Old-fashioned cakes, which originated in ancient Europe, also have their own story in China with the spread of baking art. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the art of pastry making was introduced to China, and cakes became the best of the early pastries with their simple but not simple recipes. This dessert not only carries the essence of Western pastry culture, but also integrates the unique understanding of ingredients of Oriental people, and becomes a delicious messenger of cross-cultural communication. Just like the delicate depiction of food in "Dream of Red Mansions", the old-fashioned cake with its delicate texture and rich egg aroma outlines a warm picture of family gatherings, which makes people have endless aftertastes.
Cooking Steps:
**Main Material**:
- 4 eggs (about 200g)
- 120 grams of caster sugar
- 120 grams of cake flour
- Baking powder 1/2 teaspoon (about 2g)
- Butter 40g (melted)
1. Warm up the eggs at room temperature, sift the cake flour twice and preheat the oven to 170°C.
2. Crack the eggs into a waterless and oil-free basin, add all the sugar, heat the hot water while heating with an electric whisk at high speed, until the volume expands several times, the color becomes lighter, lift the whisk, and the traces of egg batter dripping slowly disappear.
3. Sift in the cake flour and baking powder three times, and mix gently each time to avoid defoaming.
4. Slowly pour the melted butter along the wall of the basin and mix quickly.
5. Pour the batter into a paper lined mold and gently shake out the bubbles. Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until the surface is golden brown and the toothpick is inserted in the center without wet batter.
Tips:
- Use a hot water bath to beat the whole eggs, which can speed up the beating speed and improve stability, but the temperature should not be too high, which will easily cause the egg liquid to solidify, so it should be controlled below 40 degrees.
- Butter-free can be replaced with vegetable oil for added freshness.
- Lemon zest can be added in moderation to add a fresh fruity aroma.
When the old-fashioned cake is freshly baked from the oven, the golden exterior shimmers in the light, and the delicate cake body sways gently, as if telling a story that has been passed down for centuries. Gently cut, the internal tissue is soft and delicate, the aroma of the egg is intertwined with the slight sweetness, and every bite is a gentle soothing for the taste buds. When you close your eyes, you can hear a slight "click", which is the moment when your teeth make contact with the cake, and the sense of happiness spreads in your mouth. This is not only a dessert, but also a tribute to the classics, the pursuit of the taste of home. Let's work together to pass on this simple and pure deliciousness.