When I saw a magic custard cake recipe on Pinterest, I was floored. I mean, it left me in a state of delicious shock that something so simple could create an incredible piece of dessert.

What is Magic Custard Cake?

Magic custard cake it truly a magical piece of cake. This  dessert is to not too sweet (which I love the most) and is loaded with a wonderful middle layer that’s soft and custard-like. This cake is soft, pillow-y and melt-in-your-mouth wonderful. The delicate top layer of cake and bottom crust is what holds the custard layer together. It looked so easy and like magic, it separated into three layers. It’s cake layer on top, an egg-flavored custard layer in the middle and another dense custard layer on the bottom.

Magic Custard Cake on a cutting board

For two weeks, my obsession grew for this cake and I stalked the internet for what ever info I could find, which wasn’t much.  I wanted to call this a Magic Custard Cake Recipe. After a search on Google, I realized that there were many variations of this classic “Magic Custard Pie” already being shared from kitchen to kitchen. I inhaled my first two slices in one sitting. And this is coming from someone who is usually one and done with sweets. (Salty stuff is a whole ‘nother story.)

Watch Video: How to Make Magic Custard Cake:

Magic Custard Cake step by step photos

Magic Custard Cake on a cutting board

Be still my heart, I love this magic custard cake so much. Please make it and tell me what you think and let’s discuss in the comments below.

love,

dianeMagic Custard Cake Recipe on a cutting board close up

Magic Custard Cake Recipe

Yield: 9 Servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Temperatures for the ingredients are important here. Not too warm to cook the eggs before baking, and not cold either. You can use either confectioner's sugar or regular sugar, use the same amount by weight but the volume will be different. If you use regular sugar, 150g will equal 3/4 cup.
A few more notes on making the cake: When adding the milk, we found it easier and less messy to gently hand whip them in instead of using the stand mixer. It is a very liquidy batter, and for us it splattered everywhere even at the slowest speed. For folding in the whites, it is done with more of a gentle whisk/folding motion with the whisk since the batter is so runny. The whites will look a little curd like after mixing them in, just try to mix/fold them to the point where there is no big chunks. Because of the custard-like center, when fully baked, there will be a bit of a jiggle, but not a sloppy jiggle to the cake when gently shook. Same after it has cooled. That's about it. Have fun and every time we've made the magic custard cakes, going into the oven we don't think they will work correctly, and after baking they are magically perfect. Makes one 8"x8" Cake.
4.71 from 124 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted Butter (1 stick)
  • 2 cups (480 ml) Milk
  • 4 Eggs , separated
  • 4 drops White Vinegar
  • 1 1/4 cups (150 g) Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Water
  • 1 cup (125 g) Flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Vanilla Extract
  • extra confectioner's sugar for dusting

Equipment

  • 8”x8” baking dish

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C. Lightly butter or grease a 8"x8" (20x20cm) baking dish.
    Butter baking dish
  • Melt the 1/2 cup (113g) butter and set aside to slightly cool slightly.
    Melting butter
  • Warm the 2 cups (480ml) milk to lukewarm and set aside.
    2 cups milk
  • Whip the 4 egg whites and 4 drops vinegar to stiff peaks. Set aside.
    Egg whites whipped to stiff peaks
  • Beat the 4 egg yolks and 1 1/4 cups (150g) powdered sugar until light.
    Beating egg yolks and powdered sugar
  • Mix in the melted butter and the 1 Tablespoon (15ml) water for about 2 minutes or until evenly incorporated.
  • Mix in the 1 cup (125g) flour until evenly incorporated.
    Mixing in flour
  • Slowly beat in the warmed milk and 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract until everything is well mixed.
    Mixing in milk
  • Fold in the egg whites, 1/3 at a time. Repeat until all of the egg whites are folded in.
    Folding in egg whites
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
    Pouring into baking dish
  • Bake at 325°F/160°C for 45-60 minutes or until the cake is barely jiggly in the center. If the top browns too quick before the minimum of 45 minutes, then cover the cake with aluminum foil and cook for remainder of time needed.
    Baking cake
  • Allow cake to completely cool before cutting and then dust with powdered sugar. For faster cooling you can place the cake in the fridge. Even after fully cooled, it will still be slightly jiggly because it's a custard layer cake.
    Dusting with powdered sugar

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 53mg, Potassium: 117mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 509IU, Calcium: 78mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 268

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And if you’re craving more cake, this moist banana cake should be on your next to-do list!. This recipe was originally published in 2013.