Golden Baked Black Sesame Custard Cakes
These delightful little baked treasures offer a wonderful contrast in textures and a deep, nutty flavor from black sesame. Each golden-hued cake encases a luxuriously creamy, smooth custard-like filling, generously dotted with black sesame seeds throughout. Perfect for a comforting snack or a unique dessert, these individual cakes bring a touch of simple elegance to any table. The process of baking them is straightforward, yielding beautiful treats that are incredibly satisfying to prepare and even more enjoyable to savor. The sight of their perfectly baked tops and the promise of the creamy filling inside, as seen in the image, is truly inviting.
This recipe utilizes ingredients suitable for a halal diet.
Ingredients
- ✨ Cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 🌟 Granulated sugar
- 🥚 Large eggs
- 🥛 Full-fat milk
- 🍶 Heavy cream
- 🍚 All-purpose flour
- ⚫ Black sesame powder or finely ground black sesame seeds
- ⚫ Whole black sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
- 🥄 Alcohol free vanilla extract
- 🧂 Pinch of salt
Equipment
- 🥣 Large mixing bowls
- 🥢 whisk
- 🥄 spatula
- ⚡ electric mixer (hand or stand)
- 🎂 small individual cake molds or muffin tin (lined)
- 📏 measuring cups and spoons
- 🍽️ wire cooling rack
Instructions
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- First, ensure all cold ingredients, particularly the cream cheese and eggs, have come to room temperature. This is a crucial step for achieving a smooth batter and filling without lumps.
- To start on the creamy filling, combine the softened cream cheese and about two-thirds of the granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Employ an electric mixer or a sturdy whisk to beat them together until the mixture becomes completely smooth and creamy, with no grainy texture from the sugar.
- Incorporate two of the large eggs into the cream cheese mixture, adding them one at a time. Beat thoroughly after adding each egg until it is fully mixed into the batter. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula occasionally to ensure everything is evenly combined.
- Gently pour in the full-fat milk and the heavy cream. Add the vanilla extract and the pinch of salt. Mix on a low speed or whisk just until the ingredients are combined and the filling has a smooth, pourable consistency. Avoid overmixing at this point.
- Stir in half of the measured black sesame powder or finely ground black sesame seeds into the creamy filling mixture. Mix gently until the black specks are well-distributed throughout the filling. This gives the filling a delightful appearance, speckled with nutty flavor.
- Set the prepared creamy black sesame filling aside while attending to the cake batter.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the remaining granulated sugar with the remaining one large egg. Whisk them together until the mixture appears slightly pale yellow and has thickened just a bit.
- Take a small amount (just a few tablespoons) of the milk and cream mixture (from before the sesame was added to the filling) and whisk it into the egg and sugar mixture. This process, known as tempering, gently warms the egg mixture to prevent it from cooking when combined with the main liquid. Then, pour this tempered egg mixture back into the main bowl containing the milk and cream (again, the milk and cream from the filling preparation, before sesame was mixed in).
- Sift the all-purpose flour directly into the wet ingredients designated for the cake batter. Add the remaining black sesame powder or ground seeds. Using a spatula, gently fold all the ingredients together until they are just combined. It is important not to overmix the batter, as excessive mixing can develop the gluten in the flour and lead to tough cakes. A few small flour lumps are acceptable.
- Preheat the oven to the temperature specified in the recipe (typically around 325°F or 160°C). Prepare your individual cake molds or muffin tin by lightly greasing them or lining them with paper liners.
- Carefully pour a small quantity of the cake batter into the bottom of each prepared mold. The goal is to create a thin base layer that covers the bottom of the mold.
- Gently spoon the creamy black sesame filling into the center of each mold, layering it on top of the cake batter base. Be mindful not to fill the molds completely; leave some space at the top for the final layer of batter and for the cakes to expand slightly during baking.
- Pour the remaining cake batter over the filling in each mold, ensuring that the creamy filling is mostly, if not entirely, covered by the batter. Gently tap the molds on a flat surface, like your kitchen counter, to help the batter settle and release any large air pockets.
- If desired, sprinkle a few whole black sesame seeds onto the top surface of each cake before they go into the oven. This adds a lovely visual touch and reinforces the sesame theme, mimicking the delightful appearance captured in the provided image.
- Place the filled molds onto a baking sheet for easier handling and transfer the baking sheet into the preheated oven.
- Bake for the duration indicated in the recipe, or until the tops of the cakes are visibly set and have achieved a beautiful, rich golden brown color, similar to the inviting shade displayed in the photograph. The edges of the cakes should appear firm, although the very center might still be slightly soft. The exact baking time will depend on the specific size and depth of the molds used.
- Once they have finished baking, remove the cakes from the oven. Let them cool in their molds on the baking sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Allowing the cakes to cool is important for the creamy filling to set properly and achieve the desired texture.
- Serve these delicious cakes at room temperature or, if preferred, after chilling them slightly. Taking a bite reveals the wonderful textural contrast between the tender baked exterior and the smooth, luxurious, custard-like interior studded with fragrant black sesame, perfectly illustrated by the cross-section shown in the picture. Enjoy the rich, nutty flavor and the satisfying texture!
The simple act of preparing and enjoying these golden baked black sesame custard cakes brings a touch of culinary joy. From the comforting aroma filling the kitchen as they bake to the satisfying moment of cutting into one and seeing the creamy filling, the entire process is a delightful experience. It is a pleasure to share these treats, knowing they were made with care.