Steamed Rainbow Cupcakes

This is a traditional Indonesian cake, called bolu kukus, or steamed cake. As the name indicates, it's steamed, not baked. After it's done, the cupcake will bloom and look like a flower. The cake itself is so soft and fluffy.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 118 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups white sugar
• 2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 4 egg whites
• 5 egg yolks
• 5 drops red food coloring, or as needed
• ¾ cup soda water
• 5 drops yellow food coloring, or as needed
• 5 drops green food coloring, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Line 20 small muffin cups or ramekins with paper liners.

Step 2

Sift flour and baking soda together in a bowl.

Step 3

Beat sugar, egg yolks, egg whites, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer in a separate bowl until very fluffy. Stir the flour mixture and soda in gradually; mix well. Place yellow, green, and red food coloring into 3 separate bowls. Mix about 4 tablespoons of batter into each bowl.

Step 4

Fill the muffin cups 3/4-full with the original batter. Drizzle with the yellow, green, and red batters. Carefully place the muffin cups into the steamer. Place a clean kitchen cloth below the lid to prevent steam from dripping onto the cakes. Cook, covered, until tops spring back when pressed, about 20 minutes.