Description
Hot Milk Cake is a classic, tender, and moist yellow cake made light and airy by beating eggs for several minutes and using scalded milk with melted butter. It’s simple to prepare and perfect for any occasion, featuring a delicate crumb and pleasant vanilla flavor.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups 2% milk
- 10 tablespoons butter, cubed
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2¼ teaspoons baking powder
Instructions
- Beat the eggs: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat the eggs on high speed for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. This step incorporates air into the batter, which is crucial since the recipe does not involve creaming butter and sugar.
- Add the dry ingredients: Gradually add the sugar to the beaten eggs, mixing until light and fluffy. Then beat in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder, then gradually incorporate it into the batter at low speed until smooth. Be careful not to overmix to avoid toughening the cake.
- Heat the milk and butter: In a small saucepan, heat the milk and cubed butter until the butter has melted and a thin skin forms on the surface of the milk (around 170°F). Do not boil to avoid curdling the batter.
- Combine heated milk mixture with batter: Gradually add the warm milk and butter mixture to the batter while beating until just combined. Avoid overmixing at this stage to maintain a tender texture.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into a greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- Beating the eggs thoroughly adds necessary air to create the cake’s light texture.
- Do not overmix the flour into the batter to prevent a tough cake.
- Scalding the milk ensures a tender crumb and helps dissolve the butter properly.
- Use room temperature eggs for better volume and incorporation.
- Let the cake cool completely before slicing for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
