Baking up a storm this holiday season? Give the oven a break from all of that dessert-baking and put your microwave to good use. It really is possible to make delicious cakes using only your microwave and a handful of basic baking ingredients, which means you can enjoy a homemade dessert within minutes. From a rich applesauce cake with cream cheese frosting to a festive pumpkin spice cake topped with powdered sugar, you can whip up a delicious holiday treat in 10 minutes or less.
Here are some tips for making holiday cakes in the microwave:
1. Rotate your dish in the middle of the microwave bake. Your microwave may not heat up the batter evenly enough without some extra help, so make sure you rotate the cake at least once during the cooking period.
2. Don’t grease the pan. Unlike cakes made in the oven, most microwave cake recipes won’t stick to the bottom of the pan. You can get away with a very light coating of butter if you want to make sure the cake comes out picture-perfect, but being too generous with butter or oil can leave the cake with a strange aftertaste.
3. Always use all-purpose, not cake flour. Cake flour is too fine for the microwave and won’t give you the right texture. If the cake needs to rise, there should be baking powder in the recipe.
4. Fill the pan at least 2/3 full. Any more and you’ll experience some serious overflow. Any less, and the cake will come out chewy and spongy.
5. Avoid using margarine instead of butter. Margarine is cheaper than butter, but your cake will take on a different flavor and even a rubbery texture. Use real butter whenever possible for a rich, moist and tasty cake – especially for the holiday season.
Holiday Recipes for Microwave Cakes
When you need a quick dessert this holiday season, ‘fake bake’ up one of these tasty treats:
Microwave Applesauce Cake
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sweetened applesauce
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
¾ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
½ cup dried cranberries
Melt the butter in a microwave-proof bowl for 45-60 seconds. Stir in the applesauce and brown sugar, followed by the rest of the ingredients to form a smooth batter. Pour into a 6 x 9 or 8×8 microwavable dish and cook on high for 7 minutes 30 seconds. Rotate the dish and cook on medium for 2 minute until the dough is cooked all the way through. Frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting.
Pumpkin Spice Cake
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
1/4 cup milk
Beat the eggs, sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl, then stir in pumpkin and vanilla. Mix thoroughly until well-combined, then stir in the flour, salt, baking powder, spice mix and milk until smooth. Pour into a large (12 cup is ideal) cake mold. Cook on high for 7 minutes, then rotate the dish and cook on high for another 3 minutes. Allow to cool for at least an hour before inverting onto a cake platter. Top with powdered sugar and enjoy!
