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    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Cupcakes

    Ghee Cake

    Published: May 15, 2023 by Madeeha Anwar

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    one piece of ghee cake in a plate with a golden fork.
    close shot of ghee cake piece showcasing the texture with moist crumb.
    overhead shot of the desi ghee cake in a colorful multi color transparent plate.
    close shot of the cake piece sitting a plate.

    This desi ghee cake is an aromatic cake which is an absolute delight to eat. It is loaded with rich flavor and aroma of desi ghee or clarified butter. The crumb is soft, light, spongy, fluffy and super moist and above all - heavenly. This cake is melt-in-your-mouth good. Your whole house will have an aroma of ghee when you will bake this cake. This cake is better than the ones you'll find in any famous bakery. It is an absolute treat to eat.

    close shot of one square piece of ghee cake placed in a plate over a colorful table cloth.

    This desi ghee cake has a special place in my heart because it is a speciality cake from my homeland Pakistan. Imagine a pound cake which is made with desi ghee. Desi ghee is basically clarified butter and very commonly used in South Asian cooking and baking.

    Technically, this cake is just like my butter cake but with more flavor and aroma. The reason for more flavor is that butter has a lot of water content, whereas desi ghee is made with clarified butter, which means it has more fat content than the butter, which results in richly flavored bakes.

    I am a pound cake lover and over the time I have shared numerous pound cake recipes such as Peach Cobbler Pound Cake, Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Pound Cake, Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake, Cream Cheese Pound Cake and Southern Pecan Praline Cake.

    Table of Contents
    • why this recipe works?
    • what is desi ghee?
    • ingredients for ghee cake
    • how to make ghee cake
    • serving suggestions
    • pro tips
    • common questions
    • how to store
    • related cake recipes
    • Recipe

    why this recipe works?

    • This Ghee Cake is super easy and simple to bake. 
    • This bakery style cake is very delicious.
    • You need a few basic ingredients to bake this ghee cake recipe. 
    • Enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee, or serve at any special occasion.
    over the head shot of two overlapped pieces of cake square pieces in the plate.

    what is desi ghee?

    Desi ghee is clarified butter and very commonly used in cooking in Pakistan and India. It has a grainy texture and has a golden-ish color.

    • How Is It Made: Desi ghee is made with pure cow's milk. The first step is to put the cow butter on low heat on a stovetop for hours. During this slow heat process the water evaporate and you are left with milk solids. The milk solids (which is desi ghee) are are then strained and stored.
    • Traditionally, in Pakistan and India, the villagers still churn the buttermilk and then heat the butter at the right low temperature (under 100 F) for hours to get the ghee.
    • Fat: The fat quantity is higher in desi ghee than butter. Desi ghee has 62 % fat, which are all saturated fats. Ghee has a lot of nutrients. It includes fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in it as well.
    • Source of Amino Acids: Ghee is also a great source of the necessary amino acids as well as Omega 3 and 6.

    ingredients for ghee cake

    Pro Tip # 1
    Always use room temperature ingredients for baking (unless otherwise specified) as they incorporate better and give perfect baked treats.

    ingredients for desi ghee cake set on the table.
    • All-purpose flour: provides base and structure to this cake.
    • Baking soda + baking powder: leavening agents that give lift to this bake.
    • Desi ghee: is the hero of this recipe. It is the fat for this cake.
    • Castor sugar: used for sweetness in the cake.
    • Milk: adds moisture to the cake and adds protein, color and flavor.
    • Eggs: binds the batter together and helps with lifting of the bake.
    • Vanilla extract: adds aroma to the cake.
    • Cardamom powder: adds flavor to the cake.
    • Salt: balances the sweetness and adds to the flavor.

    Pro Tip # 2
    Always use a digital scale to measure all-purpose flour and other dry ingredients for perfect results. Scooping it out directly using cups may result in uneven amount of dry ingredients and dense bakes.

    how to make ghee cake

    These are basic process shots for this recipe. For detailed instructions refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    whisking up the dry ingredients in a bowl for the cake.

    1. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cardamom powder and salt. Set aside.

    adding eggs in a large bowl.

    2. In another large bowl, add the eggs and beat until they are double in volume.

    vanilla extract added to the beaten eggs in the bowl.

    3. Add vanilla extract.

    mixing the castor sugar with eggs in a big bowl.

    4. Add castor sugar.

    mixing together the eggs and sugar for the cake.

    5. Beat until the sugar and eggs are mixed for about 2 - 3 minutes.

    adding desi ghee in the cake batter.

    6. Add milk and desi ghee (at room temperature).

    mixing up the desi ghee with beaten butter, sugar and eggs mixture.

    7. Beat until combined.

    adding the dry ingredients in the mixed wet ingredients.

    8. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

    mixing the flour and other dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.

    9. Mix until just combined.

    cake batter in the 9-inch square cake pan.

    10. Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake.

    serving suggestions

    • Berries: Serve this cake with the choice of your berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries.
    • Ice-cream: Serve the cake with vanilla ice-cream or scoop of any ice-cream of your choice.
    close shot of ghee cake piece showcasing the texture with moist crumb.

    pro tips

    Do Not Overmix: after mixing the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Over-beating or overmixing will develop strands of gluten that will result in a tough or hard cake.

    Do Not Overbake: Keep an eye on the oven while the cake is baking. Check around 35 minutes and if a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, it means the cake is ready.

    Cool the Cake: Once the cake is out of the oven, it is very important to let the cake cool down completely before taking it out of the pan. It will take about 30 minutes.

    three desi ghee pieces placed in three white plates with navy blue border.

    common questions

    Can I bake this cake in the 9 x 5 inch loaf pan?

    No, I once tried it and this cake batter was too much for the loaf pan. Bake it in a 9'' pan, it will ensure easy and uniform baking.

    My cake sunk, what went wrong?

    There are a lot of possibilities. Probably, you didn't follow the recipe well or your oven temperature is off by a few degrees that can result in uneven baking. Always use an oven thermometer to ensure baking at right temperature.

    how to store

    • This cake will stay fresh in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
    • Place this cake in the fridge for a week, easily.
    • Place the cake pieces on a tray in the freezer. Once the pieces are hard, take them out, wrap them in a plastic wrap and add a layer of foil. The place the pieces in an airtight container or a ziploc bag. Keep in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, once ready to eat.

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      Italian Almond Cake
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    Recipe

    a piece of desi ghee cake in a plate.

    Desi Ghee Cake

    Madeeha Anwar
    This desi ghee cake is a aromatic cake which is an absolute delight to eat. It is loaded with rich flavor and aroma of desi ghee or clarified butter. The crumb is soft, light, fluffy and super moist and above all - heavenly. This cake is melt-in-your-mouth good. Your whole house will have an aroma of ghee when you will bake this cake. This cake is better than the ones you'll find in any famous bakery. It is an absolute treat to eat.
    5 from 2 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Cakes
    Cuisine Indian, Pakistani, South Asian
    Servings 12
    Calories 295 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9'' Square or round cake pan.
    • 1 Electric Mixer
    • 2 Mixing bowls
    • 1 Digital Scale
    • 1 Measuring Cups and Spoons
    • 1 Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cup all-purpose flour (240 g)
    • 1 cup castor sugar (200 g)
    • 1 cup desi ghee (clarified butter) (237 g)
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder (10 g)
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda (1.25 g)
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup milk (237 ml)
    • 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (2 g)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a bowl, add in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cardamom powder together. Whisk and set aside.
    • Take a large bowl and put eggs in it. Beat them with an electric beater for 1 - 2 minutes.
    • Add in the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
    • Now mix the sugar and beat for another 2 - 3 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
    • Add the ghee and milk and mix until combined.
    • Add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
    • Pour the cake batter in the prepared cake pan.
    • Bake the cake for about 40 - 45 minutes until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.
    • Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    Do Not Overmix: after mixing the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Over-beating or overmixing will develop strands of gluten that will result in a tough or hard cake.

    Do Not Overbake: Keep an eye on the oven while the cake is baking. Check around 35 minutes and if a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, it means the cake is ready.

    Cool the Cake: Once the cake is out of the oven, it is very important to let the cake cool down completely before taking it out of the pan. It will take about 30 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword desi ghee, desi ghee cake, pound cakes
    Tried this recipe? Tag @nowdelishon Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter !

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    About Madeeha Anwar

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    close shot of ghee cake piece showcasing the texture with moist crumb.
    overhead shot of the desi ghee cake in a colorful multi color transparent plate.
    close shot of the cake piece sitting a plate.


    Hey ya !!

    I am Madeeha Anwar, a journalist by profession and a baker by heart. I am the founder, recipe developer and food photographer behind this blog. I love sharing recipes that are easy to make and do not require much time in the kitchen. Hope you'll enjoy making them as much as I do !

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    close shot of ghee cake piece showcasing the texture with moist crumb.
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