This is called a magic custard cake recipe for good reason – one batter, baked in one pan, transforms into a 3-layer cake. No torting or frosting required. Magic.
My initial goal was to bake a traditional Filipino custard cake. But reading the recipe already exhausted me because it was 3 pages long and took something like 5 hours to make.
No energy for complicated endeavours at the moment.
Then I saw this magic custard cake recipe. Not only was it custard (which was what I was originally gunning for), it was magic. Now who wouldn’t want that?
No layer cake recipe can be simpler
This is how it goes: you work with one batter. You pour it into one pan. In about an hour you end up with a 3-layer cake, no torting necessary.
I don’t know how or why. And I don’t need to. All I know is that it’s stress-free to make.
The best thing about it is it doesn’t look easy to make at all. It looks like it took you hours to bake. It looks like it takes great technique. It doesn’t!
But is it good?
Absolutely. It does not taste like the custard cake I was craving for but it’s delightful nonetheless.
The bottom layer has the texture of gelatine. But firmer. The middle layer is your custard – rich and creamy. The top layer is your cake – light and airy.
Interesting, right? Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and you have a cake that tastes as good as it looks.
A whole world of magic cakes
This is the first time I’ve heard of magic cakes but apparently there is a lot of variations you can do.
I think Jo Cooks is the definitive magic cake expert and just looking at all the magic cakes she’s done, you just want to try each one and never bake a non-magic cake ever again.
Go and start with this one. It’s quick, easy and fool-proof. Who says muggles can’t do magic? (Who says I’m a muggle?)
Magic Custard Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pcs egg yolks from large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter melted (you can use salted or unsalted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk microwave in increments of 30 seconds until lukewarm (not hot)
- 4 pcs egg whites from large eggs room temperature
- confectioner's sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F and lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking pan. Set aside.
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the 4 egg yolks and the ¾ cup sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture turns light yellow (about 2 minutes).
- Add ½ cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla and continue to beat until combined (another 2 minutes).
- Add ¾ cup flour and mix well.
- Gradually add the 2 cups milk and continue to mix until everything is fully incorporated. Set this batter aside.
- In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer (you can also do this by hand if you’re so inclined), beat the egg whites until you reach stiff peak.
- Add your egg whites into your batter a third a time, gently whisking by hand each time, until the batter is smooth and no significant egg white streaks or lumps remain. Do not over-whisk.
- Transfer the cake batter into your prepared pan and bake for 40-60 minutes or until the top of the cake turns golden brown.
- Take the cake out of the oven, cool slightly then refrigerate overnight to chill and set completely.
- Let the cake sit in room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares, sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking, muggle!
Did you try this magic custard cake recipe? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear all about it.
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