Fluffy, soft and airy, this Vanilla Chiffon Cake is delicious on its own but can be made more special with your favorite icing or glaze.
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In a world of fancy desserts, frosted cakes and highly-iced cupcakes, sometimes a plain, naked chiffon cake shines the brightest for me.
Indulgence to me does not always mean the rich, sinful desserts. It also takes the form of plain and simple ones. This Vanilla Chiffon Cake is that. It is a simple cake to go with your coffee or tea- just mildly sweet, light and satisfying.
I believe I have said this before but I have a fascination with chiffon cakes baked in tube pans. To me, they are simply sophisticated, plain but classy. I love that they are tall, fat and naked.
This is a basic recipe you can use. I enjoy eating it on its own, savoring the light, soft and airy texture of the cake. But of course, you can also dress it up like adding glazes and frosting.
Whatever you decide on doing, this cake tastes amazing.
Pointers and Tips for Making Vanilla Chiffon Cake
- The eggs should be in room temperature for about 30 minutes. I separate them while they are cold from the fridge then let them sit at room temperature for half an hour or so. The egg whites can be whisked to full volume when they are not cold.
- You will know that you have whisked the egg whites appropriately if firm peaks form and hold their shape once you lift the whisk. Turn over the bowl carefully. The egg whites should not drip down.
- You are going to need an ungreased 10-inch tube pan that is not non-stick. The chiffon cake batter needs that grip to rise beautifully at its maximum height.
- When you have taken the baked chiffon cake out of the oven, you can cool it on top of a wire rack or better, on top of two coffee mugs with the same height. Set the tube pan over them, giving a lot of space on the bottom of the cake to release the heat.
- To unmold cake, loosen the sides and inner center with a knife or a spatula. Carefully press the sides of the cake to loosen it more. Lift the tube to release the cake and loosen the bottom of the cake again in the same manner.
And here it is, simplicity at its finest. This cake slices beautifully in any thickness that you like. Bring out your fanciest tea mugs and wind down with every slice.
This cake yields a generous number of servings so you can serve it to a party. I bet you that hands will reach out for it because it is pretty enticing like that.
More Cake Recipes For You:
- Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Chocolate Orange Glaze
- Chiffon Cake with Pineapple Glaze
- Choco-Vanilla Chiffon Cake
- Ube-Vanilla Chiffon Cake
- Mango Cake Roll
- Mocha Cake Roll
- Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Chocolate Icing
- Tres Leches Cake
- Dulce de Leche Cake
- Ube Chiffon Cake with Whipped Cream Ube Icing
- Pandan Chiffon Cake
Vanilla Chiffon Cake
Ingredients
- 7 egg yolks room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 7 egg whites at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whisk until egg whites form firm peaks that hold its shape when the whisk is lifted.
Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks in another bowl until it is slightly thicker. Add the sugar and mix until incorporated. Add water, oil and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add flour mixture gradually to the yolk mixture and mix until the batter is smooth. Gently fold the egg whites to the yolk batter in three additions until batter is uniform. Pour batter into an ungreased10-inch tube pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Set tube pan top of two overturned mugs and let cool.
To unmold cake, loosen sides and bottom with a knife. Using your hands, gently press the sides of the cake downwards to loosen it more. remove gently and invert to a serving plate.
Recipe Notes
Recommended 10-inch Tube Pans
Note: The second one has feet on them so that when cooling down the cake, all you need to do is to overturn it and let it stand on the three feet. That gives the bottom of the cake ample space being overturned.
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This cake looks amazing!
Thanks a lot, Karly!!
So yummy and fluffy thanks for sharing this recipe
Thanks a lot, Jennyve!
So easy and fantastic results!! Tasted just like my mom used to make!!
Thank you so much! I am happy you liked it!
Just made this cake for daughter’s birthday. DELICIOUS! Light, airy and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
I am so glad you liked this!
Could this recipe work with a bunt pan?
Hello there Lanis! You can bake this on a bundt pan. You just have to watch out for the baking time as it may vary. Good luck!
Hi, I don’t have cream of tartar. Let me know the replacement of it.
Hello! Just use lemon juice using the same amount and following the same instructions. I guess for this, its 1/4 tsp. Good luck!
Okay, thank you,
Also, in the ingredients, it says 3tsp baking powder, but no where in the recipe does it say when to incorporate it. I was just wondering if that was a typo
Hi! You mix the baking powder with the flour and salt at the first step 🙂 Good luck with this 🙂
So Delicious thank you so much Sanna
You are welcome, Del!
Delicious thank you Sanna for sharing your recipe more power to you
Hello Del! I am so happy you liked it!
Can you use olive oil instead of canola?
I have not tried using olive oil but I think it is fine. It might change the flavor a bit because olive oil has a slight flavor to it. keep me posted 🙂
Hi Sanna, can I use vegetable oil instead of Canola oil
Hello Debra! Yes you can!
Hi, may i know 3/4 cup water is around how many ML because cup have different size? can i use a mould without the hole in the middle?
Hello Corina! 3/4 cup water is around 177 ml. If you use a mould without a hole, the baking time is gonna change too. I have not tried it personally but I suggest baking these in two separate 9 inch round pans 🙂
Hello,
Could this recipe work on a 8inch round pan?
Thanks
Hi Mary! You may have to use two 8 inch round pans and bake them for a shorter time 🙂
Can you use a nonstick tube pan?
Hello! Yes you can but I strongly recommend the aluminum ones instead of non-stick 🙂
Can we skip the cream of tartar?
Hello! Just use same amount of lemon juice in place of it 🙂
Delicious!! How about chocolate flavor?
Thanks Thea! For chocolate flavor, you should definitely try this :https://www.womanscribbles.net/chocolate-chiffon-cake/
Hi! I only have an 8 inch tube pan and an 8×3 round pan? Can I use either one?
Hello! I suggest you use the 8 inch tube pan. You may have to bake the cake a litte longer, say 10-20 mins more. If the top is browning quickly before thencale is.done, cover it loosely with foil.