🍰 Butter Castella Cake Recipe
Ingredients (for one 8-inch loaf pan or a small square pan)
- 1 cup (120 g) cake flour
(You can use all-purpose flour sifted 2–3 times for extra lightness.) - 6 large eggs, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) honey (or golden syrup)
- 4 tbsp (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) whole milk, warmed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Prepare the Pan and Oven
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some extra on the sides so the cake can be lifted out easily after baking.
- In a small bowl, mix the warm milk, melted butter, and honey. Set aside.
2. Beat Eggs and Sugar
- In a heatproof bowl, combine eggs and sugar.
- Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler style).
- Whisk constantly until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar granules have dissolved.
- Remove from heat and beat using an electric mixer on high speed for about 5–7 minutes, until the mixture becomes pale, thick, and tripled in volume.
3. Fold in the Flour
- Sift the cake flour in 2–3 additions into the whipped egg mixture.
- Gently fold with a spatula each time, being careful not to deflate the airy batter.
4. Add Flavoring
- Pour in the butter-milk-honey mixture and vanilla extract.
- Fold gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing — this keeps the cake soft and fluffy.
5. Bake the Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap lightly to remove large air bubbles.
- Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool and Set
- Remove the cake from the oven and, while still warm, cover the top with plastic wrap to retain moisture.
- Once completely cooled, wrap the entire cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
This resting time gives the Castella its signature moist, dense, and slightly sticky texture. -
Slice into thick pieces and serve at room temperature.
Tips & Variations
- For a chewier texture, substitute bread flour for cake flour.
- For a different flavor, replace honey with maple syrup or golden syrup.
- For Matcha Castella, add 1–2 tsp of matcha powder when sifting the flour.
- To ensure even baking, place the pan on the middle rack and avoid opening the oven during the first 30 minutes.