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FLUFFY ITALIAN MERINGUE CAKE — NO BAKING POWDER, SOFT AND MOIST

FLUFFY ITALIAN MERINGUE CAKE — NO BAKING POWDER, SOFT AND MOIST

FLUFFY ITALIAN MERINGUE CAKE — NO BAKING POWDER, SOFT AND MOIST

Discover this wonderfully light and fluffy cake with a uniform, soft crumb made from a delicate Italian meringue base. With just five simple ingredients, it’s a versatile recipe that can be customized with berries, flavored oils, vanilla, or citrus zest. The secret? The Italian meringue technique that yields impeccable texture and rise without baking powder.


🕒 Prep Time: 20 min

⏲️ Baking Time: 40 min
🍽️ Yields: 8 servings


Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs, separated
  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 250 g sugar
  • 7 tablespoons neutral oil (e.g., sunflower or pistachio oil)
  • 8 tablespoons water
  • Fresh blueberries (or any berry of choice)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Egg Yolks and Oil

  • In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks while gradually adding the oil one tablespoon at a time, emulsifying until it forms a thick, mayonnaise-like mixture.

2. Make the Italian Meringue

  • In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.
  • In a saucepan, combine water and sugar, bring to a boil and cook for about 3.5 minutes, until a white foam appears on the surface.
  • With the mixer running on high speed, slowly drizzle the hot sugar syrup in a thin stream into the egg whites.
  • Continue whipping for about 5 minutes until the meringue cools and becomes glossy and firm.

3. Combine and Fold

  • Gently fold the egg yolk and oil mixture into the meringue.
  • Sift the flour in two batches and carefully fold it in with a whisk until just incorporated, maintaining as much air as possible.

4. Assemble and Bake

  • Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  • Grease a loaf pan (25 cm x 10 cm) with butter.
  • Spread a thin layer of batter into the pan, sprinkle some blueberries, then repeat layering batter and berries until used up.
  • Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow the cake to cool before removing from the pan.

💡 Tips

  • Use freshly picked or frozen berries, but avoid very juicy ones to keep batter consistency.
  • Try adding vanilla extract or lemon zest to the batter for different flavor profiles.
  • Folding gently preserves the airy structure of the meringue for maximum fluffiness.

🎉 Perfect For

  • Light desserts and teatime treats
  • Berry-filled cakes and loafs
  • Special occasions and everyday indulgences

📝 Final Thoughts

This Italian meringue cake is a fantastic example of simple ingredients transformed by technique into an airy, moist, and flavorful dessert. Its versatility allows endless creative twists while delivering a reliably fluffy and tender crumb every time.