Gransnet forums

Food

Boiling water added to sponge mixture

(20 Posts)
Fairycakes Tue 02-Jan-24 13:05:19

Rosiebee
Ah, so I could use it in an all- in-one cake method. Thank you for mentioning that 😊👍

Rosiebee Tue 02-Jan-24 11:15:27

My dear old mum always added a dessert spoon of water from the kettle to her Victoria Sponge, folding it in at the end. I never questioned it but still do it now even though my sponge is now the all in one method.

SuzieHi Mon 01-Jan-24 18:41:52

Yes, stir 1-2 tablespoons of water into a sponge mix just before cooking It turns to steam in the oven and helps the rising = lighter cake

Esmay Mon 01-Jan-24 18:24:06

I've used hot water to dissolve cocoa for a chocolate cake , but not for a vanilla sponge .
Now I'll try it .

GrannyRose15 Mon 01-Jan-24 18:05:46

My mum always used a tbs of boiling water in her sponge cakes.

Grammaretto Mon 01-Jan-24 17:47:11

The wonder of science!
I had seen this in recipes too.

Why does my lemon drizzle cake not sink in the middle if I add a small teaspoon of poppy seeds into the final mixture?

Sasta Mon 01-Jan-24 17:41:28

I’ve always added a bit of boiling water to my Victoria sandwich mix. It does help them to be light.

Fairycakes Mon 01-Jan-24 17:38:39

I wonder if it works for all cakes. I usually bake an all-in-one sponge cake. I could give it a go and see 🤔

Supergran1946 Mon 01-Jan-24 16:20:17

A friend told me about this tip a couple of years ago. I have used it ever since and I now achieve a really light sponge cake

Kathmaggie Mon 01-Jan-24 14:55:42

I recall my Domestic Science teacher telling us to add a tablespoon of hot water to a sponge mix. Always done it.

Greyduster Mon 01-Jan-24 12:21:26

For a fatless sponge I add a tablespoon of hot water. When I make the sponge base for a pineapple upside down cake, I add two tablespoons of the pineapple juice (this was from a recipe) which is supposed to help it to rise.

Bazza Mon 01-Jan-24 12:14:53

I always put a little boiling water in a sponge mixture just before it goes in the oven. I was told that the heat activates the raising agent in the flour quickly. Works for me!

Heliotrope Mon 01-Jan-24 12:11:03

When I used to cook when DH was alive I always used a tablespoon of hot water. Also when making fatless sponge I whipped eggs in a bowl placed in hot water always turned out ok.

Jannipans Mon 01-Jan-24 11:57:41

My mum taught me to always add half an eggshell of tap water but will try boiling water next time.

ginny Thu 28-Dec-23 17:02:43

My Grandmother and Mothervalways used a tablespoon of boiling water to their mix too.

emmasnan Thu 28-Dec-23 16:53:13

I have a chocolate cake recipe that uses a tablespoon of boiling water, always comes out very light.

Troglodite Thu 28-Dec-23 15:28:00

It’s a baked pudding
Everything is as any “normal” sponge based on 100gr of SR flour. Then add 1 tablespoon of boiling water to the mix just before adding to your fruit base and popping in the oven.
180c for about 30 minutes.

Oldnproud Thu 28-Dec-23 14:18:07

My recipe for a fat-free sponge uses boiling water too.

I have always wondered if it was necessary, but as the recipe came from my grandma, whose cakes were always excellent, I have continued to use it.

Rockyroad Thu 28-Dec-23 14:14:08

Never heard of this. How does it work?

Troglodite Thu 28-Dec-23 14:07:54

I managed to get a box of cooking apples. Lazy me clicked onto Mr Google for an Apple Pudding recipe.
The one which I tried was the usual - cream sugar and butter, fold in flour and beaten egg, then stir in a tablespoon of BOILING water. What? Never heard of that before but let’s give it a go.
At last, at the ripe old age of 76, I’ve managed to make a light and fluffy and tastes good sponge.
Why has it taken me so long?