Chocolate Chiffon Cake

(Love this amazing Chiffon cake (photo: Sharon Heinrich
We first came across Japanese chiffon cakes in a Japanese pastry shop in Paris that sold nothing but cakes of this type. hiffon cakes are light and airy and contain no butter, which makes them delicate and spongy. Usually they’re baked in a chiffon cake pan, a tall pan with a hole in the middle and little legs that come out of the sides. The legs prevent the cake from collapsing onto itself. The Japanese love chiffon cakes and make them in a wide variety of flavors and with different icings.
 
(The special pan (photo: Sharon Heinrich
 
We recently took a trip to Japan—a dream come true. I, of course, came back to Paris completely inspired by Japan and with lots of interesting ingredients, which make me want to get right into the kitchen and put them to work in Western desserts. First, though, I decided to try my hand at chiffon cake. I tested out several recipes until I got to this one, which I feel is finally right. If you use the exact quantities of the ingredients and the right pan and follow the instructions, you can expect a cake that is airy, tall and so very light. As it’s not very sweet, the dark chocolate ganache gives it an extra delicate sweetness, making it perfect for any time of day.
 
(Let it cool upside down (photo: Sharon Heinrich
 
 
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
22-cm chiffon or angel food cake pan
 
Ingredients
170 grams all-purpose flour
35 grams cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
110 grams sugar
 
5 egg yolks (from medium eggs)
85 ml vegetable oil
120 ml water
A few drops of vanilla extract
 
6 egg whites (from medium eggs)
100 grams sugar
 
35 grams chocolate, grated
 
120 ml heavy whipping cream
100 grams dark chocolate
 
 
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Unlike most cakes, do not grease or line the pan—this helps the cake grab onto the sides and rise. 
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and 110 grams sugar. 
3. In another bowl, mix together yolks, oil, water and vanilla
4. In a third bowl, beat the egg whites using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, gradually adding the 100 grams sugar. Beat until stiff and glossy
5. Add the egg yolk mixture to the dry ingredients and beat together until well combined. 
6. Gently fold the egg whites and grated chocolate into the batter in thirds, until well combined. 
7. Pour into the pan and bake for about 50 minutes, until firm to the touch. 
8. Remove the cake from the oven. If you used a chiffon cake pan, turn the pan over and let it cool upside down, resting on the pan’s legs or tube. This way, it won’t collapse inward and will instead remain tall and airy. 
9. Remove the cake from the pan, using a thin knife to gently separate it from the sides. Transfer the cake to a platter with the top down. 
10. Put cream in a small pot and bring to a simmer. Put dark chocolate in a bowl and pour the hot cream over it, stirring gently until you have a smooth ganache. Pour over the cake. 
 
(So yummy (photo: Sharon Heinrich
 
 
Bon appetit,
Sharon 

Comments

  • 11 May 2020
    Colleen Jihnson

    Hello, I live in California and cannot find a chiffon cake pan, like the one you have. I’m sure you picked that beauty up in Japan. I’ve tried various Japanese companies and have had no success in getting one. What is the name of the company where your pan was made. I would love to get one, if possible!
    Thank you.

    reply
      • 11 December 2021
        Nancy Smith

        Do you have a recipe with the ingredients in pounds and ounces rather than grams?

        reply
    • 15 May 2020

      Hi, in the US it’s just called a “tube pan.” I got mine at Williams Sonoma.

      reply
    • 01 June 2020
      Walter De Queiroz

      you can! I live in California as well and I took a look on ebay and I found it there.

      reply
    • 15 July 2020
      Carolyn

      Norwich Ware makes a really great one and you can get it on Amazon.

      reply
  • 23 May 2020
    Assaf

    Hi Sharon,
    Thanks for the recipe.
    What is the use of the 35 grams chocolate, grated?
    I can’t seem to find what to do with it ☺️

    reply
  • 05 June 2020
    Bieke

    Hello!
    I bought a chiffon cake pan of 25cm. Can I use the same amounts of ingredients or do I have to enhance the amount?
    Greetings from Belgium

    reply
  • 19 June 2020
    Shinof

    Halo, can I change 120 ml water with fresh Milk??

    Thank u from indonesia 🙂

    reply
  • 20 June 2020
    Shinof

    Ok. I’ll try this recipe tomorrow. Mercy 🙏

    reply
  • 26 June 2020
    maryam

    hi
    is it necessary to bake in the pan u mentioned can I bake it in a regular medium sized baking pan….
    love ur work 💗
    Greetings from Pakistan:)

    reply
      • 04 August 2020
        Ht

        Hey,
        The recipe looks great and I want to try it. I have a Bundt pan so can I make this in that?

        reply
  • 23 October 2020
    Lucas Draper

    For the grated chocolate is this also dark chocolate or some other chocolate? This recipe looks delicious!

    reply
  • 02 December 2020
    Maral Farra

    Hello Sharon
    When you turn over to cool the cake will it not collapse ?? when you take it out from the oven hot you turn it over ??
    Thank you
    Maral Farra

    reply
  • 15 February 2021
    Nabila kaci

    Hello from Espana thank you chef Sharon for this amazing chiffon cake🇪🇸🐳

    reply
  • 18 February 2021
    Inbal M

    Hello Sharon,

    Do you think it will be fine to use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?

    reply
  • 26 February 2021
    Danya Nadeem Sharif

    Hi Sharon, I was wondering if we could use cake flour instead of AP flour? Would it be too delicate?

    reply
      • 02 March 2021
        Danya Nadeem Sharif

        Cake flour has a lower protein content than AP flour and it’s used to make angel food cake.

        reply
  • 11 June 2021
    Dolores Buenaventura

    Thank you very much for this recipe! I’m going to try this out! Wish me luck!😊

    reply
  • 11 June 2021
    Dolores Buenaventura

    The cake looks great! Thank you very much for this recipe! I’m going to try this out! Wish a home baker like me luck!😊

    reply
  • 04 September 2021
    Laura Cerda

    Hello – can I omit the chocolate to make it white instead? I’d like to use this cake to make your tiramisu recipe. Also, instead of chocolate, your thoughts on using coffee or expresso powder for the said cake?

    reply

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