Wow, family & friends with this chocolate orange magic cake.
One batter. One cake. Abracadabra. Three layers. It's a magic cake!
It's a tray bake style bake, which is as delicious as it is interesting.
Magic cakes are relatively easy to make, using one batter to produce a cake with three layers.
I recall first making a magic cake when I was in my twenties a long time ago! I made a lemon magic cake and it was delicious. If ever I find that recipe again, I will be sure to share it.
They have been around a long time and this chocolate orange magic cake is one I have since discovered, and it is equally as delicious and fun to make.
I can't help but wonder why they are not more popular all the time, given how easy they are to make.
Fun for the young and not so young
On the face of it, this tray bake cake looks like a regular sponge cake. But once sliced into the magic becomes apparent. Three layers including a delicious brownie-like sponge and set custard!
They are a particularly good cake to make with Children who love to discover the layers that appear as if by magic from the single mix once the cake has baked.
Ingredients
- Eggs - medium free range if possible
- Butter - I tend to use lightly salted butter as that is what I have in the fridge. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
- Milk - Whole milk or semi-skimmed is fine,so use whichever you prefer. Do not use skimmed milk in this recipe.
- White wine vinegar - the acidity strengthens and stabilises the protein network in egg whites, preventing the egg white foam from collapsing and ensuring a stable, voluminous structure. White wine vinegar has a mild flavour that will not be detected in the finished cake. Lemon juice can be used as an alternative.
- Caster sugar - I use golden caster sugar for most of my baking. It's the same as normal caster sugar, but it's unrefined. It is a little more flavoursome with light caramel tones.
- Orange extract - I used Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, Valencian Orange Extract
- Plain flour - (US = all-purpose) is best because it helps give the cake its light crumb.
- Cocoa powder - use a high quality cocoa powder for a truly chocolate packed flavour.
- Icing Sugar - (US = confectioner's sugar) Optional, for dusting before serving.
Top Tips when Making
- Use a spatula or balloon whisk to incorporate the flour and milk into the batter. Electric beaters or stand mixers will create a cloud of flour and splatter the milk everywhere!
- The uncooked batter will be very thin, similar to single cream.
- Bake until the magic cake only has the tiniest of wobbles.
- The baked magic cake is likely to have a few cracks on the surface once removed from the oven. As the cake cools, it will drop very slightly and the cracks will be largely unnoticeable.
How to serve
Serve cut into squares. Dust with icing sugar if desired.
Storage /Leftovers
Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 days. Not suitable for freezing
So, here's how to make Chocolate Orange Magic Cake!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Magic Cake
Equipment
- 20cm (8in) syqare cake tin
- baking parchment
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 2 small saucepans
- hand held electric whisk or balloon whisk
Ingredients
For the Sponge Batter
- 125 g butter (4oz) plus a little extra for greasing
- 475 ml milk (16½floz) )full fat, or semi-skimmed, not skimmed
- 4 medium eggs
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar optional
- 150 g golden caster sugar (5oz)
- 2 capful orange extract
- 100 g plain flour (3½ oz)
- 30 g cocoa powder (1¼oz)
To finish
- 1 - 2 teaspoon icing Sugar for dusting before serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160℃ (150℃ fan)/320°F/gas mark 3. Grease and line a 20cm (8in) square cake tin with baking parchment. Ensure the parchments extends beyond the sides of the tin to aid the removal of the magic cake once baked.
- Gently melt 125g butter in a small pan and heat 475ml milk in another pan until lukewarm.
- Separate 4 eggs and place the whites in one large mixing bowl and the egg yolks in the other.
- Whisk the egg whites until standing in stiff peaks, then whisk in the vinegar.
- Next, whisk the egg yolks with 150g caster sugar until pale and thick. Whisk in 2 capfuls of orange extract. Then stir in the melted butter with a spatula and mix well.
- Sieve 100g flour and 30g cocoa powder into the batter and mix together until combined. Pour a third of the lukewarm milk into the batter and mixed to combine, then gradually add the remaining milk until all of the milk is incorporated into the batter.
- Carefully fold the whisked egg whites, a third at a time, into the batter, until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared brownie tin and bake in the centre of the oven for about 50 minutes (check after 40 minutes). The cake is ready when just the tiniest of wobbles still remain when you shake the pan.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the tin for at least 15 minutes. Use the parchment to carefully lift the magic cake from the tin. Place onto the cooling rack to cool completely
- Serve cut into squares and lightly dust with icing sugar just before serving if desired.
Notes
- If you prefer a richer chocolate flavour, substitute some of the plain flour for more cocoa.
- Avoid overheating the milk and butter. If they feel hotter than lukewarm before they're added to the batter, dip the base of the pan into cold water to cool quickly. Avoid getting water inside the pan.
- Use a spatula or balloon whisk to incorporate the flour and milk to the batter. Electric beaters or stand mixers will create a cloud of flour and splatter the milk everywhere!
- The uncooked batter will be very thin, similar to single cream.
- The baked magic cake is likely to have a few cracks on the surface once removed from the oven. As the cake cools the cake will drop very slightly and the cracks will be largely unnoticeable.
Pin for Later
Annie says
Hi- Slightly confused here -should stage 5 say "whisk the egg YOLKS with 150g caster sugar ? A
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Yes indeed Annie it should have read egg yolks. It was a typo and I have now corrected it in the recipe. Thank you for letting me know andI hope that doesnt put you off trying the recipe.
Annie says
Hi -not put off at all -just waiting for the orange extract to arrive in my supermarket delivery then I'm jumping right in !I've been looking for "magic cake " recipe for a while .And is it me, or is there a shortage of good cocoa powder at the moment -plenty of drinking chocolate available but trying to replace my stock of 70% + cocoa powder is proving a bit of a challenge .
Alison says
How will it freeze?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Hello Alison, This recipe was made by Angela my presdessor at Only Crumbs Remain, so I am not completely familiar with it and have not tried freezing it. But having looked at the recipe I am confident that it should freeze ok for up to 2 months Hope this helps Jacqui x
Lucy Corry - The Kitchenmaid says
You had me at 'set custard and chocolate sponge'! Gosh this is clever, why haven't I come across these before? I wonder if these magic cakes are related to something I know as 'impossible pie', which is vaguely similar (though this looks much, much nicer). Must bookmark and try!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Ooh now I've never heard of impossibly pies Lucy, I'm definitely going to have to check those out!...excuse me a moment.....they definitely do look remarkably similar don't they with the layers that are created during the bake!
Thank you too for your lovely comment, and introducing me to impossible pies, I hope you enjoy it as much as we have if you get chance to try it 🙂
Angela x
Choclette Blogger says
I remember being intrigued by these a few years ago and bookmarked loads. I've still never got around to trying one. I'm rather pleased about that as your chocolate version looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
I know just what you mean Choclette, I have a list as long as your arm for recipes i want to try!
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Oh wow this looks amazing! I love the defined layers and love the flavour combination, chocolate orange is one of my favs! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou so much Kirsty, it's one of my favourites too Kirsty 🙂
Angela x
Kat BakingExplorer says
I've not heard of magic cake before but it look fabulous! I'd love to try this chocolate orange version of yours 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou Kat 🙂
Angela x
Jenny says
I have heard of this so called Magic Cake and I wondered if it actually worked. I love the layers - it is so clever ! I also love your flavours - mmmm. x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It really is so interesting how one batter can produce a cake with more than one layer, I think it's down to the fact that the batter is quite thin and so the heavier elements drop down during the bake. You can't beat chocolate orange can you Jenny - it's so yummy 🙂
Angela x
Corina says
I'm intrigued by these cakes too. I've seen a few online but never attempted one. It looks like the layers all have such a great texture too! It's definitely something on my list to experiment with now!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
They really are fascinating aren't they Corina. The layers they produce are very different to one another too - these seemed to produce something akin to a set custard topped with a brownie.
Angela x
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Intriguing! I have seen magic cakes before.... and always wondered whether they would work gluten free. I may just have to try it out to find out! It sounds lovely xx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou Kate :-), my hunch is is it will work GF - but I'm defo no expert I'll leave that area up to you 🙂 I hope it does work for you,
Angela xx
Jenny-Apply to Face blog says
This looks gorgeous!What a clever idea.I haven't seen them before.Great pics and recipe.xx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
I bet you'll end up seeing loads of them on Instagram and Pinterest now - or at least that's what I usually find what happens when I come across something new.
Thanks for your lovely comments Jenny,
Angela x
All That I'm Eating says
I love that it's called magic cake! You can't go wrong with chocolate and orange.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
You're right, chocolate orange is such a winner isn't it. It's a great name (wish I could say I'd thought of it but alas not), but it really is the perfect name for it,
Angela x
Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) says
I love those flavours and the cake looks so creamy and attractive!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It's such a popular flavour combo isn't it - one of my favourites 🙂
Thanksyou for your lovely comment Liz,
Angela x
Helen says
This is very intriguing, and looks delicious! I keep seeing it pop up on facebook & it makes me drool every time! I must give this a go, thanks for sharing 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It is really is fascinating isn't it Helen, I hope you enjoy it ass much as we have if you give it a go,
Angela x
Jo @ Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Is it a brownie or is it a custard 🙂 It definitely looks magical and oh so gorgeously yummy! You cannot beat the flavour combination either and beautiful photos speak for themselves! 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Haha, indeed 🙂
Thankyou Jo, I'm a huge fan of chocolate orange too,
Angela x
Jasmin Charlotte says
Ohh this looks really good! What a good idea - definitely my kind of bake when you only need to make one mixture!
Jasmin Charlotte
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou Charlotte x
Louise Fairweather says
I keep meaning to try a magic cake! May have to give this one a go in the summer hols #cookblogshare
Alison's Allspice says
I haven't heard of magic cake. Those layers are so intriguing! I will pin it to try later, Thanks!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
It really is intriguing isn't it - amazing how it's all made with one batter.
Angela x
Sarah James says
I love your magic cake Angela, chocolate and orange are one of my favourite flavour combinations. Great recipe instructions as usual. I must be a bit late to the party as I haven't come across them before 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou Sarah, I love chocolate orange too - it's such a winner in my eyes. Ooh I'm surprised you've not spotted them on Pinterest at least, a tad surprised there.
Thanks for your lovely comment Sarah,
Angela x
Rebecca Beesley says
Wow I'd never heard of magic cakes - I can't get my head around that! I wonder what the science is behind it that it goes into 3 layers!!! Amazing! Absolutely must try this!
Monika Dabrowski says
This is one of my favourite recipes from Only Crumbs Remain! I absolutely love orange flavoured chocolate, I love the look of this cake, the fact that it doesn't seem too hard to make and the photos are really really good too:)
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou so much Monika, cos I love chocolate orange combo I have a few other bakes with that combo on the blog too 😉 It's not too difficult, i think the hardest part is folding in the meringue tbh,
Thankyou for your lovely comments monika,
Angela x
Anca says
It looks great, I love the layers, so well defined. It must be yummy too. x