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White Sugar Sponge Cake (Bai Tang Gao/Bak Tong Gou 白糖糕) Recipe

White Sugar Sponge Cake is a dessert that brings me back to my childhood. Unfortunately, it is not commonly found anymore, which is why I make it at home for my family and I!
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Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Fermentation Time:2 hours
Total Time:3 hours
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, Cantonese, Chinese
Keyword: Cantonese Desserts, Chinese Bai Tang Gao Bak Tong Gou 白糖糕, White Honeycomb Cake, White Sugar Sponge Cake, White Sugar Sponge Cake Bai Tang Gao Bak Tong Gou 白糖糕, 白糖糕
Servings: 8

Equipment

  • 1 steamer
  • 1 8x8 square baking pan

Ingredients

YEAST

  • 1 tsp instant dry yeast
  • 1 tbsp lukewarm water

CAKE BATTER

  • 9 oz rice flour
  • 1¼ cup room temperature water

SYRUP

  • 1 cup water
  • ¾ cup white sugar (or to taste)

REMAINING INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tsp neutral oil (separated into two ½ tsps)

Instructions

  • YEAST: In a small bowl, combine 1 tsp instant dry yeast with 1 tbsp lukewarm water. Mix until thoroughly blended, then set aside for 15 minutes.
  • CAKE BATTER: Place 9oz rice flour into a large mixing bowl. Whisk briefly to break up any clumps, then add 1¼ cup room temperature water into the same bowl and mix until blended. Set aside.
  • SYRUP: Place 1 cup of water and ¾ cup of white sugar (or to taste) into a small pot and bring to a slight boil, while whisking, to completely dissolve the sugar. Pour this syrup into the cake batter mixture and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Allow the cake batter + syrup mixture to come to a warm temperature (about 90℉ - 95℉), then add the yeast mixture and stir until ingredients are well blended.
  • Cover the mixing bowl, then place into a warm environment for 2 hours for proofing, or until the entire surface of the mixture is bubbly.
  • Add ½ tsp of neutral oil into the mixture, then whisk until combined.
  • Grease an 8x8 baking pan with the remaining ½ tsp of neutral oil, then carefully pour the mixture into the pan.
  • Steam over medium high heat for 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  • When the cake is cool enough to be handled, gently flip it onto a cutting surface. Cut them into pieces and ENJOY!!!

Video

Notes

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