【2016 Archives】

Magic cake might sound like something you016 Archivesonly eat in Middle Earth or whilst joining Mr. Tumnus for tea in Narnia.

However, we muggles are the ones who invented and are spreading the gospel of this multi-layered cake that is taking the internet by storm.

Magic cake is made with standard cake ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter and milk. The magic comes when the cake emerges from the oven in three distinct layers.

A photo posted by Tamao Yamashita (@carlos_vivian) on Feb 5, 2016 at 4:26pm PST

The batter is extra loose to help the layers separate while baking, whipped egg whites create the spongy top and a relatively low baking temperature (commonly 300 - 325F) slowly cooks the middle layer to a soft custard while the bottom becomes a dense, cakey base.

A photo posted by Knate Ski (@kn8ski) on Jan 30, 2016 at 3:14am PST

Though this technique has circled the internet for a few years, it's picking up speed and fans on social media.

Yessssss moms gonna make me magic cake tonight 😍

— Em (@empurtill) September 11, 2016

Food host Lynn Chen tells Mashable, "The cake basically makes itself, and I think that's what the name implies when I hear it -- a cake that you have to do very little work on to create an incredible result[...] It's something that looks attainable, yet there's a mystery in figuring out how to make that texture happen."

Chocolate Magic Cake :) #magic #cake #jocooks #firstattempt #happy pic.twitter.com/70QvIOwAg9

— Pookiesmummy (@Annawoodcock83) April 18, 2016

The dessert looks and tastes complicated to make, but once the art of whipping egg whites is perfected, it's a one-pan dessert that can even be made with cake mix.

A Pumpkin Pie Magic Cake - https://t.co/yTYqVrbbjT #notquitenigella pic.twitter.com/ibJSzUkODj

— NotQuiteNigella (@NotQuiteNigella) September 8, 2016

Chen says, "With the popularity of food videos on social media, I'm sure people share this with others thinking it's an easy baking project. It's certainly less intimidating than a layer cake, or even a cupcake that has to be frosted."

The most magical part of this cake might be how fast you can make it disappear.

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