Sure! Here’s a comprehensive, detailed recipe and guide for Castella Cake (Kasutera) — a Japanese sponge cake that’s as delicate as it is delicious. This guide includes its history, ingredients, instructions, health benefits, cake formation process, and more.
🍰 Castella Cake (Kasutera) Recipe Guide
A Soft, Sweet, Honey-Scented Japanese Sponge Cake
🌸 Introduction
Castella Cake, or Kasutera (カステラ), is a traditional Japanese sponge cake known for its light, moist texture, and gentle sweetness, typically enhanced with honey. Though it’s now a popular dessert in Japan, Castella has Portuguese roots dating back to the 16th century. With a smooth golden top, soft crumb, and slight chewiness at the bottom, it’s a favorite among dessert lovers who seek subtle, elegant flavors.
📜 History of Castella Cake
The Portuguese missionaries introduced “Pão de Castela” (Bread from Castile) to Japan in the 1500s. The Japanese adapted the recipe, refining it over centuries to what we now know as Castella Cake. It became a specialty of Nagasaki, where it is still made in traditional wooden molds and sold in beautifully wrapped boxes.
Over time, Castella became synonymous with hospitality, celebration, and refinement in Japanese tea culture.
🧾 Ingredients
- 🥚 4 medium eggs (room temperature)
- 🍬 110g granulated sugar
- 🌾 110g cake flour (sifted for lightness)
- 🍯 2 tbsp honey
- 🥛 1 tbsp milk
- 🍦 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Optional: A pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
Equipment: 1 loaf pan (8×4 inches), parchment paper, electric mixer, sieve.
🥣 Method & Instructions
🔹 Step 1: Prepare the Pan
Line your loaf pan with parchment paper. Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F). Place a water bath tray in the oven (optional but helps keep the texture moist).
🔹 Step 2: Warm the Honey
Mix the honey and milk together and warm slightly until runny. Set aside to cool.
🔹 Step 3: Beat the Eggs
Crack the eggs into a large bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the eggs while gradually adding sugar. This takes about 5–8 minutes until the mixture triples in volume and becomes pale and ribbon-like.
🔹 Step 4: Add Vanilla and Honey
Lower the mixer speed and gently add vanilla extract and the warm honey-milk mixture. Mix until combined.
🔹 Step 5: Sift in the Flour
Sift the cake flour into the batter in 2-3 batches, folding gently with a spatula to keep the air in.
🔹 Step 6: Pour and Tap
Pour the batter into the lined loaf pan. Tap the pan lightly on the counter to remove large air bubbles.
🔹 Step 7: Bake
Bake for 40–50 minutes until the top is golden brown and a skewer comes out clean. If it browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
🔹 Step 8: Cooling and Wrapping
Once baked, immediately remove from the pan and wrap the cake in plastic wrap while still warm. This keeps it moist and allows the flavor to deepen.
🔹 Step 9: Rest Overnight
Let the cake rest overnight (or at least 6 hours). This resting step is key to a moist, flavorful Castella.
🍥 Cake Formation Science
- Eggs: Provide volume and structure through foam.
- Sugar: Stabilizes the foam and contributes to caramelization (brown top).
- Honey: Adds flavor, moisture, and helps give a chewy texture to the bottom.
- Cake Flour: Lower protein content ensures a fine, tender crumb.
- Mixing Technique: Proper aeration ensures fluffiness without using leaveners like baking powder.
🧠 Benefits of Castella Cake
- Low-fat dessert: Contains no butter or oil.
- Simple ingredients: Easily digestible and less processed.
- Naturally sweetened: Honey offers antioxidants.
- Light texture: Ideal for people looking for delicate flavors.
🍽 Nutritional Information (Per Slice – Approximate)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~140 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 22g |
| Protein | 4g |
| Fat | 3g |
| Sugars | 14g |
| Cholesterol | 50mg |
| Sodium | 20mg |
Tip: Pair with green tea to balance the sweetness and aid digestion.
❤️ Castella Cake Lovers
This cake is adored by:
- Tea lovers: Especially during tea ceremonies.
- Minimalist bakers: Simple ingredients, stunning results.
- Gift givers: Often presented in elegant boxes for celebrations.
- Japanese snack fans: A nostalgic childhood treat for many.
- Those seeking gentle sweets: Not overpoweringly sugary, but rich in flavor.
🧁 Conclusion
Castella Cake is more than just a sponge cake. It’s a cultural treasure, a piece of history, and a testament to the beauty of simplicity in baking. With only a few pantry staples, you can create a dessert that delights the senses and brings a smile with every bite. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, Castella is a rewarding recipe to master — one that connects East and West, past and present.
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