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Believe it or not, you don't need an oven to bake a cake. You can spread any cake batter in a prepared pan that will fit in your stove top or electric pressure cooker. To use the stove top pressure cooker like an oven, remove the gasket and whistle. Monitor the temperature of the pressure cooker to get a perfectly baked cake. For a hands-off approach, set your electric pressure cooker to the cake setting and adjust the temperature. You'll be amazed at the results!
Steps
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Mix your cake batter. Follow your favorite cake recipe or combine a boxed cake mix according to the instructions on the box. You won't need to make any adjustments to the batter. [1] X Research source
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Select a baking pan. You can use a metal, pyrex glass, or silicone baking pan as long as it will fit in your pressure cooker. Consider using the following sizes depending on the size of your pressure cooker: [2] X Research source
- 3-quart (2.8 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm)
- 6-quart (5.7 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 7 in × 4 in (18 cm × 10 cm)
- 8-quart (7.6 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 7 in × 4 in (18 cm × 10 cm), 8 in × 3 in (20.3 cm × 7.6 cm), 8 in × 4 in (20 cm × 10 cm)
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Grease the baking pan. Spray a round or square cake pan with cooking spray. If you don't have cooking spray, rub shortening or butter along the bottom and sides of the pan. Sprinkle a few spoonfuls of flour over the shortening and tap the pan to distribute the flour. Shake the pan over the trash so excess flour falls out.
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Fill the pan with the cake batter. Scoop all of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to spread the batter so it's level in the pan.
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Remove the gasket and whistle from the pressure cooker. Since you won't be using water in the pressure cooker, you don't need the gasket. Pull off the rubber insulation from the lid and set it aside. You can also set the whistle aside. [3] X Research source
- While you usually need to add water to the pressure cooker, if you leave the water out, you'll be baking instead of steaming. Only use this method if you have a stainless steel or aluminum stove top pressure cooker.
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Place 1 1/2 cups (300 g) of salt in the pressure cooker. Spread the salt evenly in the bottom of the pressure cooker. The salt will insulate the cooker since you won't be using water. [4] X Research source
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Set a stand in the bottom of the pressure cooker. Put a metal stand in the bottom of the cooker to distribute the heat and prevent the cake from burning on the bottom. [5] X Research source
- If you don't have a stand, set a wire rack in the bottom of the cooker.
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Preheat the empty pressure cooker on high for 2 minutes. Put the lid on the pressure cooker and turn the burner to high. Let the pressure cooker heat before you add the pan with the batter. [6] X Research source
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Lower the cake pan into the pressure cooker and put the lid on. Wear oven mitts to lift the lid off of the hot pressure cooker. Carefully lower the pan with the cake batter down onto the stand in the pressure cooker. Put the lid on the cooker. [7] X Research source
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Reduce the heat to medium and cook the cake for 5 minutes. The cake will immediately begin to rise and cook. [8] X Research source
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Turn the burner to low and bake the cake according to the recipe. Because you aren't actually cooking with pressure, the cake will take about the same time to bake as if you were baking it in a standard oven. Follow the bake time instructions from your recipe or the back of the box mix. [9] X Research source
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Check the cake. To test if the cake is finished baking, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, turn off the burner. If not, check the cake again in 3 to 5 minutes. [10] X Research source
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Cool and remove the cake from the pan. Let the cake cool and lift it up and out of the pressure cooker. [11] X Research source
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Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of water in the insert. Once you've poured the water into the insert, set a metal trivet into the bottom so your cake pan won't come into direct contact with the insert.
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Lower the pan into the cooker. The filled cake pan should be sitting on the metal trivet.
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Put the lid on the cooker and seal it shut. Set the lid on the pressure cooker and turn it clockwise until it's fastened in place. Most pressure cookers won't work until the lid is properly tightened.
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Set the cooker to the cake or high setting. Turn the pressure cooker on and select the cake program setting. If your pressure cooker doesn't have this option, use the manual setting to pressure cook on high.
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Adjust the temperature according to the type of cake you're making. If you're making a light, moist cake such as a sponge, turn the temperature to "Less." Most standard cakes or cake mixes are fine on the normal temperature setting. If you're cooking a dense cake, brownie, or cheesecake, increase the temperature to "More." [12] X Research source
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Set the bake time for half of the normal time. Check the recipe or box instructions for how long to cook the cake according to the size pan you're using. Take the amount of time given and set the pressure cooker for half of the time.
- For example, if your recipe calls for a 50 minute cook time, program the pressure cooker for 25 minutes.
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Release the pressure for 10 minutes. As the pressure cooker cools down, the pressure will reduce on its own. Once the float valve has dropped down, you can turn the lid counterclockwise and lift it off.
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Check the cake for doneness. To test the cake, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake has finished cooking.
- It can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes for the pressure to release, depending on the size of your pressure cooker.
- If the cake isn't done, you'll need to put the lid back on and turn the pressure cooker back on. Check it again after 5 minutes of pressure cooking.
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Let your cake cool for 5 minutes and lift it out. Give the pan a chance to cool a little before you take it out of the pressure cooker. You can wear oven mitts and pick the cake pan up or use 2 pairs of tongs to pull the pan out. Set the cake on a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it okay if I use wax paper instead of parchment paper for the sponge cake?Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.Never bake with wax paper. The waxy residue will come off onto your food, which is undesirable.
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QuestionCan we use vanilla custard powder in place of vanilla extract?Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.Vanilla custard powder or pudding mix will change the consistency of the cake. It cannot be substituted for vanilla extract.
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QuestionCan I use aluminum paper instead of parchment paper?Community AnswerYes, you may use aluminum paper instead of parchment paper.
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Things You'll Need
Preparing the Batter and Pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Metal, pyrex glass, or silicone baking pan
- Cooking spray
- Mixing bowl and spoon
Using a Stove-Top Pressure Cooker
- Stove-top pressure cooker (not non-stick)
- Stand
- Oven mitts
- Toothpick
- Wire rack
Using an Electric Pressure Cooker
- Electric pressure cooker
- Metal trivet
- Oven mitts
- Wire rack
- Toothpick
- 2 sets of tongs
Tips
- If you don't have vanilla essence, you can use vanilla paste, almond extract, maple syrup, or honey.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- You can also bake a cake in an electric rice cooker. Simply pour the batter into a buttered rice cooker bowl, place it in the cooker, and turn on the standard rice setting (or cake setting).
- If you're a vegetarian, bananas are a great substitute for eggs. Use half a banana for each egg in your cake batter recipe.
- Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the batter to for a spongier cake.
Submit a Tip
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References
- ↑ http://ministryofcurry.com/instant-pot-cake-brownies-bread-instant-pot/
- ↑ http://fatdaddios.com/help/instant-pot-bakeware-list
- ↑ https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/06/03/how-make-cake-pressure-cooker/
- ↑ http://hebbarskitchen.com/cooker-cake-recipe-pressure-cooker-cake/
- ↑ http://hebbarskitchen.com/cooker-cake-recipe-pressure-cooker-cake/
- ↑ https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/06/03/how-make-cake-pressure-cooker/
- ↑ https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/06/03/how-make-cake-pressure-cooker/
- ↑ https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/06/03/how-make-cake-pressure-cooker/
- ↑ https://www.cookingandme.com/2013/06/03/how-make-cake-pressure-cooker/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make a cake in a pressure cooker, prepare the batter as instructed and pour it into a baking pan that will fit inside your pressure cooker. Then, pour 1 cup of water in the cooker and set the pan on a metal trivet to keep it above the water. Seal your cooker, set it on high, and cut the normal baking time in half. After the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release for 10 minutes before removing the lid and checking to make sure the cake is done. For tips on how to make a cake in a stove-top pressure cooker, keep reading!
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