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. Infact it was invented and used since many decades in various countries. In India, most house holds use a cooker for their daily cooking. So many prefer to use it rather than investing in a Oven.
If you are new to baking then you might be thinking 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 then simply use a heavy bottom pan, kadai or pot.
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 can be even tried by beginners and is made with very few ingredients. 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 with condensed milk.
You can also check this chocolate biscuit cake that needs no oven & is eggless too.
Preparation for cooker cake recipe
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. If possible use butter pan or parchment paper.
2. Spread salt in the pressure cooker.
3. Place a plate over the salt. Any plate will do. It is just to cover the salt. Place a 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.
4. Remove the gasket or ring and weight.
5. Cover the cooker. Heat it on a medium flame.
Making batter for cooker cake recipe
6. Add sugar and milk to a mixing bowl. Do not use cold milk. Use at least room temperature to warm milk.
7. Pour melted butter or oil. If using oil, use coconut oil.
8. Add vanilla extract and lemon juice or vinegar.
9. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
10. Place a sieve over the bowl. Add flour, salt baking powder & baking soda. Mix them up lightly.
11. Sieve it.
12. Gently mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
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.
How to make cake in cooker – cooker cake recipe
14. The cooker should be hot enough inside. Place the cake tray inside.
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.
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.
17. Cool the cake on a wire rack for 10 to 15 mins. 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.
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.
19. Begin to stir continuously until the chocolate melts and turns smooth.
20. Cool the cake and chocolate completely. Pour the chocolate over the cake. Spread it with a spatula.
Sprinkle some grated chocolate. As I did not have chocolate, I used 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.
Tips – how to use cooker to bake a cake:
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 spoilt 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.
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
Cooker cake recipe | How to make cake in cooker
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (maida or wheat flour) (190 grams)(organic)
- 1 ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp 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)
- 1 ¼ tbsp vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 2 tsps vanilla extract (or few drops essence)
Frosting (optional)
- 100 grams chocolate (any chocolate or chocolate chips)
Instructions
Preparation for cooker cake recipe
- Grease 7 inch cake tray. Dust with flour evenly or line a parchment paper. Set this aside.
- Add salt to a pressure cooker and spread it evenly.
- Cover the salt with a plate.
- Place a ring or hot pot stand over the plate.
- Remove the gasket and weight.
- Cover the cooker and begin to heat it on a medium heat.
Making cake batter
- Pour milk, sugar, vinegar, melted butter (or oil) and vanilla to a mixing bowl.
- Stir well until sugar dissolves.
- Place a sieve the bowl.
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the sieve.
- Lightly mix them up. Sieve it.
- Gently mix until the flour is just combined well. Do not over mix the batter.
- Pour this to the pan. Knock it a few times to the counter.
- Brush milk on top to get a golden top. This is optional.
How to make cake in cooker
- Place the cake tray inside the cooker on top of the ring or stand. The cooker has to be hot inside.
- 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 then bake for few more mins.
- Cool it for 10 to 15 mins over a wire rack.
- Then invert it on to the wire rack.
- Cool completely before slicing.
To bake in oven
- Preheat the oven to 170 C 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.
- 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
- Pressure cooker or pressure pan
- 1 plate (steel or aluminium to cover salt)
- 1 steel or aluminium hot pot stand or ring
- 1 cup salt or clean sand
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Bhavaani says
Hi. I am happy to have found this cake recipe which I want to try out for my kids first birthday during this lockdown period. Can we do normal cake like decoration with icing on this, pls. Early reply will be highly appreciated as the big day is already approaching.
swasthi says
Hi,
Yes you can!
Mojesh says
Oven me kitne celcius or time me bake krna hai plz reply
swasthi says
Hi,
170 C or 340 F with 30 to 35 mins baking time.
This is for 7 inch cake pan. If you change the size the baking time will change.
Sarika Nandwani says
Can we use steel utensil for baking in cooker. Also can we do it without butter paper
swasthi says
Yes you can
Rekha Verma says
If we want to make chocolate cake. Then do we have to mix coco powder to the same recipe?
swasthi says
You can check this chocolate cake recipe and bake it in cooker.
Destiny victor says
Thanks now I can bake my mom’s birthday cake without stress
Narmi says
Hello mam thanks for your recipe…due to lockdown I couldn’t buy cake for my husband’s birthday . So I plan to make a cake in home. First time I am making a cake with the help of Ur recipe. Really it came out well. All of my family members appreciated me….Thank you very much madam….
swasthi says
Hi Narmi
You are Welcome! Glad to know.
🙂
Sarika Nandwani says
Hi Awasthi, I don’t have aluminium pot but I have steel pot.also I don’t have butter paper. Will steel pot be ok
Veni says
Tried today.. Came out super soft.. Thank you so much.. My kid was very happy.. Hubby has expressed his gratitude for such a simple and lovely recipe.. Thanks again
swasthi says
Glad to know Veni
Thanks for leaving a comment!
🙂
ParSav says
Hi Swasthi,
I am a super big fan of all your recipes. It has helped me a lot! Have explored many new recipes from your blog. My daughter’s ‘quarantine’ first birthday is coming. Was thinking to make this cake. I don’t have a proper pressure cooker to fit the 7 inch cake pan. But have an instant pot. Do you think in instant pot the same time for baking will work as in normal pressure cooker?
swasthi says
Hi Parsav
Glad to know! If you do not have a cooker that fits a 7 inch pan, then you may try with any other heavy bottom pot. Or you can also halve this recipe and make 2 smaller cakes in 2 batches. Layer them & make a single cake. I haven’t tried this one in Instant pot. Hope this helps.
Vatsala abhilash says
Can we bake cake in cooker without adding salt in base…,
swasthi says
It needs salt or sand.
shruti says
Absolutely love your cake recipes….it is my go to recipe when I have guests or want to be 100% sure that the cake should be good.
swasthi says
Thanks Shruti
Glad to know
Anita Srivastava says
Hello mam when I bake my cake in cooker pahle mera cake achche se phool jata hai aur fir baith jatahai aisa kyu??
swasthi says
Hello Anitha
Over mixing the batter can sink the cake.
Rose says
Hello ..thanks for this recipie.. I tried today exactly same ingredients..took lime juice instead of vinegar.
It was tasty and all liked, but I baked hr 30 mins to get the top hard. Though the stick was coming out fine after 60 mins..
Still I feel it was a bit moist and sticky inside, not like the one in your picture.
P.s I used a non-stick ware instead of cooker. Not added salt or sand. Cake tray was placed on steel ring.
Can you correct me how can I do better next time
Rose says
1hr 30 mins***
swasthi says
Hi Rose,
The cake cannot get cooked without salt or sand. I have mentioned in the post not to use a non-stick cookware. If not a cooker, it needs a proper aluminum or cast iron kadai or pot.
Rama says
Hi Swasthi, I tried many of your recipes. All are very nice and tasty.
I want to make a cake with wheat flour! Can I follow the same recipe by just replacing maida with whole wheat flour??
swasthi says
Hi Rama
Glad to know the recipes worked well. Yes you can use wheat flour, just add 2 tbsps more water. Wheat flour cakes will turn out dense and the flavor will be different. You can try
Prashanti says
Hi. I tried you recipe and it came out really well. Please let me know if i can cream butter and sugar together before adding other ingredients to the cake batter. Will it work?
swasthi says
Hi,
Glad to know! I haven’t tried creaming for eggless cakes. Not sure if it yields any special results.
Prashanti says
Ok. Thanks. I am just going to follow your recipe. It is the perfect as it can ever get. 🙂
Should i keep a pressure cooker exclusively for cakes or can i use it for other purposes too?
swasthi says
You can use it for other purposes too.
ramesh babu says
Swatiji, thanks. First cake I baked was eggless chocolate cake in cooker. Taste nice. About half inch was stuck to bottom of pan. I greased the bottom with refined oil & some flour. To avoid sticking should I increase the oil next time. Best regards and prayers for you
Ramesh babu
swasthi says
Hi,
Thank you! It is good to line a cake pan with parchment paper (butter paper) especially for eggless cakes. You may try sprinkling bit more of flour or cocoa. Hope this helps
Sandhya says
Hi.
Tried eggless chocolate cake recipe in cooker. You have told to bake for 25 to 28 minutes. But checked after 23minutes as you had mentioned in your recipe. It was still very moist.
swasthi says
Hi Sandhya
The timings are just a guideline for you. It may take longer or even shorter as it depends on the kind of cooker, pan, stove etc you used. Continue to bake for a little longer
Jyothi says
Thanks a lot for this recipe. I am a beginner..tried this pressure cooker cake recipe..and able to make it fine one. Family members loved it.
swasthi says
Hi Jyothi
You are welcome! Glad to know your family loved it!
Thank you!
Srivani says
Hi swasthi…. Can I use wheat flour in this recipe
swasthi says
Hi Srivani,
Yes the recipe will work. Just add a few tbsp more water. But the taste and flavor will not be the same with wheat flour. You may try half and half of wheat and all-purpose flour.
Srivani says
Thanks for your reply…. Please send tutti frutti cake recipe in cooker or microwave oven.
swasthi says
You can check tutti frutti cake here. It works well in cooker too.
Hemalatha Sandeep says
Hi thanks for the simple and easy cake recipe..
I will try this today.
Shree says
Can i skip adding vanilla essence as I don’t have? Or shall I any other essence like rose…
swasthi says
Yes you can skip vanilla and add cardamom powder
Bani says
Also I have a 5 L Hawkins double thick base cooker… Of what diameter should I use a baking pan (I’ll use something made of steel….. Please reply ☺️)
swasthi says
Hi Bani,
I don’t have the same cooker as yours. So don’t the size. For this recipe you need a 7 inch cake pan. If you use a smaller one, you may get cracks on top. If you use a larger pan, your cake may be thin. But it works. You can also bake without the stand. just keep the cake pan directly on the plate
Priyanka says
Hi.. I want to try cake recipe but my aluminium cooker has small opening so can I use kadai???
swasthi says
Yes Priyanka
You can use a kadai or any wide pot. Avoid using a nonstick
Priyanka says
Hey hiii…I tried this today in kadai and without baking powder. it turned out really well, only problem occurred with it that it was lesser sweet. But everyone liked it. Thank you for a quick reply and a simple recipe….