How to Make a Cake Using a Pressure Cooker

Co-authored by Gladys Jahn and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: August 6, 2024 Approved

Believe it or not, you don't need an oven to bake a cake. You can spread any cake batter in a prepared pan that will fit in your stove top or electric pressure cooker. To use the stove top pressure cooker like an oven, remove the gasket and whistle. Monitor the temperature of the pressure cooker to get a perfectly baked cake. For a hands-off approach, set your electric pressure cooker to the cake setting and adjust the temperature. You'll be amazed at the results!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing the Batter and Pan

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Follow your favorite cake recipe or combine a boxed cake mix according to the instructions on the box. You won't need to make any adjustments to the batter.^{[1]
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Select a baking pan. You can use a metal, pyrex glass, or silicone baking pan as long as it will fit in your pressure cooker. Consider using the following sizes depending on the size of your pressure cooker:^{[2]
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- 3-quart (2.8 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm)
- 6-quart (5.7 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 7 in × 4 in (18 cm × 10 cm)
- 8-quart (7.6 L) cooker: 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 3 in (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 4 in × 4 in (10 cm × 10 cm), 5 in × 3 in (12.7 cm × 7.6 cm), 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm), 6 in × 3 in (15.2 cm × 7.6 cm), 7 in × 4 in (18 cm × 10 cm), 8 in × 3 in (20.3 cm × 7.6 cm), 8 in × 4 in (20 cm × 10 cm)
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Spray a round or square cake pan with cooking spray. If you don't have cooking spray, rub shortening or butter along the bottom and sides of the pan. Sprinkle a few spoonfuls of flour over the shortening and tap the pan to distribute the flour. Shake the pan over the trash so excess flour falls out.
Scoop all of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to spread the batter so it's level in the pan.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Stove-Top Pressure Cooker

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1
Remove the gasket and whistle from the pressure cooker. Since you won't be using water in the pressure cooker, you don't need the gasket. Pull off the rubber insulation from the lid and set it aside. You can also set the whistle aside.^{[3]
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- While you usually need to add water to the pressure cooker, if you leave the water out, you'll be baking instead of steaming. Only use this method if you have a stainless steel or aluminum stove top pressure cooker.
Spread the salt evenly in the bottom of the pressure cooker. The salt will insulate the cooker since you won't be using water.^{[4]
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Set a stand in the bottom of the pressure cooker. Put a metal stand in the bottom of the cooker to distribute the heat and prevent the cake from burning on the bottom.^{[5]
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- If you don't have a stand, set a wire rack in the bottom of the cooker.
Put the lid on the pressure cooker and turn the burner to high. Let the pressure cooker heat before you add the pan with the batter.^{[6]
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Wear oven mitts to lift the lid off of the hot pressure cooker. Carefully lower the pan with the cake batter down onto the stand in the pressure cooker. Put the lid on the cooker.^{[7]
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The cake will immediately begin to rise and cook.^{[8]
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Because you aren't actually cooking with pressure, the cake will take about the same time to bake as if you were baking it in a standard oven. Follow the bake time instructions from your recipe or the back of the box mix.^{[9]
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To test if the cake is finished baking, insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, turn off the burner. If not, check the cake again in 3 to 5 minutes.^{[10]
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Let the cake cool and lift it up and out of the pressure cooker.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an Electric Pressure Cooker

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Once you've poured the water into the insert, set a metal trivet into the bottom so your cake pan won't come into direct contact with the insert.
The filled cake pan should be sitting on the metal trivet.
Set the lid on the pressure cooker and turn it clockwise until it's fastened in place. Most pressure cookers won't work until the lid is properly tightened.
Turn the pressure cooker on and select the cake program setting. If your pressure cooker doesn't have this option, use the manual setting to pressure cook on high.
If you're making a light, moist cake such as a sponge, turn the temperature to "Less." Most standard cakes or cake mixes are fine on the normal temperature setting. If you're cooking a dense cake, brownie, or cheesecake, increase the temperature to "More."^{[12]
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Set the bake time for half of the normal time. Check the recipe or box instructions for how long to cook the cake according to the size pan you're using. Take the amount of time given and set the pressure cooker for half of the time.
- For example, if your recipe calls for a 50 minute cook time, program the pressure cooker for 25 minutes.
As the pressure cooker cools down, the pressure will reduce on its own. Once the float valve has dropped down, you can turn the lid counterclockwise and lift it off.
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Check the cake for doneness. To test the cake, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake has finished cooking.
- It can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes for the pressure to release, depending on the size of your pressure cooker.
- If the cake isn't done, you'll need to put the lid back on and turn the pressure cooker back on. Check it again after 5 minutes of pressure cooking.
Give the pan a chance to cool a little before you take it out of the pressure cooker. You can wear oven mitts and pick the cake pan up or use 2 pairs of tongs to pull the pan out. Set the cake on a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

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Is it okay if I use wax paper instead of parchment paper for the sponge cake?

Emily Margolis
Professional Baker
Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.

Emily Margolis

Professional Baker

Expert Answer

Never bake with wax paper. The waxy residue will come off onto your food, which is undesirable.

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Can we use vanilla custard powder in place of vanilla extract?

Emily Margolis
Professional Baker
Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.

Emily Margolis

Professional Baker

Expert Answer

Vanilla custard powder or pudding mix will change the consistency of the cake. It cannot be substituted for vanilla extract.

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Can I use aluminum paper instead of parchment paper?

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Yes, you may use aluminum paper instead of parchment paper.

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Things You'll Need

Preparing the Batter and Pan

Measuring cups and spoons
Metal, pyrex glass, or silicone baking pan
Cooking spray
Mixing bowl and spoon

Using a Stove-Top Pressure Cooker

Stove-top pressure cooker (not non-stick)
Stand
Oven mitts
Toothpick
Wire rack

Using an Electric Pressure Cooker

Electric pressure cooker
Metal trivet
Oven mitts
Wire rack
Toothpick
2 sets of tongs

Tips

If you don't have vanilla essence, you can use vanilla paste, almond extract, maple syrup, or honey.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

You can also bake a cake in an electric rice cooker. Simply pour the batter into a buttered rice cooker bowl, place it in the cooker, and turn on the standard rice setting (or cake setting).
If you're a vegetarian, bananas are a great substitute for eggs. Use half a banana for each egg in your cake batter recipe.
Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the batter to for a spongier cake.

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