Highlight Cake

[meganjane]

So called because it rises high and it's light!

1 1/2 cups castor sugar (made in TMX)
250g soft butter
4 eggs
4 Tbsp custard powder
1 cup milk
2 cups Self Raising (I use 1 cup spelt and 1 cup plain with 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp bi-carb)
2 dessertspoons of vanilla

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and grease and line two deep 20cm cake tins or 1 baking dish.

Combine all ingredients in   in order and mix at speed 4  - 5 for 5 minutes. Pour into tin/s and bake for about 40 - 45 minutes for two tins and 1 hour for one large tin.

Great for birthday cakes.

members' comments

faffa - and the variations go like this...

Replace the custard powder with cocoa and you have chocolate cake.

Replace the milk with fresh orange juice and a little zest and you have orange cake.

1 cup of coconut can be added to any of the recipes for a nice change, will just make the cake a little denser.

This has been the base of all my kids birthday cakes for the last 19 years.

Pam H - I made this cake yesterday and it looked beautiful as it came out the oven (skewer came out clean, bounced back when touched )but then it just sank down, down, down. Do you know what I did wrong? Actually every time I use the TM to make a cake it seems to happen so I must be doing something wrong, can someone help please?

VHJ - very interesting that you say this Pam. I've made this cake for years but not in the TMX. Last weekend I tried it in the TMX & I had the same thing as you. Bounced back & skewer came out clean. When I turned it out it had two air pockets underneath- I will give the tin a light tap on the bench before I cook it next time to fix that but mine was in fact undercook right through the middle. (It instantly became a fudge cake & my boys polished it off)
I intend to try it again & just go by cooking time not cake response to touch.

[Very Happy Jan]

I've got this recipe as well meganjane and it's a great cake. Not sure how or where I got the recipe but think it's a remnant from country living as I've handwritten it and had it for years. We lived north & you live south so it's got around!! Great idea to post it as it will be perfect for the TMX. You've inspired to to make it tomorrow- thanks 

[cookie1]

I also have this recipe given to me by an Aunt about 38 years ago.  It is lovely.

[meganjane]

  It's amazing how these recipes keep going around and around. It's a sign of a good recipe!

[faffa_70]

lol I have the same recipe too  I have been making this since I was about 4 years old with my mum. I knew the recipe off by heart by the time I was 8 and it was my job to make one each weekend 

and the variations go like this...

replace the custard powder with cocoa and you have chocolate cake

replace the milk with fresh orange juice and a little zest and you have orange cake

1 cup of coconut can be added to any of the recipes for a nice change, will just make the cake a little denser 

this has been the base of all my kids birthday cakes for the last 19 years   

[cookie1]

Maybe it's a West Aussie recipe.

[faffa_70]

ROFLMAO 

[Thermomixer]

Thanks MJ - I think Stephanie has a similar recipe in her Cooks' Companion?  Sounds grreat

[Pam_H]

I made this cake yesterday and it looked beautiful as it came out the oven (skewer came out clean, bounced back when touched)but then it just sank down down down do you know what I did wrong? Actually every time I use the TM to make a cake it seems to happen so I must be doing something wrong, can someone help please

[Very Happy Jan]

I made this cake yesterday and it looked beautiful as it came out the oven (skewer came out clean, bounced back when touched)but then it just sank down down down do you know what I did wrong? Actually every time I use the TM to make a cake it seems to happen so I must be doing something wrong, can someone help please

very interesting that you say this Pam. I've made this cake for years but not in the TMX. Last weekend I tried it in the TMX & I had the same thing as you. Bounced back & Skewer came out clean. When I turned it out it had two air pockets underneath- I will give the tin a light tap on the bench before I cook it next time to fix that but mine was in fact undercook right through the middle. (It instantly became a fudge cake & my boys polished it off)
i intend to try it again & just go by cooking time not cake response to touch.

[Pam_H]

Thanks Very Happy Jan, I may try again and cook for longer as well, the grandkids ate quite a bit and then we had some for dessert with custard on it, that was tasty,so it wasnt wasted

[Thermomixer]

Always good to drop the tins onto the bench to knock out any big bubbles in the mix and avoid huge air pockets - good advice VHJ