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Step‑by‑Step Cotton Cake Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease and lightly flour your cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until light and slightly fluffy. Add oil, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
Step 3: Add the Pudding Mix
Sprinkle the pudding mix into the bowl. Whisk gently until fully incorporated and lump‑free.
Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients
Add baking powder and salt. Mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5: Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Serve warm or fully cooled.
The Texture: What Makes It So Soft?
The magic of this cake lies in its balance of fat, liquid, and starch.
- Eggs provide structure
- Oil adds moisture
- Milk softens the crumb
- Pudding mix locks everything together
The result is a cake that feels light yet rich, soft yet stable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even simple recipes can go wrong if a few details are overlooked.
Overmixing the Batter
Overmixing introduces too much air and develops gluten, leading to a tougher cake.
Overbaking
A cotton cake should remain pale and soft. Overbaking dries it out quickly.
Using Cooked Pudding Instead of Instant
Only instant pudding mix works for this recipe.
Flavor Variations to Try
This cotton cake is incredibly versatile.
Chocolate Cotton Cake
Use chocolate pudding mix and add cocoa powder for deeper flavor.
Lemon Cotton Cake
Use lemon pudding mix and add lemon zest for freshness.
Coconut Cotton Cake
Use vanilla pudding mix and replace part of the milk with coconut milk.
Strawberry Cotton Cake
Strawberry pudding mix adds color and fruity sweetness.
Serving Ideas
Cotton cake is delicious on its own, but you can dress it up easily.
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Serve with fresh fruit
- Add whipped cream
- Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce
Its light texture pairs beautifully with simple toppings.
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