Can you bake a cake without an oven?

India
August 20, 2008 6:27am CST
I seriously want to learn the art of baking a cake without an oven. Can you help me out? Some of my friends and relatives have tried all sorts of acrobatics in the kitchen, trying to bake a cake in grease-lined vessels, cookers, and so on and so forth. They all got cakes. Maybe the cakes were flat and hard, but they were still cakes and tasted alright. So have you tried this ultimate culinary adventure of trying to bake a cake without an oven? Did it rise or did it stay flat? Have you put it in a grease-lined vessel and then put it in a cooker with some sand underneath and god knows what? Please share your cake adventures. I am all ears. Cheers and happy mylotting
4 people like this
21 responses
• United States
20 Aug 08
Hi i dont think you can. Cakes are usually baked in ovens therefore it would be very difficult to do it with out one. The only exception might be a microwave oven. They arent similar in size to an oven but have the same source of heating power. I use my microwave oven to bake chicken wings and they turn out really good.
• India
21 Aug 08
LOL ... I don't even have a microwave. I guess I should stop being a miser and get one. :) Cheers!
• India
21 Aug 08
leave the cake making to the bakery and start eating
2 people like this
• India
21 Aug 08
Oh wow! Now this is the best piece of advice I have got so far. :)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I've never tried to bake a cake without an oven, however, a while back I did read an article I posted about on my blog how you can bake cookies without an oven. I'm guess this only works in the summer when it's hot because you use the heat of your car to bake the cookies. I've not tried this yet, either but it sounds fun and I would like to try it one day. Here is the article I wrote if you want to read: http://www.onemomfivekids.blogspot.com - it's under the cooking label. It's no cake but maybe the same concept would work with a cake.
• United States
12 Sep 08
Thank you for the complements! I agree - 3 hours is a long time. But this would make for a neat science project if you have kids in school.
• India
12 Sep 08
Hi Benjaminna, lovely blog! Enjoyed my visit, but nearly three hours is a bit too much, isn't it? LOL Plus you need to have a car for it, which I don't. Thanks a lot for the tip though. I will store it away somewhere. It will come of use soon. :) Cheers!
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Technically you can't bake without an oven because baking by definition is cooking using dry hot air in an enclosed stove. But of course you could still make cakes without having to bake. Yes you could, for starters there's always refrigerator cakes. Also you could try no bake cheesecakes. They taste as good as the baked ones. Or if you really don't worry about pounds why not ice cream cake? All taste delicious :D
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
I would love to taste all types - refrigerator cakes, cheesecakes, and ice cream cakes. :)
• Australia
21 Aug 08
I was just about to say the same but magojordan beat me to it. When you say without an "oven", I'm assuming that you are referring to those "standard" ovens, correct? Well, there are other ways to improvise my dear. I've seen in one TV show how they made this igloo looking furnace to cook pizza later on. I've read in one recipe book various ways of making improvised ovens. I suppose the success of your cake will rely on correct ingredients (avoid substituting especially since you're only a beginner), temperature and cooking time. Also, correct method of mixing the ingredients...some you have to beat for longer, some you only need to mix with wooden spoon or spatula so as not to include so much air, etc etc. But if you really love baking, I would suggest for you to get even just a compact oven to play with while you're learning the ropes of successful baking...it will make the task much easier for you, just make sure you follow the directions. Good luck!
@angelia286 (2029)
• Singapore
21 Aug 08
There are many cakes that can be made / baked without the use of an oven. Lol, I had went through years of torture without an oven to bake my cakes and cookies before I finally got my oven as a gift from my auntie! Cakes can be 'baked' without the oven and it would definately rise, as the rise of the cake is caused by the raising agent mixed in with the flour and not because of the oven. However, the only difference between the use of an oven and baking without the use of an oven is that the cake would not turn a golden brown, as the sugar in the cake does not undergo caramelisation. There are a few varieties of cakes that can be 'baked'. Well known ones are those that needs no cooking at all! For example things like cheesecakes, tiramisu and moose can all be done with the use of the refrigerator. There is also the well know Chinese steam cakes, whereby the flour is put through the steamer and the flour is steamed for a couple of minutes. The flour will rise to form an uneven texture, and it looks and smell good. There are also the cupcakes that could be steamed. All cakes that are steam will work the same way as being baked in a conventional oven, just that your cakes will not turn golden brown. I hope that this helps! And if you need the recipes, just PM me anytime!
• India
21 Aug 08
WOW!! What a lot of information! You must be an expert cake baker!! And yep, I would LOVE some nice recipes. :) Cheers and thanks for this lovely response
1 person likes this
• Singapore
21 Aug 08
Thanks for the best response! Lol, wasn't expecting it! Anyway, I will PM you the recipes for the Chinese steam cake tomorrow! It's like close to midnight here, hehe, so I will just send them to you at work tomorrow! Ahmm.. Lol, no I am not a cake expert, just that I had taken Food and Nutrition in high school, so I learnt all of these in school. Besides that, i do enjoy baking as a hobby.. Just hate the cleaning up that I have to do after. Haha. I am lazy.
@ngaspero (851)
• Italy
20 Aug 08
Hi, they're cake that you have to put in the refrigerator instead of in the oven..."tiramisu'", "pannacotta", Bayerische creme", "mousse au chocolat" and many other don't need an oven.. Nun
1 person likes this
@brimia (6581)
• United States
20 Aug 08
That's true...I didn't think of those.
1 person likes this
• India
20 Aug 08
Oh wow! What exotic names! I really must look it up. Cheers and thanks for the tip
@ngaspero (851)
• Italy
20 Aug 08
Do it, they're very taste dessert Nun
• United States
21 Aug 08
There's also such a thing as fried cakes. You can just mix up your batter and drop it by spoonfuls in hot deep oil or in a fry pan. We call these johnny cakes where I come from. Another wonderful thing we do is make funnel cakes. Just mix up some flour and eggs and sugar and milk and get some oil really hot and pour the batter into a funnel while you direct it over the hot oil. Fry the little streams of batter and flip them over when they get brown and drain them on paper towels. Then put some powdered sugar and fruit on top.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
Yup, I know those! People from Kerala are experts with fried cakes. :)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I have made cakes in a crock pot and they were very moist and delicious. It's very easy to do. Just take a large coffee can and grease and flour it just like you would a cake pan, then pour your cake batter in and set it in the crock pot. Put about 7 or 8 paper towels on top and put the lid on a little bit offset, so the air can get in. Set the timer to low and the cake will be ready to turn out onto a plate in about 8 hours. I also do this with cinnamin rolls and biscuits. I just take some regular canned biscuits and add some butter and sugar and cinnamin and layer them in the coffee can and they are done when I get up in the morning. All hot and ready to spoon some icing on top. Yummie!
• India
21 Aug 08
Oh wow!! And you don't need to put sand at the bottom of the crock pot? Won't it turn black?
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
21 Aug 08
I have never made a cake but I have made bread that did not need to be baked, this was done a few years ago so I can't remember the specifics but basically after mixing the dough and allowing it to rise it was placed in a plastic bag and the sealed bag was put in a pot of boiling water for some time. I can't say it was the best bread I ever ate but it was edible with some butter or cheese. I think that your question implies being done on a stove but I do make a chocolate cake in the microwave that is quick and easy and quite tasty I got it off a television show Microwave Chocolate Cake Get two large mugs and brush with oil In a bowl mix : 3 whole eggs 3 soup spoons oil 3 soup spoons milk 150g sugar 25g cacao powder 125g self raising flour Mix everything with a spoon until well blended. Divide the mixture between the two mugs evenly and microwave at 700w for two minutes turn out and serve with whipped cream and bon apetite! The is a variation in which a chocolate bar is broken into pieces and the pieces are placed on top of the dough just before placing them in the microwave and they will slowly sink to the bottom giving a soft filling. This is a very rich cake.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
It really sounds RICH!! Thanks a lot for the response.
• Singapore
22 Aug 08
I think that would be quite tough. I did manage to "bake" some butter cakes in a special kind (read: few thousand dollars) pot before but I gave up after a while when the novelty wore off and when I just couldn't get the bottom to not stick. When I think of the sugar involved in the cake, it's kind of freaky too. I totally ignore what is in the cake when I buy from "outside" though lol. Self-delusional I think. I want to get an oven but that would mean finding a space in the kitchen for it which is quite impossible since it is already crammed with stuffs. And investing in something that might not be used after the novelty wears off may not be the wisest decision. Nevertheless, I still would like to learn how to bake wonderful cakes and by the bye, geez, I think cooking is cool!
1 person likes this
• India
23 Aug 08
Same here! I think cooking is cool too. :)
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
21 Aug 08
You can bake a cake in the crock pot. I'm sure there are recipes on the internet.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
Thanks friend!
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Wow, I think I can share to you what I am doing... I don't have oven in my home. I only have steamer. I don't know if it is still cake haha.. but the ingredients is all the same except i only use steamer. I make carrot cake and bannana cake, chocolate cake and it works and delicious that my kids like it very much... you can try it also.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
Hey, where are the recipes? You have made my mouth water... :)
• India
22 Aug 08
My friend makes excellent cakes and all without an oven.She makes them in the pressure cooker. Do not put the lid on just lightly on and cover and keep your batter inside the cooker and on slow heat (do not put the weight of the cooker.
1 person likes this
• India
22 Aug 08
Thanks for the tip, my friend. :)
@allurejan (197)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I cannot imagine myself baking without using an oven. Seems like it is difficult. But that sounds interesting because it is a new experience and can I say economical too?
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
I dunno! I haven't dared to try baking a cake. But I must because it is fascinating!! Cheers!
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
20 Aug 08
i'm not really a cake expert... in fact, i hardly bake a cake... and when i do it, i always use the oven... it will be interesting to see what other users say on this matter... i might be able to get some great ideas from other mylotters about how to bake a cake without using the oven... i hope to get some recipes as well to try... hopefully i can find one here... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
• India
21 Aug 08
Yup there are a couple of recipes on the next page. Real nice ones. :) Cheers!
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
20 Aug 08
yes, actually there are a lot of oven toaster no bake needed for some flours.
1 person likes this
@brimia (6581)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I did try cooking a cake on the stove top once and it didn't rise much. It still tasted okay but just more dense.
• India
20 Aug 08
LOL as long as it tasted like a cake, that's fine! :) Thanks for the response
• India
20 Aug 08
O~` ah.. what can i say for this.. except that i can eat cakes...Errr.. this time also i lost the chance of giving the best response and so hmmmm.. no BR's for me this time to in this topic.. Ehhh..Grrr.. Cheers friend
• India
20 Aug 08
LOL ... I too can eat cakes, Sai!! LOL
• United States
20 Aug 08
I have had luck using a crockpot to bake a cake; it tasted and looked good. Many crockpot cookbooks offer cake recipes. Good luck.
• India
20 Aug 08
Can you share a recipe or some links? I really couldn't find any crockpot cake recipes anywhere. :( Thanks a lot for the tip.
@bunzor (303)
20 Aug 08
You can make sakes in the mocrowave! Search around and I'm sure you'll find a recipe. From what I remember they all turn out a bit chewy to be honest!
1 person likes this
• India
20 Aug 08
Thanks a lot for the tip