Japanese Honey Cake Kasutera Cake Food

KASUTERA (CASTELLA), THE JAPANESE TRADITIONAL HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a cake pan with parchment paper. Butter the paper and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon superfine sugar.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil; pour into a large bowl.
• Whisk 1/4 cup honey and milk together in a bowl until smooth.
• Beat eggs with an electric mixer in a bowl placed over the hot water. Gradually add 1 1/3 cup superfine sugar; beat until smooth and mixture is warm. Remove bowl of egg mixture from the bowl of hot water and cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Return bowl of egg mixture to the hot water and continue beating. Repeat this process a few times until batter is foamy and thick.
• Pour milk mixture into egg mixture and mix well using a spatula; stir in sifted flour until batter is mixed. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Spread the remaining 1 tablespoon honey over the top of cake. Serve slices with sweet bean paste and ice cream, if desired.

JAPANESE SPONGE CAKE (KASUTERA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Beat eggs until frothy; gradually add in confectioners' sugar and honey; beat until mixture leaves ribbons (12 minutes).
• Sift baking powder and flour together; sift into bowl.
• Gently fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
• Carefully pour into greased cake tin.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• You can also steam this cake for a traditional cake that is springy and light.

GREEN TEA JAPANESE SPONGE CAKE - KASUTERA

Steps:

• Separate the egg whites from yolks into two large bowls.
• Whisk sugar, honey, vanilla, green tea powder, and salt into egg yolks until everything is mixed together.
• Place bowl in a large pan of hot water.
• With an electric mixer, beat about 5 minutes on medium-high speed until pale yellow and doubled in volume.
• Gently fold in flour.
• In the large bowl, beat egg whites in electric mixer on a low speed 1 minute, increasing speed to medium-high until eggs are foamy.
• When the eggs are foamy, sprinkle in one tablespoon of sugar and cream of tartar.
• Beat until the egg mixture is stiff.
• Using a spatula, fold the egg whites gently so the bubbles in eggs are not destroyed.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Use parchment to line the bottom of two loaf pans.
• Grease the parchment.
• Pour batter into pan.
• Place pans on middle rack of oven 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. When done, cake sides will pull away from pan slightly; top will be flat and feel spongy when pressed with finger.
• Cool for 20 minutes.
• Run a small knife between edge of cake and pan. Remove from pan carefully.
• Pull off parchment and cool completely.
• Cut, serve and enjoy!

KASUTERA - JAPANESE SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 C). Use parchment to line the bottom of a 10-inch tube pan, preferably with a removable bottom or 2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans. Grease the parchment. In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup sugar, honey, vanilla, lemon extract (or green tea powder), and salt into egg yolks. Place bowl in a large pan of hot water. With an electric mixer, beat about 5 minutes on medium-high speed until pale yellow and doubled in volume. Gently fold in sifted flour.
• 2. Wash beaters. In a large bowl, beat egg whites in electric mixer on a low speed 1 minute, increasing speed to medium-high. When foamy, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and cream of tartar. Beat until stiff but not dry. With a spatula, fold the egg whites in thirds. Pour batter into pan. Tap gently on the counter to remove air bubbles.
• 3. Bake on middle rack of oven 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. When done, cake sides will pull away from pan slightly; top will be flat and feel spongy when pressed with finger. Cool 20 minutes. Run a small knife between edge of cake and pan. Remove from pan carefully. Pull off parchment and cool completely. Serve or store airtight.