【Learn Chinese】Let’s bake a Cake in Chinese!

Today, we are going to introduce a super simple and delicious cake recipe that you can easily make at home. This is a great activity for both kids and adults, and it’s also a perfect way to practice your Chinese language skills while learning some new cooking vocabulary.

Ingredients (原料 yuánliào)
200g all-purpose flour (普通面粉 pǔtōng miànfěn)
200g sugar (白糖 báitáng)
200g butter (黄油 huángyóu), softened
4 eggs (鸡蛋 jīdàn)
1 teaspoon baking powder (泡打粉 pàodǎfěn)
A pinch of salt (盐 yán)
100ml milk (牛奶 niúnǎi)
Steps (步骤 bùzhòu)

Preheat the Oven (预热烤箱 yùrè kǎoxiāng): First, preheat your oven to 180°C (180度 shíbāshí dù). This is an important step to ensure that your cake bakes evenly.
Mix the Dry Ingredients (混合干料 hùnhé gānliào): In a large bowl, sift together the flour (面粉 miànfěn), baking powder (泡打粉 pàodǎfěn), and a pinch of salt (盐 yán). Sifting helps to remove any lumps and makes the cake lighter.
Cream the Butter and Sugar (打发黄油和糖 dǎfā huángyóu hé táng): In another bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter (黄油 huángyóu) and sugar (白糖 báitáng) together until they are light and fluffy. This step is called “打发” (dǎfā) in Chinese, which means to whip the mixture until it becomes airy.
Add the Eggs (加入鸡蛋 jiārù jīdàn): Crack the eggs (鸡蛋 jīdàn) into the butter and sugar mixture. Beat them well until everything is combined. You can add the eggs one at a time if you prefer.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients (混合湿料和干料 hùnhé shīliào hé gānliào): Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir gently with a spatula (刮刀 guādāo) until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake tough.
Add Milk (加入牛奶 jiārù niúnǎi): Pour in the milk (牛奶 niúnǎi) and mix until the batter is smooth. The batter should be thick but still pourable.
Pour into the Pan (倒入烤盘 dào rù kǎopán): Grease a cake pan (蛋糕模具 dàn gāo mójù) with some butter (黄油 huángyóu) to prevent the cake from sticking. Pour the batter into the pan and spread it evenly.
Bake the Cake (烤蛋糕 kǎo dàn gāo): Place the cake pan into the preheated oven and bake for about 30-35 minutes. You can check if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick (牙签 yáqiān) into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready!
Cool and Enjoy (冷却享用 liángquè xiǎngyòng): Once the cake is baked, take it out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. You can enjoy it plain or decorate it with some icing (糖霜 tángshuāng) or fresh fruit (水果 shuǐguǒ).