Chajá Dessert: Uruguayan Peach Meringue Cake with Whipped Cream 61 2026

Chajá is one of Uruguay's most beloved desserts, and one bite explains why. A light sponge cake gets layered with dulce de leche, crunchy meringue, juicy peaches and clouds of whipped cream. The contrast of textures and flavors is truly unforgettable.

While it looks impressive, this cake comes together easily at home in under an hour of active work. You can also swap the peaches for apricots or fresh strawberries, but any version you choose will be a showstopper.

The best way to enjoy chajá is freshly assembled after a short chill in the fridge, when the layers have just settled together. Leftovers keep well covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Ingredients for Chajá

This recipe makes 12 servings.

• 3 medium eggs
• 120 g sugar
• 120 g all-purpose flour
• 15 g melted butter, cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 600 ml cold heavy whipping cream
• 80 g powdered sugar
• 80 ml syrup from the canned peaches
• 200 g dulce de leche
• 5 or 6 dry meringues (homemade or store-bought)
• 4 canned peach halves

How to Make Chajá Step by Step

1. Grease the pans and set aside

Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) with top and bottom heat. Grease 3 layer cake pans of 15 cm (6 inches) and set them aside. If you don't have 3 pans, you can bake the sponges one at a time, or bake a single sponge and split it into three layers.

2. Beat the eggs and sugar until doubled in volume

Beat 3 medium eggs with 120 g of sugar at medium speed until they double in volume and become very fluffy and spongy.

3. Sift in the flour and fold gently

Sift 120 g of all-purpose flour and fold it in gently with a spatula using enveloping movements, being careful not to deflate the batter.

4. Fold in the butter and vanilla

Pour in 15 g of melted, cooled butter — you can melt it in the microwave — and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Fold these in gently with enveloping movements until fully incorporated.

5. Divide the batter into the pans and bake

Divide the batter among the greased pans and bake for 15–20 minutes at 180 °C (350 °F). If you bake a single large sponge instead, it will need more time. Either way, the sponge is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Let the sponges cool and unmold

Remove the sponges from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes. Then unmold them and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

7. Whip the cream with powdered sugar

Once the sponges are completely cool, whip 600 ml of cold heavy cream with 80 g of powdered sugar until firm and fluffy. Keep it in the refrigerator until ready to use.

8. Build the first layer with dulce de leche and meringue

Place the first sponge on a serving plate and soak it with some of the peach syrup. Spread 200 g of dulce de leche over it and crumble 3 or 4 dry meringues on top.

9. Add the second layer with cream and peaches

Place the second sponge on top, brush it with syrup, and add a portion of whipped cream and 2 chopped canned peach halves.

10. Top with the last sponge and cover with cream

Place the final sponge on top and brush it with syrup again. Cover the entire cake with whipped cream, smoothing it as you go.

11. Decorate the chajá

Once the cake is fully covered with cream, decorate it with the remaining 2 peach halves and some crushed dry meringues.

12. Chill, serve and enjoy

Refrigerate the chajá for about 30 minutes to 1 hour so the cake settles before serving. Then slice and enjoy all the flavor of this Uruguayan dessert.

Tips for the Best Chajá

Serve it freshly assembled

The best way to enjoy chajá is right after it has rested in the fridge, when the layers are set but the meringue still has a bit of crunch. If you have leftovers, store them well covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Try different fruits

Chajá can also be made with apricots or fresh strawberries instead of peaches. Whichever combination you choose, this dessert will always be unforgettable.

Make it ahead

You can bake the sponges and whip the cream a day in advance. Keep the sponges well wrapped at room temperature and the cream in the fridge. Assemble the cake a few hours before serving so the layers have time to settle.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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