Chef and TikTok star Andy Hearnden, known as Andy Cooks, has suggested that a rice cooker can produce a cake that is “super soft” and tastes better than one baked in an oven. His preferred method for a pineapple upside down cake uses the appliance rather than a traditional oven.
How the rice cooker method works
In a video published earlier this month, Hearnden said: “Stop treating your rice cooker like it’s only got one job, you pineapple.” The process involves chopping pineapple into chunks and adding brown sugar to the rice cooker, cooking on a normal setting to create a caramelised gooeyness.
The cake batter is made by whisking egg whites until stiff peaks form, then adding sugar to create a meringue. Egg yolks are folded in, followed by the dry ingredients in stages. Once the brown sugar has turned into a caramel, the fruit is added, and the batter is poured over it and spread evenly. The cake is then cooked on the normal rice cooker function.
Recipe details and viewer reactions
The recipe calls for 115g (4 oz) butter, 180g (6 ½ oz) light brown sugar, 400g pineapple pieces, 10 maraschino cherries, 120g (4 ¼ oz) cake flour, 5g (1 tsp) baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, four large eggs, 200g (7 oz) caster sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla essence. The method includes adding brown sugar and butter to the rice cooker, separating eggs, whisking whites to soft peaks, folding in yolks and dry ingredients, arranging pineapple and cherries on the caramel after about 10 minutes, pouring batter over the fruit, and cooking on a normal function. A toothpick or cake tester is used to check if the cake is cooked, and it is turned out and enjoyed while warm.
Hearnden described the result: “Pineapple upside down cake in a rice cooker, you say. Hmm, actually becomes almost more of a dessert than a cake. Super soft, lovely, sweet syrup. That’s delicious.”
The video had been viewed over 284,700 times, receiving 11,000 likes and 68 comments at the time of writing. Viewers were divided over the method. Wentley commented: “Heh. It’s a neat trick, but I love the harder, caramelized sugar you get from baking.” Brandon wrote: “I just bought one and I can’t wait to make meals.” Klootviool21 added: “It looks woooooow… it’s only that hot pineapple, not convinced.”
For those seeking an innovative way to make cakes without an oven, the rice cooker offers an alternative approach with a soft, syrup-rich result.
