Spiced Chiffon Cake

You’ll love the warm, comforting spices in this light and fluffy Spiced Chiffon Cake. It’s an easy homemade cake that you can top with whipped cream.

Spice cake does not get the attention it deserves. We love sprinkles and chocolate curls and fruit fillings…but there is something classic about the aroma and flavor of a homemade spice cake.

This spiced chiffon cake is made from scratch, is light and springy and is the perfect finish to a dinner.

spiced cake with powdered sugar

What is a chiffon cake?

A chiffon cake is a light and springy cake made with eggs, oil and sugar. Chiffon cakes are similar to angel food cakes, however chiffon cakes use fat (oil and egg yolks) and angel food cakes only use egg whites.

Can I bake chiffon cake in a normal pan?

You bake chiffon cakes in tube cake pans so the cake can climb up the sides as it bakes and create a tall, fluffy cake. (Don’t grease the tube pan or it won’t climb up!)

You can bake a chiffon cake in a regular cake pan if you don’t have a tube pan. Just watch the baking time because it will be different.

spice cake with fork on a plate

What spices are in spice cake?

Here are the common spices in spice cake:

  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • allspice
  • cloves

If you don’t care for one of those spices (or don’t have one), you can leave it out and add a little more of another spice. It will change the flavor slightly, but it will still be good!

How to Make Spiced Chiffon Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 325º Fahrenheit.
  • In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Whisk well.
  • In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolks, water and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Add the egg yolk mixture along with the oil to the dry ingredients. Mix well.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until they are stiff and hold peaks. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a high powered hand mixer.

**Pro Tip: Make sure your beaters and your bowl are all free of oil. If there is any oil or grease at all, the egg whites will not get stiff.**

whipped egg whites in a bowl
  • Fold the egg whites into the batter until it is evenly mixed in.
  • Pour the batter into an ungreased 10″ tube cake pan.
unbaked chiffon cake
  • Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top of the cake springs back when you touch it.
  • Immediately turn the cake upside down and let it rest on glasses to cool completely.
  • Once the cake is cooled, turn it over and use a long knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan.
  • Remove the cake from the pan and place it on a cake plate.
spiced chiffon cake on a plate
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

How do you know when a chiffon cake is done?

The top of a chiffon cake will be lightly browned and feel slightly “dry”. When you touch the top, it should feel springy and bounce back at a touch.

spiced chiffon cake with whipped cream

Do you have to let chiffon cakes cool upside down?

Chiffon cakes are known to be light and fluffy. And you want to keep them that way so yes, you should allow them to cool upside down.

We find it easiest to place 3 glasses (that are the same height) on the counter. When the cake comes out of the oven, flip it upside down and allow the edges to rest on the glasses. Allow the cake to stay upside down until it is completely cooled.

spiced chiffon cake with cinnamon sticks

Other Tube Pan Cakes

slice of spiced chiffon cake
slice of spiced chiffon cake

Spiced Chiffon Cake

5 from 3 votes
You'll love the warm, comforting spices in this light and fluffy Spiced Chiffon Cake. It's an easy homemade cake that you can top with whipped cream.
Servings 12
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 325º Fahrenheit.
  • In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Whisk well.
  • In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolks, water and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Add the egg yolk mixture along with the oil to the dry ingredients. Mix well.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until they are stiff and hold peaks.
  • Fold the egg whites into the batter until it is evenly mixed in.
  • Pour the batter into an ungreased 10" tube cake pan.
  • Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top of the cake springs back when you touch it.
  • Immediately turn the cake upside down and let it rest on glasses to cool completely.
  • Once the cake is cooled, turn it over and use a long knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan.
  • Remove the cake from the pan and place it on a cake plate.
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 12 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 260
Keyword chiffon cake, easy spice cake
Spiced Chiffon Cake title image

About Julie Clark

We are Julie, Maddie, and Kinslee – a mother and daughter team sharing with you the best cakes to satisfy any need or sweet craving that you may have. Welcome to our family’s kitchen!

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5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)
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5 stars
This was the first cake I have ever baked before and it was super easy and light. It was full of delicious spiced flavors and I brought it to my friends birthday party. It was a big hit!