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    Home » Recipes » Asian

    Pandan Castella Cake

    Last Modified: March 15, 2021 - Published by: christieathome

    Jump to Recipe
    Pandan Castella Cake

    Pandan Castella Cake. A super soft, fluffy, moist sponge cake that is totally addictive and heavenly. A must try if you are a sponge cake lover. Great for dessert. This recipe is dairy-free.

    So I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but I have been obsessed with pandan and castella cakes. I thought why not combine the two together to make an amazing pandan flavoured castella cake?

    Totally heavenly!

    The texture of this castella cake is unlike any other. It's very soft, jiggly when you nudge it and so moist you can hear it if you open the cake apart. The taste of castella cake is egg-like and it's not overly sweet but sweet enough that you don't need to add icing to this unless you want to.

    It's one of those cakes where one piece is honestly not enough and you will keep eating away at it until you ask, "Where did half my cake go?"

    Many flavours of Castella Cake

    There are many flavours of this Taiwanese castella sponge cake online from vanilla to chocolate but I thought I'd share this pandan version but make it dairy-free. Especially for those with a lactose intolerance or are avoiding dairy. There is no difference in the taste from the one with milk and this one.

    Pandan Castella Cake

    What does Castella cake taste like?

    This pandan cake is a jiggly moist and very airy sponge cake is very popular in Asia specifically in Taiwan, Japan and Korea. It has a sweet egg like taste with pandan flavour. A must try for any cake lover.

    Castella cake origin

    This sponge cake has become very popular recently especially in Asia. It was given to the Japanese first as a gift from Portuguese merchants in the 16th century. The name originates from Portuguese Pão de Castela, meaning “bread from Castile”. (Source: Just One Cookbook). It was then brought to Taiwan where it became widely popular, hence why it's often called a Taiwanese Castella Cake.

    What is pandan flavor?

    It’s a leaf grown in South-East Asia commonly used in Asian cooking and treats especially in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other South-East Asian countries. It has a naturally sweet vanilla like taste and aroma with hints of coconut, floral grass, and almond.

    Can you eat pandan leaves?

    No but you can blend them with water running it through a fine sieve to create a liquid or use them to infuse rice or other ingredients with. But I would not recommend eating them as they are tasteless and not that pleasant on their own.

    Pandan Castella Cake

    Can pandan leaves be frozen?

    Yes, if you freeze them in an airtight bag, they can last for months up to a year before freezer burn.

    Why does my pandan cake sink?

    I often get the question, ‘why does my castella cake deflate?” This means you did not beat the egg whites to a stiff peak or while mixing the egg whites into the batter, you deflated it by whisking too much.

    Egg whites should be beaten to a stiff peak to the point where when you lift the whisk up, a wiggly egg white tail form and doesn’t drop.  While mixing the egg whites into the batter, whisk a dollop of the egg whites into the batter to loosen it. And then pour the remaining batter into the egg white using a spatula to fold it to avoid loosing the air in the egg whites.

    What can I do with extra pandan leaves?

    I usually freeze them in a ziplock bag and they will last me months up to a year until freezer burn.  You can also use them for the following dishes:

    • Nasi Lemak.
    • Pandan Cake.
    • Ayam Kapitan.
    • Kaya.
    • Chicken Rice.
    • Bubur Kacang.
    • Steamed Buns (Pau)

    I also share a Classic Castella Cake and a Chocolate Castella Cake. Both are delicious so I hope you check them out!

    Pandan Castella Cake

    Other recipes you may like!

    CHOCOLATE CASTELLA CAKE
    DAIRY-FREE CASTELLA CAKE
    BANANA CHOCOLATE BREAD
    CHOCOLATE COFFEE MUG CAKE
    FLUFFY CHOCOLATE BANANA MUFFINS
    CARROT BANANA BREAD
    CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI OAT BREAD

    For this recipe

    You will need the following pandan castella cake ingredients:

    3 pandan leaves
    60 ml water
    100g cake flour or all-purpose flour
    6 egg yolks
    100g avocado oil
    100g oat milk
    6 egg whites
    100g sugar

    Required: Kitchen Scale, cooking thermometer, electric whisk, 18 cm Square Seamless Baking Pan*, larger baking pan to hold the square one, mixing bowls.

    *If you don't own a seamless baking pan but you own one with seams or a removable base, just cover the base of your pan with foil to prevent water from seeping into it as the cake bakes in a bath

    How to make a castella cake

    Line your square baking pan with parchment paper in a tall manner. The cake batter will rise above your pan.

    In a blender, add pandan leaves and 60 ml water. Blend on high until leaves are grinded to a pulp. Run this pandan liquid through a sieve pushing out all the liquid to create your pandan extract. Discard the pulp. Mix 50 ml pandan liquid with oat milk.

    Separate your egg yolks from the whites into two bowls. Place the egg whites in a larger mixing bowl for later.

    In another large mixing bowl, sift together cake flour.

    Heat your avocado oil in the microwave for 70 seconds. Then immediately pour the hot oil into the flour and mix until just combined.

    Add pandan milk mixture into the flour mixture and mix until just combined. It should be a smooth thick liquid.


    Then mix in your eggs yolks into the batter. The batter should be viscose and a bit runny. Set the batter aside.

    Preheat your oven at 300 degrees F.

    Using an electric whisk, beat your egg whites and add your white sugar to it in three portions. Beat until just until you have stiff peaks, but do not over beat. If you under beat, you cake will have dents. To check if your whites are stiff enough, stir the whisk and lift it up. If it forms a wiggly tail at the end of your whisk that doesn't fall, your whites are ready.

    Gently whisk a large dollop of the meringue into the pandan batter until combined. The pour than batter into your egg whites and gently whisk until it's just combined. Then switch to a spatula to mix and fold the batter, scraping the base of the bowl to ensure it's thoroughly mixed properly.

    Pour the batter into your lined baking pan. Tap the pan on a table to release any air bubbles and smooth out the top with a spatula.

    Place the square pan with your cake batter into a larger baking dish filled with hot boiling water (85 degrees C).

    Bake the cake for 85 minutes until you poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean. The top of the cake should bounce back and should be harder than the rest of the cake. If it’s not cooked, bake for another 10 minutes.

    Remove the parchment paper and slice the cake while hot. This cake can be served warm or cold.

    Notes for my Pandan castella cake recipe:

    • You may see some dents or cracks in your cake but the cake is still delicious!
    • It is normal to see the castella cake deflate after it is removed from the oven.
    • If you notice that the castella cake not rising, then the meringue was not whisked enough. But that's okay, it's all about taste and your cake will still be yummy just not as fluffy.

    Give it a try!

    Well I hope you give my Dairy-Free Castella Cake recipe a try! It always excites me when you guys make my recipes and I hope this is one you try.

    Thanks for visiting my blog! If you enjoyed this Taiwanese castella cake recipe, please share it with your family and friends or on social media! Take a picture if you've made my recipe and tag me on Instagram @ChristieAtHome in your feed or stories so I can share your creation in my stories with credits to you!

    Made this recipe and loved it?

    If you could leave a star rating for my easy Taiwanese castella cake recipe, I would greatly appreciate it 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Take care,
    Christie

    *This post for my jiggly castella cake recipe contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also earn from qualifying purchases through additional affiliate programs

    pandan castella cake

    Pandan Castella Cake (Dairy-Free)

    christieathome
    Pandan Castella Cake. A super soft, fluffy, moist sponge cake that is totally addictive and heavenly. A must try if you are a sponge cake lover. Great for dessert. This recipe is dairy-free.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine asian, Japanese, Taiwanese
    Servings 8 slices
    Calories per serving 266 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 pandan leaves
    • 60 ml water
    • 100 g cake flour or all-purpose flour
    • 6 egg yolks
    • 100 g avocado oil
    • 100 g oat milk
    • 6 egg whites
    • 100 g white granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Line your square baking pan with parchment paper in a tall manner. The cake batter will rise above your pan.
    • In a blender, add pandan leaves and 60 ml water. Blend on high until leaves are grinded to a pulp. Run this pandan liquid through a sieve pushing out all the liquid to create your pandan extract. Discard the pulp. Mix 50 ml pandan liquid with oat milk.
    • Separate your egg yolks from the whites into two bowls. Place the egg whites in a larger mixing bowl for later.
    • In another large mixing bowl, sift together cake flour.
    • Heat your avocado oil in the microwave for 70 seconds. Then immediately pour the hot oil into the flour and mix until just combined.
    • Add pandan milk mixture into the flour mixture and mix until just combined. It should be a smooth thick liquid.
    • Then mix in your eggs yolks into the batter. The batter should be viscose and a bit runny. Set the batter aside.
    • Preheat your oven at 300 degrees F.
    • Using an electric whisk, beat your egg whites and add your white sugar to it in three portions. Beat until just until you have stiff peaks, but do not over beat. If you under beat, you cake will have dents. To check if your whites are stiff enough, stir the whisk and lift it up. If it forms a wiggly tail at the end of your whisk that doesn't fall, your whites are ready.
    • Gently whisk a large dollop of the meringue into the pandan batter until combined. The pour than batter into your egg whites and gently whisk until it's just combined. Then switch to a spatula to mix and fold the batter, scraping the base of the bowl to ensure it's thoroughly mixed properly.
    • Pour the batter into your lined baking pan. Tap the pan on a table to release any air bubbles and smooth out the top with a spatula.
    • Place the square pan with your cake batter into a larger baking dish filled with hot boiling water (around 85 degrees C).
    • Bake the cake for 85 minutes until you poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean. The top of the cake should bounce back and should be harder than the rest of the cake. If it’s not cooked, bake for another 10 minutes.
    • Remove the parchment paper and slice the cake while hot. This cake can be served warm or cold.

    Notes

    To store cake, store in an airtight container and if you need to store overnight, refrigerate it. It can last up to 4-5 days when refrigerated. To warm it up, microwave for 20-30 seconds until warm or consume cold.
    Enjoyed my recipe?Please leave a 5 star review (be kind)! Tag me on social media @christieathome as I'd love to see your creations!

    Suggested Equipment & Products

    6 x 6 inch Square Baking Pan
    Measuring Set
    Hand Mixer
    Mixing bowl
    Nutrition
    Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 221IU | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg

    Suggested Products

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    • sweet crispy asian lemon wings
      Sweet Crispy Asian Lemon Wings

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Michelle | Sift & Simmer

      January 28, 2021 at 12:47 pm

      5 stars
      This pandan castella cake looks so fluffy and soft! I'd love to try it soon!

      Reply
    2. Heidi | The Frugal Girls

      February 01, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      This reminds me a little of angel food cake. It really would be such a fun, light dessert to serve on a hot summer day!

      Reply

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    Christie

    Christie is an Asian Recipe Blogger sharing delicious recipes that you can make at home! Her goal is to make Asian cooking approachable and less intimidating. With a social media following of over 800k, she has been featured on Buzz Feed Tasty, Food52, The Kitchn and more! Christie's recipes have been made over and over again by her loyal readers.

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