Kasutera (Castella), the Japanese Traditional Honey Cake

Kasutera is a Japanese traditional sponge cake. With its angel food-like texture and its delicate flavor of honey, this cake is just perfect. Serve with adzuki paste (Japanese red bean paste) and ice cream.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 710 Calories

Ingredients

• 8 eggs
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened, or as needed
• 1 ⅓ cups superfine sugar
• 5 tablespoons honey, divided
• 3 ⅓ fluid ounces milk
• 1 ⅝ cups all-purpose flour, sifted twice
• 1 cup sweet bean paste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a cake pan with parchment paper. Butter the paper and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon superfine sugar.

Step 2

Bring a saucepan of water to a boil; pour into a large bowl.

Step 3

Whisk 1/4 cup honey and milk together in a bowl until smooth.

Step 4

Beat eggs with an electric mixer in a bowl placed over the hot water. Gradually add 1 1/3 cup superfine sugar; beat until smooth and mixture is warm. Remove bowl of egg mixture from the bowl of hot water and cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Return bowl of egg mixture to the hot water and continue beating. Repeat this process a few times until batter is foamy and thick.

Step 5

Pour milk mixture into egg mixture and mix well using a spatula; stir in sifted flour until batter is mixed. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Spread the remaining 1 tablespoon honey over the top of cake. Serve slices with sweet bean paste and ice cream, if desired.