Soft & Fluffy Homemade Castella Cake
Easy Castella Cake Recipe for Beginner Bakers
This Castella cake recipe is perfect for baking beginners as it requires no proofing and has a straightforward process! Give it a try and bake your own warm and airy Castella at home. (Makes one 20x20cm square cake)
Batter- 5 Egg Yolks
- 50g Sugar
- 45g Honey (or corn syrup, liquid sweetener)
- 30g Canola Oil
- 65g Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 150g All-purpose Flour
Meringue- 5 Egg Whites
- 100g Sugar
- 5 Egg Whites
- 100g Sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Place the egg whites in a clean bowl and begin whisking. Once they start to foam, gradually add the sugar in 2-3 additions, continuing to whisk until you achieve a stiff, glossy meringue. Stiff peaks should form when you lift the whisk.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks and sugar. Whisk them together until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. You can use a hand mixer or a whisk for this step.
Step 3
Add the honey (or corn syrup, liquid sweetener), canola oil, milk, and vanilla extract to the yolk mixture in this order. Whisk well until everything is combined and smooth, without any lumps. Ensure the liquid ingredients are well emulsified.
Step 4
Now it’s time to combine the meringue with the batter. Add about one-third of the prepared meringue to the yolk mixture and gently fold it in to avoid deflating the foam. Then, pour the yolk mixture into the bowl with the remaining meringue. Gently fold them together until just combined; the meringue doesn’t need to be perfectly incorporated, and some streaks are okay.
Step 5
Sift the all-purpose flour into the batter. Use a spatula to fold the flour into the batter, scraping the sides of the bowl. Mix until no dry flour streaks remain, but be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can develop gluten and affect the cake’s tender texture.
Step 6
Pour the batter into your prepared 20x20cm square baking pan. Gently tap the pan on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Smooth the top surface of the batter.
Step 7
Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (340°F) for approximately 30 minutes. Avoid opening the oven door frequently while baking. To check for doneness, insert a skewer or toothpick into the center; it should come out clean. Once baked, remove from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
