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Basic cake batter - the French way
The cake is one of the classic cakes of the pastry world (The frenchs call them "journey cake"), and there are many ways to make it.
Here's a new basic recipe for its dough, into which you can then add the flavors (pistachio, lemon, chocolate, etc.) and ingredients (dried fruit, fresh fruit, etc.) of your choice.
Here's a new basic recipe for its dough, into which you can then add the flavors (pistachio, lemon, chocolate, etc.) and ingredients (dried fruit, fresh fruit, etc.) of your choice.
66 K 4.2/5 (6 reviews)
20 min.
Easy
1.25 €
510 g
7 IngredientsLast modified on: September 7th 2025
For 510 g, you will need:
- 1
40 g butter - 2
120 g egg ( How to... ) - 3
150 g caster sugar - 4
80 g cream - 5
120 g flour - 6
3 g baking powder - 7
2 g salt - Total weight: 515 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 10 min.
Cooking: 7 min.
All in all: 20 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - ⌛ 7 min.
Melt 40 g butter in a small pan on low heat.
Bring to the boil, then wait until it stops boiling and begins to give off a nutty smell (you have just made noisette butter).
Take off the heat and leave to cool until just warm.
Bring to the boil, then wait until it stops boiling and begins to give off a nutty smell (you have just made noisette butter).
Take off the heat and leave to cool until just warm.
Stage 2 - ⌛ 2 min.
Stage 3 - ⌛ 1 min.
Add 80 g cream...
Stage 4 - ⌛ 1 min.
...and mix again.
Stage 5 - ⌛ 2 min.
Stage 6 - ⌛ 1 min.
Mix again.
Stage 7 - ⌛ 2 min.
Pour the warm noisette butter into the mixture through a fine strainer.
Stage 8 - ⌛ 1 min.
Mix one last time.
Stage 9
Your cake batter is ready.
You can now add your chosen flavourings (chocolate, pistachio, lemon...), or leave it plain, before pouring it into the tins or moulds.
You can now add your chosen flavourings (chocolate, pistachio, lemon...), or leave it plain, before pouring it into the tins or moulds.
Stage 10
If you want to make a plain cake straight away, pour the dough into a mold and bake for about 40 minutes at 390°F (200°C).
Note: As always with cakes, if you want a nice opening on top when baking, try this very effective trick.
Note: As always with cakes, if you want a nice opening on top when baking, try this very effective trick.
Remarks
If you are using salted butter, omit the salt.
For a plain cake, you can use replace half an ounce (10 g) of the sugar with vanilla sugar.
For a plain cake, you can use replace half an ounce (10 g) of the sugar with vanilla sugar.
Keeping: Should be used the same day.
Source: Based on a recipe by Christophe Michalak.
Nutritional information
How much will it cost?
- For 510 g : 1.25 €
Change currency:
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Some other recipes using this recipe
Pistachio cake
Here's a loaf-style cake made with a classic batter, flavoured with pistachio (of course), and with a crunchy "macaronade" topping.
53 K 1 hour 55 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Gâteau Breton (Brittany butter cake), Plain cake, Little caramelized peach tarts, Liège waffles, Valay-Brest, ... See them all 375
Flour
Like these other recipes: Cookies for Camille, Crunchy little pieces of fish, Coq au vin, Little lemon biscuits, Cornmeal baps for Anne, ... See them all 212
Egg
Like these other recipes: Cantucci, French Family Cake, Eggs en Cocotte à la Française, Spinach Omelette, Pistachio shortbread biscuits, ... See them all 251
Cream
Like these other recipes: Clementine-chestnuts brioche perdue, Celery purée, Grilled fillet of salmon with corn-salad cream, Chocolate cream with a crunch, irish coffee mousse, Quick chicken curry, ... See them all 123
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