Description
Magic eggnog cake blends holiday nostalgia with delightful culinary surprise. Layered dessert delivers creamy custard beneath delicate sponge, promising sweet celebrations that welcome festive cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) eggnog, lukewarm
- 4 large eggs, room temperature, separated
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) confectioners’ sugar (plus more for dusting)
- 3 tbsps dark rum (or additional eggnog)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp white distilled vinegar
- Whole nutmeg (for grating on top) or ground nutmeg for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F and butter an 8×8-inch pan thoroughly to prevent adhesion.
- Eggnog Preparation: Gently warm eggnog in microwave until lukewarm, creating a smooth liquid base for the cake.
- Egg White Transformation: Whip egg whites with vinegar at high speed until stiff, glossy peaks emerge that maintain structural integrity.
- Yolk Cream Development: Beat egg yolks and confectioners’ sugar into a pale cream, gradually incorporating melted butter while mixing at low speed.
- Batter Integration: Fold flour into yolk mixture seamlessly, then stream rum and vanilla-enhanced eggnog into the mixture, maintaining a silky consistency.
- Structural Assembly: Carefully fold egg whites into batter in quarter portions, preserving a slightly textured composition that promises a magical cake architecture.
- Baking Ritual: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 50-55 minutes until golden surface develops with a subtle center wobble indicating perfect doneness.
- Cooling and Finishing: Rest cake on wire rack for 3 hours, then dust with confectioners’ sugar and fresh nutmeg before serving, allowing flavors to harmonize and settle.
Notes
- Temperature Precision: Maintain exact oven temperature at 325°F for consistent cake texture and even baking results.
- Egg White Technique: Use room temperature eggs and add a splash of vinegar to stabilize whites, creating perfect glossy peaks crucial for the cake’s magical layered structure.
- Mixing Mastery: Fold egg whites gently in quarter portions to preserve delicate air bubbles, ensuring the signature light and custardy texture of the magic cake.
- Cooling Critical: Allow full 3-hour cooling time at room temperature or refrigerate for 1 hour to set the cake’s unique layered consistency before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-55 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Drinks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg