Vanilla Cardamom Snacking Cake with Five Spice Maple Glaze
There is nothing more satisfying than making yourself a treat. This single-layer anytime cake is perfumed with vanilla and cardamom, while the super easy glaze is kissed with maple and five spice. The sweetness level is mild— so you could just as easily have it for breakfast as you could for dessert, or of course like the name says— a snack. Basically, anytime is good to eat this cake. Feel free to double the recipe for a layered cake or even crumble and combine for cake pops. When was a cake this versatile? Don’t forget the hit of flaky sea salt at the end for the perfect finish. Cold glass of milk optional.
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pans
1½ cups AP flour, plus more for pans
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup, plus two tablespoons whole milk
Flaky sea salt, for finishing
Five Spice Maple Glaze
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp five spice
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
2-3 tbsp whole milk
METHOD
Preheat oven to 350F.
Butter a 9” cake pan and line bottom with parchment. Butter parchment and dust pans with flour, tapping out excess.
Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla. Mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with milk, until just blended and smooth.
Pour batter into cake pan and bake until pale golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 30-34 minutes. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert out of pan and cool on rack until completely cool.
To make the glaze, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. If mixture is too loose, add more powdered sugar as needed. If glaze is too thick, add more milk 1 tbsp at a time until pourable.
When cake is fully cooled, pour glaze over top and let set, approximately 10 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve.