

Cover with third sheet. Prick densely with a fork right to the bottom, then rest at room temperature for 40 minutes.

Tip: Docking is mandatory: steam escapes through holes. If skipped, dough blisters and breaks.
8 ✓

Bake in preheated oven at 180°C for approx. 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown. Cool completely in the tray.

Tip: Don't coat with chocolate while warm, or glaze runs off and becomes matte.
9 ✓

Melt chocolate over steam with oil and coat the cake. Let set before slicing.

Tip: Oil makes the chocolate glaze shiny and slightly softer, so it doesn't shatter when cutting.

Recipe FAQ

Why did the chocolate crack?
Likely cooled too fast, or chocolate was too hot when spreading. Humidity can also cause it.
What makes the dough dry?
If baked too long, or too little fat used. Gerbeaud dough has high fat content, which gives its crumbliness.

Ingredients

  • 300 g Plain flour
  • 150 g Cold butter
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 20 g Fresh yeast
  • 50 g Sour cream
  • 100 g Icing sugar (for dough and nuts)
  • 200 g Ground walnuts
  • 300 g Thick apricot jam
  • 150 g Dark chocolate (coating)
  • 1 tbsp Oil (for chocolate)