Buzz
Baking a sponge cake in an oven is a common method for many people, but sponge cakes can also be made in various other ways. If you don't have a microwave, you can still prepare a sponge cake using a gas stove, a large pot, a steaming rack, or a glass baking tray. The result will be similar to an oven-baked sponge cake, but it will be softer and not dry.
Steps
Prepare the Batter and Cake Pan
Select and prepare your favorite sponge cake batter. You can either use your own sponge cake recipe or pre-mixed cake flour. Most sponge cake recipes work well with the method described in this article.
Spread butter onto 1 or 2 cake pans. Be sure to butter the bottom and the sides of the pan. If the recipe calls for additional pans, follow the instructions. If the recipe requires a removable-bottom pan, you can substitute it with 2 regular cake pans.
You should avoid using a removable-bottom pan as the clasp and height of the pan might prevent the pan from fitting into the pot.
Sprinkle flour into the pan. Add about 1 tablespoon of flour to each pan you're using. Gently shake and tilt the pan back and forth so the flour evenly covers the bottom. Next, stand the pan upright and roll it like a wheel to get flour on the sides of the pan. Discard any excess flour.
- If there's not enough flour, add another ½ - 1 tablespoon of flour to the pan.
Line the pan with parchment paper. First, place the pan on the parchment paper and trace around the bottom of the pan with a pencil. Then, cut out the circle from the parchment paper and place it inside the pan.
- Repeat this step for each pan you need to use.
- You don't need to line the sides of the pan with parchment paper.
Pour the cake batter into the pan. Use a spatula to scrape all of the batter into the pan. If you're using multiple pans, ensure the batter is evenly divided. Gently shake the pan to spread the batter evenly inside the pan.
Gently tap the pan on the countertop a few times. This is not mandatory, but it helps reduce air bubbles in the batter.
Prepare the Steaming Pot for the Cake
Prepare the pot and steaming rack or glass baking tray. The steaming rack should have a flat bottom and legs underneath to prevent it from touching the pot, or it should have handles to ensure the rack fits securely on the pot's edge.
You can also use a round glass baking tray. The tray should have a flat bottom and handles to ensure it fits snugly on the pot's edge.
Pour some water into the pot, then place the steaming rack on top. The water should be about 2.5 cm below the steaming rack. Add water to the pot before placing the steaming rack. Adjust the water level as necessary.
- If you're using a glass baking tray, the water level should also be about 2.5 cm below the tray's bottom.
- The 2.5 cm distance doesn't need to be exact. Just ensure that the water in the pot won't spill into the steaming rack when it boils.
Place a thin layer of dry beans at the bottom of the steaming rack. You can use any type of beans, or even small pebbles. The purpose of using beans is to create a cushion between the steaming rack and the base of the pan.
- You will follow the same procedure when using a glass baking tray. In this case, dry beans are safer for the glass.
Prepare an additional double-boiler if you are making multiple cakes. You can use a combination of a pot and a steaming rack, or a pot and a glass baking tray. While the appearance of the sponge cake might differ slightly depending on the setup, the flavor will be the same.
- The steaming time for both setups is the same.
- If you do not prepare an additional pot, you will need to steam the cakes in multiple batches.
Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil on high heat for about 5 minutes. Just like preheating an oven, you need to warm up the steaming pot. Simply cover the pot, set the stove to high heat, and wait for 5 minutes.
- If you skip this step, it would be like placing the batter into a cold oven; the cake will not cook properly and might remain raw.
- Ensure that the lid is tightly covering the steaming rack or glass baking tray to prevent steam from escaping. This is crucial when you begin steaming the cake.
Steam the sponge cake
Place the cake pan into the steaming rack. If you're using a glass baking tray, place the cake pan into the tray. Make sure the bottom of the pan rests on the dry beans. Do not attempt to push the pan down beneath the layer of beans.
If the bottom of the pan touches the base of the steaming rack or glass baking tray, the cake pan will get very hot, causing the cake to burn.
Place a sheet of parchment paper over the pot before covering it. Do not close the pot immediately. If you do, steam will accumulate and drip down onto the cake, making it soggy. Instead, cut a sheet of parchment paper to cover the opening of the pot, and then gently place the lid over the paper.
- The parchment paper should extend about 5 cm beyond the pot's edge because the weight of the lid will cause the paper to sag.
Steam the cake over medium heat for about 25 - 30 minutes. At the 25-minute mark, open the lid and use a toothpick to check the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If it comes out with wet batter, continue steaming and check every 5 minutes.
- Some cakes may require more than 30 minutes of steaming.
- To check with a toothpick, simply insert it into the center of the cake and pull it out.
- Avoid opening the lid prematurely, as the escaping steam will slow down the steaming process.
Use a kitchen towel to remove the cake from the pot. First, open the lid and remove the parchment paper. Then, hold a kitchen towel in your hand and, using your other hand, grip the sides of the pan and carefully lift the cake pan out.
- This can be tricky, especially if there isn't much space between the pan and the steaming rack or baking tray. Be as gentle as possible!
- If the towel is too thin, you can fold it in half or use an oven mitt. Oven gloves might be too large to fit between the pot and the cake pan.
Wait 5 minutes for the cake to cool before removing it from the pan. To remove the cake, simply flip the pan upside down onto a flat surface and let the cake fall out. Peel off the parchment paper and flip the cake over.
- Now the cake is ready. You can smooth out the top of the cake to make it look more polished.
- If you plan to spread icing on the cake, you must place it on a cooling rack to cool completely (about 10-15 minutes); otherwise, the icing will melt.
Advice
- The cake may need to steam for more than 25 - 30 minutes.
- Avoid letting the bottom of the cake pan touch the base of the steamer or glass baking tray, as this can cause the pan to overheat.
- If using stones, make sure they are clean.
What You Will Need
- Gas stove
- Large pot
- Steaming rack or glass baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Cake recipe or pre-mixed cake flour
- Dry beans or stones
