Cooker Cake, How to Make Cake in Pressure Cooker

Updated: June 13, 2022, By Swasthi

Cooker cake recipe – This post shows detail steps on how to make cake in a pressure cooker, pot or pan without using a oven. Baking without a oven is not a new technique. In fact it was invented and used since many decades in various countries. In India, most homes do not have an oven and use a pressure cooker for their daily cooking needs. So many people prefer to use an already existing stovetop pressure cooker for baking rather than investing in a Oven.

Recipe Comments

Cooker Cake

If you are new to baking without an Oven, you may wonder why bake in a pressure cooker? Well, it’s for a simple reason that aluminum cookers have a heavy base or bottom which helps in even distribution of heat.

So they are very good for baking and can yield extremely good cakes, muffins and cookies. If you do not have a pressure cooker, simply use a heavy bottom pan, kadai or pot, preferably made of aluminum.

You can use the same technique shown below to bake a cake in a kadai or any pot.

I had lot of readers requests for a cooker cake recipe. I tried a few recipes with and without egg which I will be sharing here. In this post I am sharing a eggless cake recipe that can be baked in a cooker. However this recipe can also be used to bake cake in Oven.

It’s a beginners recipe and uses only pantry staples. This recipe will yield you a soft, moist and delicious eggless vanilla cake. There is no condensed milk used here.

If you prefer to use it, then you can check this post on Eggless vanilla cake made with condensed milk. You can also check this chocolate Biscuit cake that needs no oven & is eggless too.

Photo Guide

How to Make Cake in a Cooker (Stepwise photos)

Preparation

1. I have used a 7 inch cake pan. If you use a smaller pan, the batter may overflow while baking. Grease the pan and dust some flour evenly. Shake it and then invert it in the kitchen sink to remove excess flour. If possible use butter pan or parchment paper.

grease & line cake pan for cooker cake

2. Spread salt in the pressure cooker. You can also use any aluminum pan.

spread salt in cooker for cooker cake recipe

3. Place a plate over the salt. Any plate will do. It is just to cover the salt. Place a trivet/ ring or any hot pot stand. The bottom of the cake may get burnt or over baked if you place the pan directly on the plate or on the sand. I have found this arrangement bakes the cake evenly all over (top and bottom).

preparing cooker for cooker cake recipe

4. Remove the gasket or ring and weight.

removing gasket for cooker cake recipe

5. Cover the cooker. Heat it on a medium flame.

preheating to make cake in cooker

Make Cake Batter

6. Add ¾ cup sugar and 1 cup milk to a mixing bowl. If using organic sugar use 2 tbsps. more. Do not use cold milk. Use at least room temperature to warm milk.

stir in sugar with milk

7. Pour ½ cup melted butter or oil. If using oil, use coconut oil. I have tried this with organic refined flavorless coconut oil and the results were good.

stir butter

8. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1¼ tablespoons vinegar with at least 5% acidity.

adding vinegar to make cooker cake recipe

9. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.

stir in sugar

10. Place a sieve over the bowl. Add 1½ cups flour (190 grams), 1 pinch salt, 1¼ teaspoons baking powder & ½ teaspoon baking soda. Mix them up lightly with a spoon.

Tip to measure the flour: Fluff up the flour in the pack with a fork first. Spoon the flour to a measuring cup and level it with a straight edged spoon or knife.

sieving flour, soda, baking powder to make cooker cake recipe

11. Sieve it.

mix in dry & wet to make cooker cake batter

12. Gently mix the wet and dry with a spatula, until just combined. Do not over mix. If you are a beginner, you may sieve half the flour first and combine, followed by the rest of the flour.

mixing cake batter

13. Transfer the batter to the cake tray. Tap the cake tray to the counter few times. Brush with milk on top. This is optional.

pouring cake batter to pan

How to Make Cake in Cooker

14. The cooker should be hot enough inside. Place the cake tray inside. Be careful as the cooker sides can burn your hands. Use a tong/pakkad for safety.

placing the cake pan in cooker

15. Cover the cooker. Please note that you will need to remove the gasket and weight. Regulate the flame to low or sim. Bake for 50 to 60 mins.

making cake in pressure cooker

16. When the cake is done you will begin to smell the baked cake. A tester inserted comes out clean. The cake top will be dry and not sticky. If it is moist, bake it for a few more mins.

skewer comes out clean when cooker cake is done

17. Cool the cake tray on a wire rack for 10 to 15 mins, so your cake doesn’t sweat at the bottom. If you have not used parchment paper on the sides, use a spatula or knife to loosen the cake. Invert it on the rack. Remove the parchment paper. Cool this completely.

invert the cooker cake when slightly cools

18. I made a simple white chocolate icing. You can use any chocolate or choco chips. I heated up 2 cups of water in a kadai. Placed a pan over the hot water. Place the chopped chocolate in the pan. Make sure water doesn’t enter the pan.

making frosting

19. Begin to stir continuously until the chocolate melts and turns smooth.

melted white chocolate to frost cooker cake

20. Cool the cake and chocolate completely. Pour the chocolate over the cake. Spread it with a spatula.

cooker cake recipe

Sprinkle some grated chocolate or sprinkles. Slice the cake and serve. You can keep this cake in the fridge for up to 4 days. Warm up in a steamer for few mins.

how to make cake in cooker

Pro Tips

1. Any aluminum pressure cooker or pressure pan works good to use as a oven for the cake baking.

2. A heavy bottom or a heavy gauge aluminum cooker may not get damaged if used properly for baking. Avoid using light weight cookers. Also avoid anodized and steel cookers.

3. Avoid baking without spreading salt at the bottom. Salt absorbs some heat from the extreme hot base and prevents overheating the cooker base. Overheating aluminium cookware can weaken the material and damage the shape.

4. Avoid washing, rinsing or adding cold foods to the hot cooker after using it for baking. Sudden temperature variation may make the material to weaken and damage. Allow the cooker to cool down naturally before using it again.

5. Do not use gasket & weight while baking.

If you follow all the above instructions your cooker will last longer even if you use it for baking often.

cooker cake recipe

Cake recipes that you can bake following the same cooker method:
Eggless chocolate cake
Eggless Black forest cake
Chocolate cake
Chocolate sponge cake
Eggless sponge cake
Butter cake
Eggless carrot cake
Banana cake

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

cooker cake recipe

Cooker Cake, How to Make Cake in Pressure Cooker

4.99 from 229 votes
Learn how to make cake in pressure cooker without a oven. This recipe yields a soft, moist and delicious eggless cake. If you do not have a pressure cooker, you can use any aluminum deep pot with a heavy bottom base.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Servings8
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • cups all-purpose flour (maida or wheat flour) (190 grams)(organic)
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ¾ cup sugar (+ 2 tbsp optional) (organic)
  • ½ cup oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 cup milk (do not use cold milk)
  • tablespoon vinegar (with minimum 5% acidity)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or few drops essence)

Frosting (optional)

  • 100 grams chocolate (any chocolate or chocolate chips)


Instructions

Prepare the Cooker or Pot

  • Grease a 7 inch cake tray. Dust with flour evenly, shake it and invert it in the kitchen sink to remove excess flour. Or simply line a parchment paper. Set this aside.
  • Add salt to a pressure cooker or any heavy bottom large pot/ kadai and spread it evenly.
  • Cover the salt with a plate. Place a ring/trivet or hot pot stand over the plate.
  • Remove the gasket and weight, if using a cooker. Cover the cooker or pot with a lid and begin to heat it on a medium heat.

Make Cake Batter

  • Pour milk, sugar, vinegar, melted butter (or oil) and vanilla to a mixing bowl. Stir well until sugar dissolves.
  • Place a sieve over the bowl. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the sieve. Lightly mix them up with a spoon. Sieve it. (check video for help)
  • Gently mix the wet and dry with a spatula or a whisk, until the flour is just combined well. Do not over mix the batter.
  • Pour this to the cake pan. Knock it a few times over the counter. Brush milk on top to get a golden top. This is optional.

How to Make Cake in Cooker

  • Hold the cake tray with a tong and place inside the cooker/ pot, on top of the trivet/ring or stand. The cooker has to be hot inside at this stage.
  • Cover the cooker with the lid. Pls note the gasket & weight have to be removed.
  • Bake for 50 to 60 mins on a low flame. When the cake is completely baked, a tester inserted comes out clean.
  • The cake top will be fairly dry when you touch it. If it is still moist, bake for few more mins.
  • Cool the cake tray for 10 to 15 mins over a wire rack, so it won't sweat at the bottom. Later invert it on to a wire rack.
  • Cool completely before frosting or slicing.

To Bake in Oven

  • Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350 F for at least 15 mins.
  • Bake it for 30 to 35 mins. Tester inserted comes out clean. Adjust the time to suit the size of your pan and oven.

Frosting (optional)

  • Pour water to a pot and heat it. The water level has to be less than half.
  • Place another bowl or pan over the pot. The bottom of the bowl or pan must touch the hot water but not the pan inside. 
  • Also make sure water doesn’t seep into the top bowl or pan.
  • Add 100 grams of chocolate or chips. Keep stirring until the chocolate melts and turns smooth.
  • Make sure the cake and the chocolate both are cool and not hot.
  • Pour the chocolate over the cooled cake and spread it evenly. Top with some sprinkles if you have. Slice the cake and enjoy.


Notes

Equipment needed
  1. Pressure cooker or pressure pan or any heavy bottom pan
  2. 1 plate (steel or aluminum to cover salt)
  3. 1 steel or aluminum trivet/hot pot stand or ring
  4. 1 cup salt or clean sand

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Cooker Cake, How to Make Cake in Pressure Cooker
Amount Per Serving
Calories 282 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 199mg9%
Potassium 144mg4%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Sugar 20g22%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 405IU8%
Calcium 75mg8%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Cooker Cake Recipe first published in February 2018. Updated and republished in June 2022.

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About Swasthi

Iโ€™m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโ€™s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
This is the best recipe for eggless pressure cooker cake. I tried many before but this turned out wonderful!

OH, awesome! This is a fantastic cake recipe. I am very interested in your homemade cake process. I will try this cake recipe.

This is the best pressure cooker cake recipe, I have ever made without eggs. The taste, texture of this cake is lovely.I have made it twice, with beautiful results. Even the timing is correct for this cake, my husband really likes this cake. Thank you so much?

I dont have a aluminium cake tin or pan. What shoould i do?i do have a 5 litre aluminium pressure cooker but it comes with steel utensils.

consistency of cake batter in oven nd cooker is same or different??

5 stars
Hi Swasti,
Am going to bake this recipe in OTG.
Am a beginner so I want to try small quantity first.
Can I halve the recipe and bake in 6 inch pan? If yes, wil the temperature and time be the same?
If not, please advice how I can try out the same in small quantity possible?

i dont have coconut oil at home, can i use ghee or groundnut oil

5 stars
Hi Swasthi, I have been a regular follower of your recipes. However I couldnโ€™t post comments earlier since my 3 young kids keep me busy all the time.
Iโ€™ve tried many of your recipes and they turn out perfectly well. Tried and tested indeed ! Your recipes are a ready reckoner.
Thanks a lot and keep up the great job !

Hii swasti,
This is the first time iam going to prepare cake tomorrow, can u please give measurements in ML for 1/2kg vanilla cake without oven

Hii swasti,
I want to try this receipe tomorrow for the first time , can u give measurements in ML for 1/2kg

4 stars
Hi I tried out this cake it was very tasty but base of cake was over burnt what could be the reason

4 stars
Hey, is it preferable to use rock salt or powered salt? which of these are preferable?

5 stars
Can we use chocolate instead of vanilla for flavouring for choclate taste

Hi didi ? i am sidhi,actually mere pass vanila extract available ni h toh mai uski jagah per kya use kr skti hu. Please reply me .

Hi
This looks good and I would surely try it out.You have mentioned brushing with milk.How and when it should it done?
Thanks

I agree with you, for a novice this recipe is very helpful. I have tried the exact and came out well. Got positive feedback from family members as well. Got confidence now to try anything. Thank you much. Keep going.

Regards,
Sanjana

Thank you so much. I really loved it.

But I have a doubt, why is the salt need to be covered with a plate?

5 stars
Tried replacing maida with wheat flour and sugar with jaggery , with same measurements . It turned out very well. Thank you ?

Hi,

Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe. I have tried this and it came out really well ๐Ÿ™‚
I actually wanted to check if there is a substitute for milk. Like can I use water instead ? Trying to make a cake for my nephew who is lactose intolerant. Would be very helpful to know if there is an alternative for milk.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for confirming to me. I will try the Eggless Chocolate or Orange cake. Can i make this in the cooker following the same method instead of Microwave ?

Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚ Will try it

I love this…. More Grace

Hello, this is Vaishnavi. Can i use sugarfree instead of sugar for this recipe? If you let me know, it would be very helpful for me, since am diabetic.