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Chinese Egg Cakes

Recipe by Connie Veneracion
Addictive little buggers, these Chinese egg cakes are sponge-y and light, and lovely with tea. So easy to make because there is no need to separate the egg yolks from the whites.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 30 small cakes
A cross cut of Chinese egg cake
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • grated zest from ½ lemon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 325F. A fan-assisted oven was used for this recipe. If you're using a regular oven, preheat to 350F.
  • Line three 12-hole muffin pans with paper liners.
  • Using the whisk attachment of your electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together until they reach ribbon stage. Start at the lowest speed then gradually turn up the speed until you reach the highest setting. The process takes anywhere from five to 10 minutes depending on the room temperature. "Ribbon stage" means that when the whisk attachment is lifted, the egg mixture falls down into the bowl like a ribbon.
  • Sift the cake flour directly into the egg-sugar mixture. Fold by hand using a spatula until evenly blended.
  • Add the oil and fold in until no streaks are visible.
  • Gently stir in the lemon zest.
  • Scoop the cake batter into the prepared pans. Fill to 3/4 capacity.
  • Bake the cakes for 15 to 16 minutes or until lightly browned at the top and springy when touched.
  • Remove the cakes from the pans and cool on a rack.
  • Best served while warm.

Notes

The inspiration comes from China Sichuan Food but my daughter, Alex, modified the recipe by using more oil to make the Chinese egg cakes softer. She also did away with the water bath for beating the eggs since the water bath is only recommended for cold winter days to speed up the process. We’re in the tropics, there’s no winter here so never mind the water bath.
You may use any size of muffin pans to make Chinese egg cakes but just remember that the size of the cakes will affect the baking time. Alex chose the pans with the smallest holes, the bottom of the cakes are 1 and 1/4 inches in diameter and the baking time is 15 minutes. Smaller cakes will require a shorter time and larger ones will take longer to cook. Of course.
A plate of Chinese egg cakes and a cup of tea
Updated from a recipe originally published in 2/7/2018
Keyword Egg