It is possible to make a cake without using the oven at all. You will ask me how useful is that but indeed it is. For instance, you want to make a sponge cake but your oven is busy with another meal. Either you are on vacation in a camper van and you have no oven, just a gas fire. I can think on another dozen reasons to make a cake without an oven but I will not make it long. Let's go to the practical. I am going to teach you how to make a cake with an identical result that would be obtained using an oven.
INGREDIENTS :
4 eggs
120 grams (4.2 oz) powdered sugar
120 grams (4.2 oz) all purpose flour
100 ml (half a cup) of melt butter without salt
20 grams (0.7 oz) of chemical yeast
1 teaspoon vanilla essence (5 ml)
1 pinch of salt
We are going to make a conventional cake but with a warning: it must be done very well beaten. It is important that the cake accumulates a lot of air in order to rise correctly.
First we break the eggs in a large bowl and beat them. Add the powdered sugar and mix well. It should be whisk for at least 20 minutes.
After that time we add the flour and mix well until there is not a lump left. It is the moment to add the butter, again mixing well. We incorporate the essence of liquid vanilla - you can use orange blossom water, roses or the liquid flavoring you want - and the pinch of salt.
At the end of the whole process we will have a dough of semi-liquid consistency that we will pour into a mold that MUST BE METALLIC (that's compulsory). They are easy to find. You can not use silicone or aluminum, it must be a round metal mold of about 5 inches in diameter and that when pouring the dough it occupies slightly less than half of the height of it.
Before pouring the dough, paint the whole mold with butter, including the sides, and sprinkle a little flour to make it easy to unmold.
Put on a high heat for 5 minutes a pan large enough to fit the mold inside. Said casserole should have about half an inch of water at the bottom. In this background you must place something metallic that separates the mold from the direct fire. It can be a base that we use to bring hot food sources to the table so the tablecloth does not burn.
We place the mold on top and lower the heat to a minimum. Cover the casserole and let it do for about 50 minutes. After time you will see that the dough has risen. To verify that it is well done, stick a toothpick in the center and if it leaves dry, everything is perfect. Otherwise, leave it a little more and go checking every 5 minutes.
Let cool and unmold. You already have a cake without using an oven at all. Is there a difference with a baked cake? At the texture level it is noted that the top - and bottom - are not toasted. As for taste there is no variation, nor does the consistency vary. It does not work with all types of sponge cake, only with those that have a texture of the dough before cooking similar to a mayonnaise. Apart from that, everything is the same.
