Steamed White Cake (Bai Tang Gao)
This no-bake cake, Bai Tang Gao is a Chinese steamed fluffy rice cake with only FOUR ingredients. It is gluten free and requires no oven, but a steamer!
Recipe is for a small 6-in / 15cm pan and 4 small slices. Multiply as needed, but adjust your pan size.
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Ingredients
Ingredients
- 125 g Rice Flour Not glutinous rice flour
- 260 ml Water
- 65 g Sugar Use up to 85g for more sweetness
- 2.5 g Yeast 1/2 tsp
Instructions
- Mix sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Measure rice flour in a bowl. Once the sugar and water is boiling, whisk is slowly into the rice flour.
- It should create a smooth batter.
- Allow the batter to cool until warm to the touch, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit / 43 Celcius.
- You can speed this up by continuing to whisk it, or by pouring the batter back and forth between to bowls. The constant movement helps cool it down.
- Add the yeast and mix. Let the batter rest for about 45 minutes to an hour.
- You may need to mix the batter 10 minutes after adding the yeast to ensure it is fully dissolved and has mixed with the rest of the batter.
- After about 30 minutes of resting, prepare your steamer. Add an inch of water to your pot and place your steamer and cake pan inside. Cover it and turn on to medium heat.
- The cake pan should be hot to the touch when you add the batter in.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan and steam for about 15 minutes. Then turn off the heat and keep the cake inside the steamer for another 10 minutes.
- See NOTES for steaming tips!
- Take the cake out and allow it to cool. Run a knife around the edges to remove and slice as desired.
Notes
- TIPS
- If you don't can't use a bamboo steamer and are using a regular pot, wrap the pot cover in a towel, or place a towel over your steamer above the cake batter. It will help absorb condensation.
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- Try to avoid condensation/water drops from the steam dropping onto your cake, including when you open the lid. It can change the texture and make it sticky or more like a pudding.
- Your pan should be hot to the touch before adding your batter.
- Enjoy warm or at room temperature! Reheat in the microwave to re-steam if gets a little stale.
- Store leftovers in fridge.