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    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Pandan Cake - Light as air and Dairy Free

    August 17, 2020 By Sara McCleary Updated November 29, 2020 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    A fragrant pandan cake that will transport your taste buds to South East Asia. It is a light as air chiffon cake with a gorgeous green colour. Plus this is a dairy free cake, a bonus for those who are lactose intolerant.

    pandan cake on wooden cake stand with slices removed

    What is pandan?

    Pandan (pandanus amaryllifolius) is a tropical plant belonging to the screwpine family with long pointy leaves that are palm-like in texture. Pandan has a fresh, floral, earthy smell and taste, almost like sweet grass.

    It is an essential ingredient in quite a lot of Asian cuisines. The flavour and colour can be extracted from the leaves to make pandan water. The leaves can be pounded to make pandan paste. Alternatively, food can be wrapped in the leaves for cooking.

    Pandan is available in various forms at your local Asian grocer.

    • Frozen whole leaves
    • Fresh whole leaves
    • Concentrated essence in small bottles
    • Liquid extract in cans
    • Powdered extract

    Ingredients

    ingredients for pandan cake on a tiled surface
    1. Vegetable Oil: use a mild tasting vegetable oil
    2. Eggs: medium size eggs, roughly 60grams each
    3. Water: you can also use milk if preferred for a slightly richer pandan cake
    4. Cream of Tartar: helps to stabilise egg whites when whipping
    5. Baking Powder: a raising agent, omit if you would like to use self-raising flour
    6. Salt: is used as a flavour enhancer
    7. Pandan Essence/Paste: available from Asian grocers, no substitute
    8. Caster Sugar: also called superfine sugar used for baking
    9. Plain Flour: regular baking flour, you can use the same amount of self-raising, but don't add the baking powder

    Step by step instructions

    Step 1: Pre-heat oven 160°C/325°F. Do not grease or line your tin.

    Step 2: Using a stand mixer whisk egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. 

    egg whites glossy after addition of sugar
    egg whites whipped to stiff peaks

    Step 3: Gradually add half of the caster sugar (115g/½ cup), the rest of the sugar is used in the next step.

    Whisk sugar and egg whites until the mixture is stiff and glossy.

    Set bowl aside.

    Step 4: In a separate bowl whisk egg yolks and remaining sugar until thick and pale in colour.

    whipped egg yolk and sugar mixture running off beater

    pandan cake batter after the addition of pandan extract

    Step 5: Then add oil, water and pandan extract. Whip until well combined at a medium speed.

    Step 6: Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue whipping until combined.

    Don't panic if you find the cake batter a little too green, it will tone down when the egg white mixture is folded through.

    Step 7: Remove bowl from stand mixer and gently fold through ⅓ egg white mixture.

    The purpose of folding through ⅓ of the egg white mixture initially is to loosen it up a little or lighten the consistancy.

    This then allows us to fold through the remaining egg white mixture helping to retain the air which has been whipped into them.

    Fold until it is just incorporated, do not over fold the mixture.

    one third of egg whites being folded into pandan cake batter
    chiffon cake batter in a glass bowl

    Step 8: Once the first addition of egg white mixture is incorporated gently fold through remaining egg white mixture until just combined. Don’t over mix.

    Step 9: Pour batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan. Place in the oven and bake for 50 minutes.

    Do not grease or line the tin! I know it feels unnatural, but it is important not to.

    pandan cake batter in chiffon cake tin
    pandan cake cooked, out of oven in the chiffon cake tin

    Step 10: After 50 minutes turn up the heat of the oven to 180°C/350°F for an additional 15 minutes. Cake is cooked when you gently press it in the middle with a finger and it springs back.

    Step 11: Once out of the oven turn cake tin over and allow to cool completely upside down.

    Step 12: Once cool remove cake from the tin.

    Removing the cake from the tin

    As you have probably predicted, due to using an ungreased/unlined tin, the pandan cake isn't going to slip out of that baby easily. But that's okay, an angel food/chiffon cake tin is designed not to be greased or lined.

    We wanted the cake secured and stuck in that tin for the time we had it cooling upside down. If the tin had been greased or lined we wouldn't have been able to do it. By having the cake cool upside down it prevents it from falling and becoming flat. This is how we end up with a nice fluffy and tall pandan cake.

    Step 1: Once the cake has cooled turn the tin right side up again.

    Run a sharp thin-bladed knife around the inside of the tin and the pandan cake. Take your time being careful not to cut into the cake and making sure to go right down to the base of the tin

    Then do the same thing around the central tube.

    knife running around the inside edge of the cake tin to remove cake
    knife being inserted between bottom of cake and base of tin to remove cake from tin

    Step 2: From underneath gently push the removeable base up and out of the cake tin.

    You will not need to remove the cake from the removable cake tin base. Using the same knife run it between the inside of the base and the bottom of the cake.

    Take your time and go all the way to the central cylinder. Remember the base of the cake becomes the top of the cake, so be careful.

    uncut pandan cake on wooden cake stand with flowers in the background

    It may not be the prettiest of cakes once it has been removed from the tin. You could give it a light dusting of icing sugar if you wish.

    The pandan cake magic happens when you cut into it. Such a gorgeous colour. The cake is tall and light as air.

    pandan cake on wooden cake stand with slices removed

    I have left the pandan cake plain. I personally enjoy a "plain" cake every now and then. Goes really well with a nice cuppa in the afternoon or as a post dinner snack.

    If you were making this cake for a special occasion, or did want to jazz it up a little you could. A pandan butter cream for that added pandan kick. Vanilla or coconut butter cream would work well too. Alternatively try a lime glaze.

    Sara xxx

    pandan cake on wooden cake stand with slices removed

    Pandan Cake

    Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
    A fragrant pandan cake that will transport your taste buds to South East Asia. It is a light as air chiffon cake with a gorgeous green colour. Plus this is a dairy free cake, a bonus for those who are lactose intolerant.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine French, South East Asian
    Servings 12
    Calories 293 kcal

    Special Equipment

    • 23 cm (9 ¼ inch) angel food cake tin with extended feet and removable base

    Ingredients

    • 7 eggs | separated
    • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 230 grams (1 cup) caster sugar | Note you will be using 115 grams/½ cup of sugar with step #2 and the remaining with step #3
    • 125 mls (½ cup) vegetable oil
    • 185 mls (¾ cup) water
    • 1 teaspoon pandan essence/paste
    • 300 grams (2 cups) plain flour
    • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven 160°C (325°F). Do not grease or line your tin.
    • Using a stand mixer whisk egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Gradually add 115g/½ cup of the caster sugar, continue to whisk until mixture is stiff and glossy. Set bowl aside.
    • In a separate bowl beat egg yolks and remaining sugar until thick and pale in colour.
    • Then add oil, water and pandan extract. Whip until well combined at a medium speed.
    • Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue whipping until combined.
    • Remove bowl from stand mixer and fold through ⅓ egg white mixture. Once incorporated gently fold through remaining egg white mixture until just combined. Don’t over mix.
    • Pour batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan. Place in the oven and bake for 50 minutes.
    • After 50 minutes turn up the heat of the oven to 180°C (350°F) for an additional 15 minutes. Cake is cooked when you gently press it in the middle with a finger and it springs back.
    • Once out of the oven turn cake tin over and allow to cool completely upside down.
    • Once cool turn cake pan back over and run a sharp thin knife around the outside edges of the tin and then around the central tube. From underneath gently push the cake out from the bottom, it will still be attached to the removable base. Once removed from the tin, gently remove cake from base again using the sharp knife.
    • The top of the cake when cooking becomes the base of your cake for decorating and serving. This is how you get that perfectly flat top. If your cake hasn’t risen evenly, you may wish to trim it slightly so it sits level.

    Notes

    Baking Tip

    Don’t open the oven door for the first 45 minutes of cooking to ensure the cake rises.

    Cooks Notes

    All oven temperatures are for a conventional oven, if using fan forced lower the temperature by 20 Deg C (70 Deg F).
    All measurements are Australian tablespoons and cups. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified;
    • 1 teaspoon equals 5ml
    • 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
    • 1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
    • 4 teaspoons equals 1 tablespoon
    • I use the below unless specified in my recipes;
    Herbs are fresh | Vegetables are of a medium size | Eggs are roughly 60 grams in weight (large)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 136mgPotassium: 167mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 139IUCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword fluffy sponge cake, how to make chiffon cake, pandan angle food cake
    Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram or Twitter @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles

    More chiffon cake recipes

    Blood Orange Chiffon Cake
    Vanilla Rose Chiffon Cake
    Smarties Chiffon Cake
    Coffee Marble Chiffon Cake

    pandan cake recipe pinterest pin
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Louise Fong

      December 19, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      Could I use coconut milk instead of water in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        December 21, 2021 at 3:29 pm

        Hi Louise
        I love the idea of coconut milk, I can't see a reason why it wouldn't work. I often use milk instead of water.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply
    2. Hilary Tilley

      November 13, 2021 at 6:31 am

      5 stars
      Fab recipe. Very clear instructions and oven temperatures. Very happy with the result. I topped it with a milk chocolate ganache and chocolate mints to create a birthday cake. The cake is light and airy. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        November 15, 2021 at 4:11 pm

        Hi Hilary
        Sounds like you created a fabulous birthday cake. Love the toppings you used. So happy you were pleased with the recipe.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply
    3. Janice Caine

      October 20, 2021 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      First time doing a chiffon cake, it yummy, only thing its not green even though I used a teaspoon and the pandan essence is from Thailand, if I put 2 will that be too much? Thank you for the easy to understand instructions.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        October 25, 2021 at 10:57 am

        Hi Janice
        Mine does seem to be rather bright green in the images, and on this occasion it was a little greener than normal. The most important thing is the taste, not the colour. How did it taste? If you want to bump up the green without adding more pandan flavour, you could add a little green food colouring. Personally, I think chiffon pandan looks lovely in a pale shade of green too.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply
        • Janice Caine

          October 26, 2021 at 5:31 am

          5 stars
          Hi Sara, the cake was superb, I got loads loving it, maybe I may put green colouring for Halloween.
          This is a favourite now, may try the coffee next after doing another Pandan.
          Thank you 🙂
          Janice

          Reply
    4. Hilary Tilley

      October 18, 2021 at 4:22 am

      I would like to make this for my daughter's birthday. What size tin did you use?

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        October 18, 2021 at 10:59 am

        Hi Hilary
        I just measured up my chiffon tin for you, the measurements are, 24cm across the top, 21cm across the base, and 11cm deep (9 1/2" across the top, 8 1/4" across the base, and 4 1/3" deep - rough inch measurements). I hope your daughter enjoys the cake for her birthday.
        Cheers, Sara

        Reply
        • Hilary Tilley

          October 20, 2021 at 2:47 am

          Thank you for the information. I will let you know how I get on. Making it early November..

          Reply
    5. ali

      August 31, 2020 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      Such a light and fluffy cake, thank you so much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        September 01, 2020 at 10:38 am

        Hi Ali, my pleasure, it is a wonderfully light and fluffy cake.

        Reply
    6. Ivy

      August 31, 2020 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      This was perfect for my lactose intolerant friend. I made it for dessert over the weekend.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        September 01, 2020 at 10:37 am

        Hi Ivy, what a wonderful friend you are and glad it was a success.

        Reply
    7. Trae

      August 31, 2020 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for your step by step instructions. This is the first chiffon cake I have baked, it worked out so well!

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        September 01, 2020 at 10:37 am

        Hi Trae, well done on your first chiffon and glad it was a success. I hope you make many more.

        Reply

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    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food photographer, creative recipe developer, and avid traveller (when the World isn’t in a pandemic).

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