Versatile Loaf Cake

The "Recipe in an Hour" series by professional pastry chef Maryana Geller!

Today we're making a loaf cake. But not just any loaf cake—a super-versatile loaf cake! A cake whose ingredients won't send you running to the store, because you already have everything at home. But the result will delight you every time you bake it.

We have an hour to spare. Shall we begin?

Let's agree right away: we weigh all the ingredients. Yes, yes, to create masterpieces, you'll need to get a kitchen scale. No counting individual items, no cups, and no other measures. Grams, and only grams! (By the way, you can buy an inexpensive scale on AliExpress or at any appliance store.) So, let's get started.

Have you checked that you have these ingredients at home? I told you it was simple.

Now look in your fridge and cupboards and see what else you have. A lemon? An orange? Dried fruit? Raisins? Juice? Liqueur? Rum?

Great! Bring any combination of ingredients you find tasty to the table as well. I had an orange in the fridge and passion fruit liqueur in the cupboard.

Step 1.

Combine the eggs, sugar, and salt, and beat in a mixer for 5 minutes. If you have a “planetary” mixer, weigh the flour while the mixture is being beaten, and add the baking powder to it.

A note for the home baker! Always add baking powder to the flour first, and only then to the batter!

The eggs should become pale and increase in volume.

Step 2.

Add the flour and beat for another 2 minutes.

Step 3.

Melt the butter in the microwave. Add it to the batter.

Now let your imagination take over... I zested the orange and added 20 g of liqueur. You can also add 20 grams of any flavorful liquid, along with whatever you find tasty: dried fruit, lemon zest, and so on.

Mix, then transfer to a baking pan, filling it no more than ¾ full. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Step 4.

In a small saucepan, combine 150 grams of water, 60 grams of sugar, and 30 grams of any liquid for flavoring (I used orange juice and liqueur). Cook the syrup (for 3 minutes after it comes to a boil).

Step 5.

After 20 minutes, open the oven, pull the cake partway out, and make a lengthwise cut in the cake with a sharp knife. Close the oven and let it finish baking for another 20-25 minutes. This step will help us end up with a beautiful cake.

Step 6.

Take the cake out of the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Pour the syrup into a container larger than the cake. Then start pouring it generously over the cake. Be careful, the cake is hot!

You can simply "bathe" the cake in the syrup, turning it so that each side is dipped.

Now wrap the cake in parchment and let it rest a little and absorb the syrup.

How I decorated it:

I cut an orange into wedges and scorched each wedge with a torch. You can also brown them in a dry frying pan.

Versatile Loaf Cake - The Steps in Pictures:

Keep it wrapped in parchment as well, cutting off a slice at a time and savoring it with a cup of coffee!

Hide it well away from your family, because otherwise there will definitely be nothing left to savor! :)