Steaming Hot: Cake In A Cooker

Baking a cake in a steam cooker is a great alternative to using an oven. The results are similar to an oven-baked cake, but the steamed cake will be more tender and moist. It's also a good option if you don't have access to a microwave or oven.

To make a cake in a steam cooker, you'll need a few basic ingredients, such as flour, baking powder, eggs, sugar, and butter. You'll also need a stovetop pressure cooker or a bamboo steamer, a wok, or a wide pan.

- Grease and flour your cake pan to prevent the cake from sticking.

- Line the bottom of the cake pan with parchment paper.

- Prepare your cake batter by mixing the ingredients according to your chosen recipe.

- Add water to the wok or pan and place it over high heat. Bring the water to a boil, then turn down the heat to low.

- Combine the dry ingredients, including the flour, baking powder, and salt, in a separate bowl.

- In another bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture forms ribbons.

- Gently stir in any additional flavourings, such as almond or vanilla extract.

- Sift the dry ingredients over the egg mixture and fold them in gently.

- If desired, separate the egg whites and whip them until they form stiff peaks. Then, fold the egg whites into the batter.

- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.

- Place the cake pan in the steamer basket or bamboo steamer over the simmering water.

- Cover the pan and steam the cake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

- Invert the cake onto a plate and remove the parchment paper.

- Allow the cake to cool before serving.

Prepare the batter and pans

First, choose and prepare your desired cake batter. You can use your own recipe or a boxed mix. Coat one or two baking pans with butter, making sure to cover the bottom and sides. If your recipe requires a springform pan, use two regular cake pans instead.

Next, dust each pan with flour, adding about one tablespoon and gently shaking the pan until the flour spreads across the bottom. Turn the pan on its side and roll it like a wheel to coat the sides. Discard any excess flour. Line the pans with parchment paper, cutting circles out of the paper to fit the pans.

Now, pour the batter into the pan(s), using a rubber spatula to get every last bit of batter. If using multiple pans, divide the batter evenly. Gently shake the pan(s) side to side to spread the batter around. Lightly tap the pan(s) against the counter a few times to settle any air bubbles.

Prepare the cooking pot

To prepare the cooking pot for making a cake, you will need a steamer basket with a flat bottom and a set of legs, or a rim so it can sit on top of the pot. You can also use a round glass baking dish with handles. The pot should be large enough to accommodate the cake pan and the steamer basket or dish.

First, add some water to the pot. The water level should be about an inch below the steamer basket or dish. Place the steamer basket or dish on top of the pot. Cover the bottom of the steamer basket or dish with a thin layer of dried beans or small pebbles. This creates a buffer between the heat source and the cake pan, preventing the bottom of the cake from getting too hot and burning.

If you are using multiple cake pans, you will need to set up another double-boiler system. You can use the same pot and steamer basket or dish, or you can use a second pot and steamer basket or dish.

Cover the pot with a lid and heat the water on high for about 5 minutes to preheat the pot, in the same way that you would preheat an oven. Ensure that the lid fits snugly on the steamer basket or dish to prevent steam from escaping.

Cooking the cake in the pot

Now that you have your cake batter ready and your pot prepared, it's time to start cooking! Here are the steps to follow:

• Preheat your pot: Fill the pot with some water and place it on the stove. Turn the heat up to high and let the water come to a boil. This is similar to preheating your oven for baking.
• Prepare your steamer basket: If you're using a steamer basket, place it on top of the pot after turning down the heat to low. The water level should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the bottom of the steamer basket. If your steamer basket has a rim, ensure it sits on top of the pot.
• Use a glass baking dish: Alternatively, you can use a round glass baking dish with a flat bottom and handles. Place it on the pot so that it rests on the rim, with the water level 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the dish.
• Create a buffer: Line the bottom of your steamer basket or glass dish with a thin layer of dried beans or small pebbles. This will act as a buffer between the cake pan and the direct heat.
• Double-boiler system: If you have multiple cake pans, you can use another pot-and-steamer basket combo or a pot-and-glass dish combo to create a double-boiler system. This way, you can bake multiple cakes at once.
• Cover the pot: Cover the pot with a lid and let it preheat for about 5 minutes. Ensure the lid fits snugly to prevent steam from escaping.
• Place the cake pan: Set the cake pan into the steamer basket or glass dish, making sure it rests on top of the dried beans or pebbles. Avoid pushing the pan into the beans/pebbles.
• Use parchment paper: Instead of placing the lid directly on the pot, cover it with a sheet of parchment paper first, then gently rest the lid on top. This will prevent steam from dripping onto the cake.
• Bake the cake: Cook the cake over medium heat for 25-30 minutes. You can also set the heat to low and steam the cake for a longer period. Check the cake for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the centre; if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
• Remove the cake: Use kitchen towels or oven mitts to carefully lift the cake pan out of the pot. Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes before removing it from the pan.

Your delicious steamed cake is now ready to be served! You can enjoy it warm or at room temperature, and even refrigerate or freeze it for later.

How to steam cook a cake

Steaming a cake is a great alternative to baking, resulting in a light, tender, and moist cake with fewer crumbs. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam a cake:

Prepare the Cake Batter and Pans:

• Grease your cake pan/s with butter, making sure to coat both the bottom and sides.
• Dust the pans with flour, shaking and jiggling the pan to spread the flour evenly.
• Line the pans with parchment paper. Set the pan on top of a sheet of parchment paper, trace the outline, then cut it out and place it in the pan.
• Pour your cake batter into the pan/s, gently shaking the pan/s to spread the batter evenly.

Prepare the Steamer:

• Get a pot and a steamer basket or a glass cooking dish. The steamer basket should have a flat bottom and either legs or a rim. The glass dish should have handles and a flat bottom.
• Fill the pot with water, ensuring the water level is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the steamer basket or glass dish.
• Cover the bottom of the steamer or dish with a thin layer of dried beans or small pebbles to create a buffer between the basket and the cake pan.

Steam the Cake:

• Cover the pot and heat the water on high for about 5 minutes to preheat.
• Place the cake pan into the steamer basket or glass dish, ensuring the bottom of the pan rests on the beans or pebbles.
• Cover the pot with parchment paper and a lid. The parchment paper should be about 2 inches (5.1 cm) bigger than the pot.
• Cook the cake over medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Check the cake for doneness with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
• Remove the cake from the pot using kitchen towels or oven mitts, as the pot will be very hot.
• Let the cake cool for 5 minutes before removing it from the pan. To remove, flip the pan over and let the cake slide out, then peel off the parchment paper.

Do's and Don'ts for cooker cake

Dos and Don'ts for Cooker Cake

Do's

• Use a good quality, heavy, thick-bottomed 5-6 litre stovetop aluminium cooker.
• Always use sea salt or river sand as a layer between the pressure cooker and the pan.
• Remove the gasket (rubber ring) and vent weight (whistle) from the lid.
• Place a heatproof rack or trivet on the layer of salt inside the cooker.
• Cook the cake on a low or medium-low heat.
• Grease the cake pan with butter.
• Use a pan that can take dry heat, such as a regular round aluminium cake pan.
• Check whether the cake pan will fit inside the pressure cooker before you start cooking.
• Let the cooker cool completely before cleaning.

Don'ts

• Use the cooker for pressure cooking, boiling or steaming as the metal weakens.
• Use a steel, anodized or non-stick pressure cooker.
• Use a steel pan as the cake might get burnt from the bottom.

Frequently asked questions