white einkorn cake slices

Recipe for Classic White Cake Made With Einkorn Flour

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This (almost) white cake made with einkorn flour takes shape with several egg whites beaten to a pulp. Ok. Maybe not a pulp. Maybe it’s more of a meringue. This cake recipe comes to science and each ingredient in this recipe has a purpose. Each one helps soften this dense grain and adds in air, resulting in a soft white cake.

It’s been a few years since I began thinking about creating an einkorn flour cake recipe. It’s taken that long for me to get down and dirty ( with my fingers anyway) and make a recipe worth eating over and over. Einkorn Cake is a funny thing. It’s so hard to get that same fluffy light texture of modern day wheat. So I simply justified gluten free boxed cakes for the longest time. I can finally say I did the hard thing and created a combination of ingredients that fluffs up quite nicely.

I created this layered cake for my daughter’s Gotcha day party, celebrating her adoption four years ago. What fun it was to celebrate! The cake was great and I’m a big fan of only frosting the middle and spreading frosting on the top. It’s faster, beautiful and can still be decorated with a number of items.

Special White Einkorn Cake Ingredients

All Purpose Einkorn Flour

First of all, if you are not familiar with einkorn, let me tell you about this ancient grain. I use this grain for its amazing nutrition as well as its ease on sensitive tummies. I first found this grain when struggling with gluten sensitivities. Because it has a much weaker gluten structure, it can be much more easily digested. Note that this isn’t for those with celiac disease! You can learn more about inflammation and structure of einkorn HERE. You can see where I purchase my einkorn HERE.

This recipe uses all purpose einkorn flour because it is much lighter than whole grain einkorn. The bran has been removed which allows the lightest part of the grain to take the cake, ahem (pun intended). I mean steal the show. Though all purpose einkorn won’t have the 16 grams of protein that whole wheat einkorn carries, it still makes a more protein dense cake. Thus, we use techniques such as whipped eggs whites to create a light airy batter.

child eats a slice of einkorn cake at a party

Separated Eggs

Using the egg white portion is essential for making this recipe work. Egg whites will help with moisture and binding since the gluten is so much weaker in einkorn grain. It will also add air. Why? Because when you whip the egg whites into a fluffy meringue, air is incorporated. Gently folding this into your dry ingredients will bring the small air pockets throughout the cake batter, creating better rise and a much lighter cake overall. Egg whites are the secret ingredient of this recipe!

White einkorn cake frosted with two layers, is on display with sunflowers on the top.

Yogurt

I’m a big fan of using a fermented food in cakes; especially when using einkorn! There’s an extra bit of rise that happens as lactic acid reacts with baking powder. Not only is it great for the rise, it also adds moisture, creates a browned crust and can also help the flavor. This sweet white cake really benefits from just a tad of the tangy yogurt flavor. No one will notice while munching their delicious slice of cake, how much the texture and flavor is influenced by a good yogurt. I like to use a plain whole milk yogurt.

Extra Tips

  • Make sure your eggs are at room temperature before making the cake.
  • Granulated sugar is recommended for this recipe as it is the best sugar for creating a light texture.
  • Remember to fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients gently so as not to disrupt the air pockets created when beating the egg whites AND to keep the baking powder ready to rise the batter in the oven.
Yield: One 9x 13 inch cake

White Cake with Einkorn Flour

White Cake made with einkorn flour

A fluffy white cake made with einkorn flour.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Einkorn Flour Sifted
  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
  • 1/4 Plain Yogurt
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 6 Egg Whites at room temperature
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar

Instructions

    1. Heat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit. Mix dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.

    2. Separate yolks and whites of the eggs, dropping the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the egg whites in an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add in yogurt, melted butter, milk and beat for one more minute on medium speed.

    3. Sift in the dry ingredients ( flour, baking powder and salt) little by little, folding in with a spatula. I like to add in the dry ingredients, sifting 1/3 of it in, then folding, sifting another 1/3 and folding it in. This continues until the batter is just brought together. Combine completely but don't overmix.

    4. Bake at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit for 22-25 minutes if using a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. These 6 inch cake rounds shown in pictures baked for 28-30 minutes.

    Let cool completely before frosting. Enjoy!

Einkorn White Cake Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Einkorn Flour Sifted
  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
  • 1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 6 Egg Whites at room temperature
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar

The Recipe

Heat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x 13 inch cake pan.

Mix dry ingredients together. In two small bowls, separate yolks and whites of the eggs. Beat the egg whites in an electric mixer for 30 seconds. The egg yolks can also be used for this Tiramisu recipe too! In fact, you could make this into a tiramisu cake. Mmm. So good!

Add sugar and beat on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add in yogurt, milk and melted butter and beat for one more minute on medium speed.

Sift in the dry ingredients little by little, folding in with a spatula. I like to add in the dry ingredients, sifting 1/3 of it in, then folding, sifting another 1/3 in and folding that in. This continues until the batter is just brought together. Combine it completely but don’t overmix.

Bake at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit for 22-25 minutes if using a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. These 6 inch cake rounds shown in pictures baked for about 28-30 minutes.

Let your cake cool completely before frosting/ icing it.

A slice of einkorn cake shows small air pockets and crumb

Ways to Use Your Einkorn White Cake Recipe

Strawberry Shortcake

This cake recipe is easy to make into strawberry shortcake by simply adding whipped cream and strawberries.

Classic Tiramisu Cake

We absolutely love using this recipe for tiramisu. The egg yolks can be used for the mascarpone filling which means nothing gets wasted. This is a rich recipe and makes a festive dessert.

Birthday Cake

Yes, this is also considered a birthday cake recipe. Feel free to frost the entire cake or just part of it. Add sprinkles and decorations such as little (clean) trucks, dolls or horses for kids. I also love using edible flowers (as shown in picture). Did you know almost all parts of sunflowers are edible? I didn’t until I researched it for decorating the cake.

Sheet Cake

This white einkorn flour cake can also be made as a sheet cake using a 9 x 11 inch pan. Get creative with frostings by trying out a cream cheese frosting, add a little jam to the frosting or mix whipped cream into your frosting. Yum!

I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we have.

From the Hilltop,

Krista

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