One batter. One cake. Abracadabra. Three layers. It's a magic cake!
I recall first seeing magic cakes soon after launching Only Crumbs Remain. Back then they were the bee's knees!
Even though that trend has since given way to pouring (illusion) cakes, drip cakes and unicorn cakes (or at least that's what my Pinterest and Instagram feed has led me to believe) I felt the need to try out this relatively simple cake, which produces such an interesting bake once sliced into.
On the face of it, this tray bake cake looks like a regular sponge cake. But once sliced into the magic becomes apparent. Three layers including a delicious brownie-like sponge and set custard!
You can't fail to be intrigued.
Imagine bringing this chocolate orange magic cake to the table to share with family and friends over a pot of tea or cup of coffee. Nicely cooled from the oven, aromas of chocolate and baking still fill the air. Gasps of amazement as the cake is cut before them to reveal its magic!
Now I have to admit that other magic cakes on social media and Google searches are blessed with layers of equal depth, unlike our third layer which is slightly thin sandwiched between the brownie like sponge and custard layer. I suspect that is all down to our oven. But don't let that put you off trying this fun and scrummy bake, who knows, you may have more luck than me and achieve equally sized layers!
So, here's how to make Chocolate Orange Magic Cake!
print recipe
Hands on time: about 25 mins Cook time: about 50 mins Yield: 1 x 20cm cake, producing 9 pieces
Specific Equipment
1 x 20cm Brownie Tin
For the Sponge Batter
- 4 medium Eggs
- 125g Unsalted Butter, plus a little extra for greasing
- 475ml Milk (full fat, or semi-skimmed, not skimmed)
- 1 teaspoon White Wine Vinegar (optional)
- 150g Golden Caster Sugar
- 2 capful Orange Extract (we used Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, Valencian Orange Extract)
- Pinch Salt
- 95g Plain Flour
- 30g Cocoa Powder
To finish
- 1 - 2 teaspoon Icing Sugar, for dusting before serving
Notes:
a) If you prefer a richer chocolate flavour substitute some of the plain flour for more cocoa. b) Avoid over heating the milk and butter. If they feel hotter than lukewarm before they're added to the batter, dip the base of the pan into cold water. Avoid getting water inside the pan. c) Use utensils like a spatula or balloon whisk to incorporate the flour and milk to the batter. Electric beaters or stand mixers will create a cloud of flour and splatter the milk everywhere! d) The uncooked batter will be very thin, similar to single cream. e) The baked magic cake is likely to have a few cracks on the surface once removed from the oven. As the cake cools the cake will drop very slightly and the cracks will be largely unnoticeable. f) Store in an air tight container once completely cold.
Alison
How will it freeze?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Hello Alison, This recipe was made by Angela my presdessor at Only Crumbs Remain, so I am not completely familiar with it and have not tried freezing it. But having looked at the recipe I am confident that it should freeze ok for up to 2 months Hope this helps Jacqui x
Lucy Corry - The Kitchenmaid
You had me at 'set custard and chocolate sponge'! Gosh this is clever, why haven't I come across these before? I wonder if these magic cakes are related to something I know as 'impossible pie', which is vaguely similar (though this looks much, much nicer). Must bookmark and try!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Ooh now I've never heard of impossibly pies Lucy, I'm definitely going to have to check those out!...excuse me a moment.....they definitely do look remarkably similar don't they with the layers that are created during the bake!
Thank you too for your lovely comment, and introducing me to impossible pies, I hope you enjoy it as much as we have if you get chance to try it 🙂
Angela x
Choclette Blogger
I remember being intrigued by these a few years ago and bookmarked loads. I've still never got around to trying one. I'm rather pleased about that as your chocolate version looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I know just what you mean Choclette, I have a list as long as your arm for recipes i want to try!
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Oh wow this looks amazing! I love the defined layers and love the flavour combination, chocolate orange is one of my favs! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou so much Kirsty, it's one of my favourites too Kirsty 🙂
Angela x
Kat BakingExplorer
I've not heard of magic cake before but it look fabulous! I'd love to try this chocolate orange version of yours 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou Kat 🙂
Angela x
Jenny
I have heard of this so called Magic Cake and I wondered if it actually worked. I love the layers - it is so clever ! I also love your flavours - mmmm. x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
It really is so interesting how one batter can produce a cake with more than one layer, I think it's down to the fact that the batter is quite thin and so the heavier elements drop down during the bake. You can't beat chocolate orange can you Jenny - it's so yummy 🙂
Angela x
Corina
I'm intrigued by these cakes too. I've seen a few online but never attempted one. It looks like the layers all have such a great texture too! It's definitely something on my list to experiment with now!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
They really are fascinating aren't they Corina. The layers they produce are very different to one another too - these seemed to produce something akin to a set custard topped with a brownie.
Angela x
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
Intriguing! I have seen magic cakes before.... and always wondered whether they would work gluten free. I may just have to try it out to find out! It sounds lovely xx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou Kate :-), my hunch is is it will work GF - but I'm defo no expert I'll leave that area up to you 🙂 I hope it does work for you,
Angela xx
Jenny-Apply to Face blog
This looks gorgeous!What a clever idea.I haven't seen them before.Great pics and recipe.xx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I bet you'll end up seeing loads of them on Instagram and Pinterest now - or at least that's what I usually find what happens when I come across something new.
Thanks for your lovely comments Jenny,
Angela x
All That I'm Eating
I love that it's called magic cake! You can't go wrong with chocolate and orange.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
You're right, chocolate orange is such a winner isn't it. It's a great name (wish I could say I'd thought of it but alas not), but it really is the perfect name for it,
Angela x
Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner)
I love those flavours and the cake looks so creamy and attractive!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
It's such a popular flavour combo isn't it - one of my favourites 🙂
Thanksyou for your lovely comment Liz,
Angela x
Helen
This is very intriguing, and looks delicious! I keep seeing it pop up on facebook & it makes me drool every time! I must give this a go, thanks for sharing 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
It is really is fascinating isn't it Helen, I hope you enjoy it ass much as we have if you give it a go,
Angela x
Jo @ Jo's Kitchen Larder
Is it a brownie or is it a custard 🙂 It definitely looks magical and oh so gorgeously yummy! You cannot beat the flavour combination either and beautiful photos speak for themselves! 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Haha, indeed 🙂
Thankyou Jo, I'm a huge fan of chocolate orange too,
Angela x
Jasmin Charlotte
Ohh this looks really good! What a good idea - definitely my kind of bake when you only need to make one mixture!
Jasmin Charlotte
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou Charlotte x
Louise Fairweather
I keep meaning to try a magic cake! May have to give this one a go in the summer hols #cookblogshare
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I've had magic cakes on my list for ages and somehow forgot abou them but was prompted when I saw one on Pinterest again recently! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did (and hope you get a better third layer too),
Angela x
Alison's Allspice
I haven't heard of magic cake. Those layers are so intriguing! I will pin it to try later, Thanks!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
It really is intriguing isn't it - amazing how it's all made with one batter.
Angela x
Sarah James
I love your magic cake Angela, chocolate and orange are one of my favourite flavour combinations. Great recipe instructions as usual. I must be a bit late to the party as I haven't come across them before 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Sarah, I love chocolate orange too - it's such a winner in my eyes. Ooh I'm surprised you've not spotted them on Pinterest at least, a tad surprised there.
Thanks for your lovely comment Sarah,
Angela x
Rebecca Beesley
Wow I'd never heard of magic cakes - I can't get my head around that! I wonder what the science is behind it that it goes into 3 layers!!! Amazing! Absolutely must try this!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I've only ever seen them on Pinterest and IG Rebecca, they seemed to be the main part of my feed a year or two ago. Hahaha, yes, I wonder what the science is behind the magic. I think it's because the batter is so thin the heavier ingredients gradualy sink during the bake creating the layers. Or at least that's my thought. Saw your picture on IG, glad to see you tried it Rebecca.
Angela xx
Monika Dabrowski
This is one of my favourite recipes from Only Crumbs Remain! I absolutely love orange flavoured chocolate, I love the look of this cake, the fact that it doesn't seem too hard to make and the photos are really really good too:)
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much Monika, cos I love chocolate orange combo I have a few other bakes with that combo on the blog too 😉 It's not too difficult, i think the hardest part is folding in the meringue tbh,
Thankyou for your lovely comments monika,
Angela x
Anca
It looks great, I love the layers, so well defined. It must be yummy too. x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thanks Anca, it's the layers and 'magic' of it which inspired me tbh. It defo is yummy - can't beat chocolate orange.
Angela x