History

Setteveli is the Palermitan seven-layer chocolate cake associated with Pasticceria Cappello, where AMPI master pastry chef Salvatore Cappello refined the Sicilian version. (The contemporary competition Setteveli that won the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon in 1997 was the work of a separate Italian team; Cappello's Palermo cake is the city's local standard.) The cake has become the modern signature Palermitan pastry, sold across the city alongside the historic convent and Arab-origin sweets.

Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Nuts

Make it at home

Yield 10Hands-on 3 hrTotal 24 hrDifficulty Advanced

Ingredients

  • 150g 70 percent dark chocolate
  • 300g double cream
  • 200g gianduja paste
  • 150g hazelnut praline
  • 1 round chocolate sponge, 22cm diameter, 2cm tall
  • 300g 55 percent dark chocolate for mousse
  • 200g milk chocolate for crunchy layer
  • 100g feuilletine flakes
  • 200g 70 percent chocolate for top glaze
  • 100g neutral mirror glaze base

Method

  1. Layer 1: thin chocolate sponge base. Place in a 22cm ring on a serving plate.
  2. Layer 2: spread hazelnut praline over the sponge.
  3. Layer 3: feuilletine and melted milk chocolate, pressed flat 5mm thick.
  4. Layer 4: gianduja mousse (whip cream and fold into melted gianduja). Spread 1.5cm thick.
  5. Layer 5: bitter chocolate mousse (whip cream and fold into melted dark chocolate). Spread 2cm thick.
  6. Layer 6: chocolate ganache, set 30 minutes in the freezer.
  7. Layer 7: warm mirror glaze poured over the chilled cake top to coat. Refrigerate 4 hours before slicing.

Tip from the editors. The seven layers each need to set fully before the next is poured; this is not a one-afternoon project, plan over 24 hours.

Where to eat setteveli

Setteveli in Palermo

Pasticceria Cappello ★ 4.8

Bakery€albergheriaTue-Sun 07:00-21:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlySetteveli chocolate cake, Sicilian pasticceria

Pasticceria Cappello on Via Colonna Rotta in Palermo has run since 1950 under AMPI master pastry chef Salvatore Cappello, home of the Sicilian Setteveli.

Tip: Setteveli (the Sicilian seven-veil chocolate cake) is the headline order. Second branch on Via Nicolo Garzilli 19 in Politeama.

Worth the queue: Torta Setteveli (seven-layer chocolate cake)

Via Colonna Rotta 68, 90134 Palermo

Pasticceria Costa ★ 4.1

Bakery€libertaDaily 07:00-21:00Walk-in onlySetteveli, cannoli, monoporzioni

Pasticceria Costa on Via D'Annunzio in Palermo's Liberta is one of the city's senior Setteveli pasticcerie, with a parallel Via Maqueda branch and seasonal.

Tip: Setteveli is the headline order. The monoporzione case at the back has the seasonal flavours; cassata in spring.

Worth the queue: Torta Setteveli, cannolo siciliano

Via Gabriele D'Annunzio 15, 90144 Palermo Book →

Antico Caffe Spinnato ★ 4.4

Cocktail barCafe-bar aperitivo€€€politeama

Antico Caffe Spinnato's pedestrian terrace on Via Principe di Belmonte in Palermo's Politeama is the city's senior cafe-bar for aperitivo, drawing the local.

Signature drink: Aperol spritz, Sicilian wines by the glass

Food: Aperitivo plates, charcuterie

Tip: The pedestrian terrace fills first in summer. Aperol spritz and Sicilian wines by the glass.

Via Principe di Belmonte 107, 90139 Palermo

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