'Magic cake' is taking over the dessert world

This cake can't transport you to Hogwarts but it's almost that magical.
 By 
Sarah Spigelman Richter
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Magic cake might sound like something you can only eat in Middle Earth or whilst joining Mr. Tumnus for tea in Narnia.

However, we muggles are the ones who invented and are spreading the gospel of this multi-layered cake that is taking the internet by storm.

Magic cake is made with standard cake ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter and milk. The magic comes when the cake emerges from the oven in three distinct layers.


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The batter is extra loose to help the layers separate while baking, whipped egg whites create the spongy top and a relatively low baking temperature (commonly 300 - 325F) slowly cooks the middle layer to a soft custard while the bottom becomes a dense, cakey base.

A photo posted by Knate Ski (@kn8ski) on

Though this technique has circled the internet for a few years, it's picking up speed and fans on social media.

Food host Lynn Chen tells Mashable, "The cake basically makes itself, and I think that's what the name implies when I hear it -- a cake that you have to do very little work on to create an incredible result[...] It's something that looks attainable, yet there's a mystery in figuring out how to make that texture happen."

The dessert looks and tastes complicated to make, but once the art of whipping egg whites is perfected, it's a one-pan dessert that can even be made with cake mix.

Chen says, "With the popularity of food videos on social media, I'm sure people share this with others thinking it's an easy baking project. It's certainly less intimidating than a layer cake, or even a cupcake that has to be frosted."

The most magical part of this cake might be how fast you can make it disappear.

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Sarah Spigelman Richter

Sarah Spigelman Richter is a contributor to Mashable's Food channel. Sarah covers everything edible, from the food industry to D.I.Y. recipes. She was previously the community manager for Tastemade NYC and her writing has been seen on The Today Show's food blog, Refinery 29, the Food Network, and Gothamist. She has also developed recipes for Tabasco and other nationally recognized brands and has blogged for 5 years at "Fritos and Foie Gras." Sarah is obsessed with "Orphan Black" and chili-cheese Fritos and is still depressed that Loehmann's closed.

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