Magic Vanilla Cake Recipe Does Something Crazy & Delicious While Baking | Cakes/Cupcakes | 30Seconds Food (2024)

A magic cake?The magic of this vanilla magic cake recipe is that it separates into two layers from one batter when it bakes. Some of my family thought it tasted like bread pudding, some said egg custard and others thought the top layer was like a sponge cake. You can't go wrong with any of those desserts.

The shopping list for this magic vanilla cake recipe is simple: eggs, granulated sugar, butter, flour, half and half and vanilla. Egg yolks, sugar and water is beaten together until pale yellow and fluffy, then the melted butter is added. The flour and salt is mixed in followed by the vanilla. Set this mixture aside and beat egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. Fold those egg whites into the egg yolk batter (be gentle!) and pour into a prepared pan. The low-sodium cake is baked and it will separate into those two gorgeous layers of goodness.

We did think it needed a sauce of some kind, so consider serving it with bourbon butterscotch sauce, maple caramel sauce or a fruit sauce like raspberry, blueberry or lemon curd.

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup)butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups whole milk or half and half (I used half and half)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 egg whites, at room temperature

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Recipe Notes

  • I used half and half to make this cake.
  • Be very gentle when folding in the egg whites so they don't deflate.

Here's how to make it:

  1. Cut two pieces of parchment paper so they fit into the bottom of an8-inch square baking pan and overlap the edges. Spray the bottom of the pan with nonstick cooking spray, then lay the first piece of parchment paper inside. Lay the second piece going the other way. This will make it easy to remove the cake once baked.

  2. Put the egg yolks, sugar and water into the bowl of astand mixer (you could also use amixing bowl andhandheld electric mixer). Beat until it turns pale yellow and is fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Don't undermix.

  3. Slowly add in the melted butter.
  4. Stir in the flour and salt. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Pour in the milk and vanilla and mix on low until combined.

  5. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.

  6. Gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Do not overmix. You want to leave some unincorporated clumps on the top of the batter.

  7. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.

  8. Bake in a preheated 325-degree F oven for about 50 minutes. The top should be golden brown but the center should still jiggle.Cool the cake on the counter until it's at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 281

Total Fat: 12.9g

Saturated Fat: 5.6g

Cholesterol: 422mg

Sodium: 82mg

Total Carbohydrate: 21.6g

Dietary Fiber: 0.2g

Total Sugars: 15.9g

Protein: 10.2g

Vitamin D: 45mcg

Calcium: 68mg

Iron: 1mg

Potassium: 147mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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Magic Vanilla Cake Recipe Does Something Crazy & Delicious While Baking | Cakes/Cupcakes | 30Seconds Food (2024)

FAQs

Why does magic cake work? ›

The thin, wet consistency of the batter is baked at a much lower temperature than a usual sponge cake. This allows it set very slowly, giving the ingredients time to separate into three layers based on their density.

What is the purpose of adding salt to a cake batter? ›

Dear Diahn, The main function of salt in cake recipes is to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. Its presence perks up the depth and complexity of other flavors as the ingredients meld. Salt also provides a balance to the sweetness of cake batters—but a salty flavor should not be discernible.

Why did my cake become hard? ›

Excessive whipping after adding flour - After adding the dry ingredients, just avoid too much whipping, especially when you have added the flour. It can result in activated gluten because when you beat the flour too much with a certain speed, the gluten gets activated, which forms a dry and hard cake.

Why do you need vanilla extract in cake? ›

The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.

Why does frozen cake taste better? ›

The freezing process allows the flavours to meld and develop, resulting in a more harmonious taste. Simply bake your cakes, allowing them to completely cool, pop them in the freezer the next day, and keep them there until you're ready to serve. This clever technique is a valuable addition to any baker's arsenal.

Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder for cake? ›

Remember that baking soda is stronger than baking powder, so you'll want to use a quarter of the amount of baking soda as powder. So if the recipe calls for 1 tsp. baking powder, use ¼ tsp. baking soda.

What happens when you put too much baking powder in a cake? ›

Too much baking powder can cause the batter to be bitter tasting. It can also cause the batter to rise rapidly and then collapse. (i.e. The air bubbles in the batter grow too large and break causing the batter to fall.) Cakes will have a coarse, fragile crumb with a fallen center.

What happens if you leave salt out of a cake recipe? ›

And if the cake is already baking, all will be OK: The cake won't be as flavorful, but it will rise just the same and still be a perfectly fine cake.

What happens if you forget to put eggs in a cake? ›

You will end up with an edible cake but it will not turn out as the recipe intended because it won't rise so much and the texture will be denser. It's better to add 2oz or 3–4 tablespoons of something wet to replace the missing egg. (Search online for egg replacements).

Why do bakers soak cakes? ›

Let me introduce you to the cake soak.

When you do this, the cake integrates moisture and flavor, and the sweetened liquid helps preserve the cake's freshness, so a slice can taste just as delicious a couple days after baking.

How do you make a cake fluffier? ›

The most crucial tip? Instead of buying an entire box of cake flour, simply incorporate two tablespoons of cornstarch into 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. This blocks the formation of gluten in the flour, which produces a lighter, fluffier cake.

Can I use vanilla syrup instead of vanilla extract in cake? ›

Vanilla coffee syrup – Use as a 1:1 substitute for vanilla extract. Vanilla coffee creamer – Use as a 1:1 substitute or double the amount of coffee creamer as extract. Spices, espresso powder – Feel free to think outside of the box and go with a completely different flavor than vanilla.

Will a cake be OK without vanilla extract? ›

If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.

Why does wacky cake work? ›

Yet, despite these 'wacky' differences, the cake is a delicious dessert. Why does wacky cake work? An eggless cake batter relies on the gluten structure of the flour and the lift provided by vinegar and baking soda.

How does magic baking powder work? ›

Single-acting baking powder

This type of baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and a single acidic compound, almost always monocalcium phosphate. That's the formula for Canada's popular Magic brand baking powder. Single-acting baking powders give off carbon dioxide as soon as they are mixed with a liquid.

Why do fairy cakes not rise? ›

This could be down to a lack of raising agent - or even old self-raising flour where the raising agent has become less effective.

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