Vettu Cake is one of Kerala’s most nostalgic tea-time snacks, often found in roadside tea stalls or chayakadas, served hot alongside a strong cup of chai. Though called a “cake,” it’s actually a deep-fried sweet snack, with a crispy golden exterior and a soft, mildly sweet center. Somewhere between a dense biscuit and a sweet fritter, it’s humble, hearty, and comforting in the most familiar way.
For me, vettu cake is one of my all-time favorite tea-time snacks. Just the sight of it brings back memories of evening tea, laughter with friends, and the irresistible aroma drifting from the corner teashop. There’s something deeply satisfying about its crunchy edges and the soft, cardamom-scented middle that no fancy dessert can quite match.
The name vettu means “cut” in Malayalam, and that refers to the signature deep cross-cut made on each dough piece before frying. This allows the dough to puff up and open into jagged, rustic shapes in the oil-beautiful in their own rough-edged way.
It’s made using a simple mix of maida (all-purpose flour), sugar, eggs, a pinch of baking soda or baking powder, and cardamom powder for flavor. The dough is firm but pliable, rested briefly, and then cut into small blocks. Just before frying, a deep ‘X’ is cut on top. These cuts bloom open during frying, creating its unique look and texture-crispy, crunchy outside, and tender within.
Vettu cake is a familiar companion to Kerala’s beloved kattan chaya (black tea) or milky tea. It’s usually found alongside banana fritters (pazham pori), parippu vada, and sukhiyan-yet it always stands out, quietly special in its simplicity.
Whether picked up from a roadside stall or made at home with love, vettu cake is more than just a snack. It’s a piece of Kerala’s everyday charm-and for me, a delicious part of many warm, unforgettable evenings.
Vettu Cake
Ingredients
Instructions
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ettu cake is Keralite’s childhood nostalgia. That golden different shapes appear in almost every tea stalls in kerala. Its really easy to make
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First of all, beat one egg well. Add powdered sugar, Baking soda and mix well.
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Now add All purpose flour little by little. Kneed well and make a dough similar to Chapati /roti
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Keep it for 30 minutes covered
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With a rolling pin, make 1 1/2 inch thick sheet
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Cut them in to small square
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Mark “X” on each pieces with the knife
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Heat oil and deep fry each of them in to golden brown colour. Vetttu cake is ready