- Jenny
Sometimes, you come by a recipe in such a backwards way that the only explanation must be that you were meant to make this dish. This was the case with Tender Yellow Cake.
Let me first state that I do not need any more cake recipes. Or cookies or pie or slumps or macaroons or confections of any manner. (Or is it nor? Someone will no doubt weigh in.) My point is that my folder of savory recipes is about 1/3 the size of my dessert one (this would be manila folders that I have been “organizing” for the better part of a decade) and I need not be on the troll for more sweet stuff.
But then I had this lovely little container of currants from the farmer’s market, the sort of thing one purchases with no plan at all and finds herself dismayed that one is not automatically revealed as the week goes on. I tried drying them in an oven. Fail. I put them on a tray outside, but nothing happened other than the growing sense of paranoia that a small animal or bird gave the berries an unsanitary lick.
Amanda, who tires of my late night instant message rants about ingredient confusion, suggested I put my currants in a cake. A mad search ensued, and this cake looked so incredibly delicious, I decided to make it instantly. Then, I came up with an even better idea -- make the incipient do it.
I would like to report to you that she abandoned her Facebook page cheerfully to do so, but let’s settle for the fact that she was rewarded with the satisfaction of a cake well baked, and stopped grumbling once it came out of the oven.
This is truly a child’s cake in terms of ease; a few eggs whipped up are the only tiny small extra step you take. The results are truly amazing, especially given the effort: it has the light texture of a sponge cake, with the deep vanilla kiss of a heavier cake. I will take this moment to once again praise the use of oils in cakes, which I think often yield something far easier and delicious than my beloved butter versions.
The only things we did differently from sdebrango is make it in a sheet pan (baked for 30 minutes on the nose; your oven may vary) simply because we felt like it; use the standing mixer the entire time, because we’re lazy, and eat it while it was still hot, because we really could not stand to wait.
This cake was very fine on day two, when I covered it with the currant compote I made stove top (pint of berries, ¼ cup of sugar, and ¼ cup of water cooked for quite a while). As it turns out, the cake is a perfect vehicle for syrupy things. “The absorption rate is spectacular,” commented my colleague, C, as I presented him with the cake after a particularly tedious vote. This is true. But I would eat it plain, right out of the pan, happily.
Tender Yellow Cake by sdebrango
SERVES 10-12
- 3 large eggs separated and at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 1/4 cups cake flour
- 3 teaspoons Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup + 1 tbs vegetable oil (I use canola)
- 1 cup whole milk (1 or 2% work also)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pre-heat oven to 350
- Butter and flour and line with parchment two 9" round baking pans.
- Beat egg whites until frothy then add 1/2 cup of the sugar (reserving the rest) a tablespoon at a time until egg whiles are stiff and glossy
- Sift flour, remaining 1 cup sugar, baking powder and salt into large mixing bowl if you are using a hand held mixer or into bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add the oil and 1/2 cup of the milk and the vanilla. Beat for 1 minute on medium speed, mixture will be quite thick. I actually prefer to use a hand held mixer for this recipe.
- Add the egg yolks and remaining milk and beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
- Fold in egg whites and distribute into the baking pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10-20 minutes in the pan then turn out onto cake rack to cool completely.
By day, Jennifer Steinhauer, aka Jenny, covers Congress for The New York Times. By night, she is an obsessive cook.
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Jestei
I don't eat tripe.
Some past articles from this author you'll love:
Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt Sauce
Paprika Pork Chop
Warm Vegetable Curry
Thanks Lori!
Thanks Jenny and Sdebrango! I've been telling my daughter that a "scratch cake" is as simple as a box mix but twice as good and half the cost! Looking forward to this.
YEAH!
My granddaughter's birthday (she'll be 4) is coming up the end of this month and this will be the perfect cake for it!! Thanks for highlighting a great recipe Jenny and thanks for another great recipe sdebrango!!
Thank you so much! I made the cake for my granddaughters 6th birthday. Congratulations to the birthday girl.
I'm so glad you used this cake for your current currant experiment. (sorry, couldn't resist) My birthday is coming up and every year I try to make the Boston Cream Pie that I remember and every year I fail. This cake reads like it might be what I'm looking for. ...And since your daughter made it, I can't live with any sense of dignity that a kid could do something I can't . You see, I'm sponge cake challanged (it fails every time I try one) but this doesn't appear as fussy.
if it makes you feel better, i did her eggs for her. but you can certainly make and enjoy this cake on your own. i promise it is delicious.
Hi Soozll I used this cake recipe for boston Cream pie it works perfectly here is the link I posted on food52 so you can see it: http://www.food52.com/recipes/12124_boston_cream_pie_with_kahlua_ganache
I've never eaten a currant. My dad grew up on a farm in upstate New York and spent his childhood "picking the #$$@$%@# currants." I think he's forever traumatized and they were therefore banned in my home.
i had a similar blueberry trauma seeded in paw paw michigan. but i am moving on at last.
Jenny - Either "or" or "nor" is acceptable!
thank you. i do love a good nor.
I have been looking for a good yellow cake. Guess I need look no further.
eager to hear what you put on it thirschfeld!
"make the incipient do it." Love it! You're so much better a mother than I was.
I think the word you are looking for is lazier!
This looks great! (and easy! dance of joy!)
What size sheet pan did you use, Jenny??
i think it was a 12 by 15. does that make sense? pretty big one i remember.
Mmmmmm! And another use for raspberries if for some eason you happen to be out of red currants ;)
yes i never saw currants on the west coast, or if i did they were rare. so i am thinking of doing this again while in LA with macerated strawberries and cream.
That sounds great too... Am thinking of using Merrill's boozy cherries for this too ;)
Sounds like a great recipe - thank you Jenny for showcasing easy to assemble recipes!
the only kind i make!! happy summer!
Glorious! I have Merrill's Best Lime Ice Cream chilling in the freezer now, but this cake will be my next dessert. Thanks for spotlighting this. My recipe "file" is heavy on savory stuff; perhaps we should trade.
that sounds like a divine plan. both actually.
Thanks for reminding me about this lovely cake! I've been meaning to make it since sdebrango posted it. Love the compote idea too.
can't wait to hear if you like it, midge.
Sounds so good. Reminds me of torta frutti di bosco, my favorite currant dessert. Sounds like this cake would be fantastic with ricotta whipped cream, too. Now I'm hoping that my market has currants tomorrow!
this is totally your kind of cake.
I'm with you on the dessert recipe collection. I hate it when I invite people over and they say, "I'll bring dessert." (And then it's some store bought thing that I inevitably hate and end up throwing away.....) But enough about me. Happy 4th, Jenny! And thank you for sharing sdebrango's lovely recipe with us!
oh yes. the store bought dessert sadness. i know that outcome all too well.
OMG! thank you Jenny for trying my cake. I am so glad you liked it!!
It was so sweet to find this this morning.
I was so shocked and happy to see this. Thank you Boulangere!
Isn't this fun?! So nice to see this!
Thank you drbabs, happy 4th to you!!
i loved it!! can't wait to try more of your recipes.
Now I wanna bake a cake too. Made a big batch of blueberry fig sauce yesterday. Oh and since you started neither with either or neither I believe the use of or or nor is completely up to you. Say that 3 times fast.
blueberries. fantastic!
That sounds positively Seussian.
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