Magic Cake

The magic cake is a very particular dessert that gets its name because with a single batter, it forms three different layers after baking: a layer of flan or pudding, a creamy layer, and a layer of sponge cake or Pan di Spagna. Now I’ll describe the ingredients and procedure to prepare this delicious dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 eggs at room temperature
• 150 g of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of water
• 125 g of melted and cooled butter
• 115 g of flour
• 500 ml of lukewarm milk
• 1 vanilla pod or a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 150 °C.
2. Separate the yolks from the whites and set the latter aside.
3. Whisk the yolks with the sugar and water until you get a light and fluffy mixture.
4. Add the melted cooled butter and continue whisking.
5. Fold in the sifted flour and mix gently.
6. Gradually incorporate the lukewarm milk and vanilla extract or the seeds from the vanilla pod, stirring until you have a smooth and uniform batter.
7. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks.
8. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture, trying not to deflate them and keeping the batter as airy as possible.
9. Pour the batter into a previously buttered and floured cake pan.
10. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until the surface of the cake turns golden and the consistency appears firm to the touch.
11. Let the magic cake cool completely before unmolding, as it needs proper time to stabilize the layers.
12. Once cool, you can dust it with powdered sugar before serving.

Trivia

The magic cake is considered “magic” precisely because although the layers seem to require different preparations, in reality, everything happens due to the variable density of the mixture and the different baking temperatures of the ingredients that form distinct layers during oven baking. It is a dessert that has enjoyed great success all over the world for its singular beauty and exquisite combination of textures.