Lapis is in Malay and is literally translated as “layers’. This is a Nonya steamed cake and is different from the Kek lapis. Kek lapis is baked but kueh lapis is steamed and the ingredients are very different. Where the main ingredients of Kek Lapis (layered cakes) are butter, wheat flours, eggs and sugar, the main ingredients of kueh lapis (steamed layered cakes) are rice flours, starches and water.