Chiffon Cake Mixing Method & Basic Recipe

Learn how to make chiffon cake using the chiffon mixing method. This method ensures the perfect chiffon cake texture that is light and fluffy. Use this basic chiffon cake recipe as a template for a variety of chiffon cake flavors! 

What is a Chiffon Cake?

Chiffon cake is my favorite cake of all time. It is incredibly light and tender while still being moist. This has to do with the makeup of the batter. 

A chiffon cake is a light and fluffy cake that is made with oil, or other melted fats, instead of solid fat. Chiffon cake is considered a foam cake in that an egg white foam (aka meringue) is folded into the batter to do a majority of the leavening. However, chemical leavening is also used in chiffon cakes.

Because chiffon cake has a higher fat content compared to other foam cakes, the mixing method is a bit different than the egg foam method or the angel food method. This results in a very fluffy cake that is still rich and moist.

What Kind of Pan is a Chiffon Cake Baked In? 

It is traditional for a chiffon cake to be baked in a tube pan. However, it can also be baked as layers and in fact is my favorite cake to use as a layer cake. This batter is enough to make into two 9-inch round layers or three 8-inch round layers. 

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Chiffon Mixing Method Overview

• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Techniques Used: French Meringue, Folding

Chiffon cake contains oil or other liquid fats. Because oil does not solidify at room temperature it creates a cake that remains very moist, even when cold.

With the creaming method for making cakes, air is beaten into solid fat and sugar. This process helps to leaven the cake. Because air cannot be beaten into liquid fat, a simple meringue is created and folded into the batter. The web of air that the meringue holds serves the same function in a chiffon cake that creamed butter and sugar serves in pound cake.

How to Make Chiffon Cake

The chiffon mixing method is the process used to make chiffon cakes very light and fluffy. Chiffon cake recipes are broken down into three main parts: dry ingredients, wet ingredients, and the meringue. These three parts are then combined and baked.

Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients

A basic chiffon cake combines cake flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Cake flour is used to keep the cake light and tender, however, all-purpose flour can be substituted.

For the fluffiest chiffon cake, sift the dry ingredients to aerate them and remove any possible lumps. Then whisk the ingredients together to combine them well.

Note: To flavor your chiffon cake, spices or fresh herbs could also be added to the dry ingredient mixture. 

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Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients

The wet ingredient lineup for chiffon cakes can vary a little but it always includes egg yolks and oil or other liquid fat. I like to use a combination of oil and melted butter. The oil keeps the cake very moist and the butter adds some flavor.

I also use buttermilk to add a slight tanginess and to activate the baking soda. A variety of extracts could also be added into the wet ingredient lineup to further flavor the cake.

Whisk the wet ingredients together and set them aside until you are ready to combine all of the components.

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Step 3: Make the Meringue

A simple meringue made of egg whites and sugar, also known as French meringue, is made to be folded into the batter. The egg white foam leavens the cake and creates a very light and fluffy texture.

Whip the egg whites to medium peaks and then slowly start streaming in the sugar and whip until you reach stiff peaks.

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Step 4: Combine the 3 Components Together

Using a rubber spatula, stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. You don’t want to over-mix the batter.

Add about 1/2 cup of the egg whites and stir them completely into the batter. This will lighten the batter and make it easier to fold the rest of the egg whites in. Add about half of the rest of the egg whites and gently fold it into the batter being careful not the deflate the whites. Add the rest of the whites into the batter and continue folding in until combined.

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Step 5: Bake

Chiffon cakes are typically baked in tube pans which produces the lightest texture because the cake can climb up the center tube when baking. However, chiffon cakes can also be baked in regular cake pans.

Grease the bottom of the pan but not the sides of the pan. If the pan is greased the cake will not be able to cling to the pan to rise.

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Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

• This chiffon cake is perfect served as is, though powdered sugar or vanilla whipped cream are beautiful accompaniments. It can also easily be flavored with various spices, citrus zests, and extracts. This is also a perfect canvas for a simple powdered sugar glaze.
• When folding in the egg whites, take extra care not to deflate the air out of them. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold them in so you can keep as much air in the batter as possible.
• While chiffon cake is traditionally baked in a tube pan, this cake can also be split between two 9″ (22 cm) round cake pans and baked into two layers.

Chiffon Cake Ingredient Functions

• Cake Flour is the main structure for the cake. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour so it makes a more tender cake, however all-purpose flour can be substituted. 
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda are chemical leavenings and help the cake to rise.
• Salt rounds out the sweet flavor of the cake.
• Sugar is divided into two parts. The bulk of the sugar does the sweetening of the cake, however part of the sugar is also used to create the meringue that makes the cake super fluffy!
• Oil adds richness and keeps the cake very moist.
• Butter also adds richness and adds a slight buttery flavor.
• Egg Yolks adds some moisture and more richness to the cake.
• Buttermilk is acidic and works to activate the baking soda while adding a slight tanginess and moisture to the cake.
• Egg Whites are beaten to create a meringue which creates an incredibly fluffy and light chiffon cake.