The Shape of Water: Butter Cake Recipe
The Shape of Water Oscar Nominations
HOFFSTETLER: Yes? Go ahead. Would you like some butter cake?
BURLY RUSSIAN: Yes. Please.
THE SHAPE OF WATER, 2017
The movie, The Shape of Water, has a total of 13 Oscar nominations this year and it’s easy to understand why. The movie was directed by the amazing, Guillermo Del Toro. Sally Hawkins’ performance in the movie was incredible and I truly hope she takes home the Best Actress award.
This recipe for butter cake comes from the second half of the movie when Hoffstetler gets a visit from two men at his apartment. It took some time to figure out what exactly it was he served the men. Even though he states that he has butter cake, it looks more like a chocolate babka baked in a bundt pan. Ultimately, I decided to go for a decadent and buttery pound cake with a chocolate swirl.
This recipe from the Baking Illustrated book is so simple to whip together. This cake can be made in advance just make sure to wrap it well to prevent it from drying out. Please enjoy.
The Shape of Water: Butter Cake Recipe
The Shape of Water: Butter Cake
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room tempersture 16 tbsp
- 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar 9 1/3oz
- 3 large whole eggs
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted 6oz
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- powdered sugar as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease a 4 cup bundt cake mold and set aside.
- In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until well combined, light and flue, 4 minutes. Add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time to the stand mixer on medium speed. Scrape the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula halfway to make sure everything is well incorporated.
- Att the vanilla extract and water. Mix to combine.
- On medium low speed, add the salt and cake four in 2-3 additions. Take 1/3 of the batter and place it into another bowl. Mix in 2 tsp of cocoa powder until combined.
- Pour half of the yellow batter and pour it into the greased pan. Pour in the chocolate batter and then top with the rest of the yellow batter. Use a chopstick or a skewer and run it back and forth in the batter to gently swirl the two batters together.
- Place it into the oven and bake for 1 hour or until it springs back to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Unmold the cake onto a wire rack and let cool. Once cool, lightly dust with powdered sugar.
