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.
65 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.
52 K 1 hour 55 min.
This recipe uses (among others)
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Pear charlotte, Caramelised apple custards, Pitta bread, Tatin apples with mascarpone cream, Sandwich bread, ... See them all 370
Egg
Like these other recipes: Caramelized apple and walnut cake, Fried egg in bread, Rabbit terrine, Almond mug cake for Mary, Little chocolate and hazelnut fondants, ... See them all 248
Flour
Like these other recipes: Leek and tuna loaf, Grated apple cake, Coq au vin, Mouna, Cod loin with saffron, ... See them all 211
Cream
Like these other recipes: Chocolate ganache, Saint-Lô cake, Hearty leek and sprout soup, Breton Pie, Spinach à la Lorraine, ... See them all 122
Other recipes you may also like
Four quarters
It's "the simpliest cake in the world", called four quarters, because it's made with 1/4 eggs, 1/4 sugar, 1/4 flour and 1/4 butter. February 21th 2011336 K3.7 1 hour 15 min.
New tiramisu
This new version of tiramisu is easier, and in my opinion much better. You will certainly appreciate, like me, the light creamy taste, this time presented in brandy goblets. January 19th 2015430 K3.3 55 min.
Puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée)
Puff pastry is an incredible assembly of thin layers of butter enclosed in thin layers of dough. After cooking this give a succession of thin crisp pastry leaves that produce exceptional desserts or pies. It's a jewel of French patisserie. Making your own puff pastry is not very difficult, it's just a little work with a good recipe (like this one!). This recipe is for quick puff pastry ("feuilletage rapide") perfect for beginners. January 19th 2011476 K 63.3 2 hours 45 min.
Arizona cupcakes
Cupcakes are small sponge cakes. In their original American version, they are usually decorated with brightly coloured icing. Here's a version inspired by the famous saguaro cactus, so common in Arizona. October 13th 2010234 K 14.6 1 hour 50 min.
Avocado and smoked salmon terrine
In this colourful terrine, layers of avocado alternate with smoked salmon and diced tomato in balsamic vinegar. April 10th 2011196 K5 4 hours 7 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-02-15)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.