The Benefits of Mayonnaise in Cake

• Even though mayonnaise may bring to mind a BLT sandwich, if you think about it, it's actually just an emulsion of eggs and oil with a little vinegar or lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Bakers add most of those ingredients to cakes anyway. Incorporating mayonnaise into to a cake provides a smooth emulsion that will make the crumb of your cake soft and tender, while the acidic additions (lemon juice or vinegar) provide a very slight tangy flavor.

Adding Mayonnaise with Oil to Cake

• If you're not using a recipe that already calls for mayonnaise, you can easily incorporate it in conjunction with other liquids or on its own. To incorporate mayonnaise with oil or a melted butter, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise to a glass measuring cup, and then fill it with oil until you have the total quantity called for by the recipe. Whisk the oil and mayonnaise together until combined, and then add it to the batter as directed. You can replace all of the oil with mayonnaise, but it may cause the batter to be too thick. Remedy that by adding more liquid, such as water, to get the proper consistency. For example, if the recipe states that the batter should be a pourable consistency, ensure to maintain a pourable texture.

Other Ways to Add Mayonnaise

• If your cake calls for heavy cream, half and half, sour cream or yogurt, whisk 1 or 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise with either of these ingredients, using the same method as you would for the oil. Add the desired amount of mayonnaise to the measuring cup, and fill the cup to the specified quantity with the other liquid ingredient. Whisk the mayonnaise mixture together and incorporate it into the batter. Do not substitute mayonnaise for the entire amount of these other ingredients. Mayonnaise lacks the richness that heavy cream and half and half provide and the tanginess of sour cream or yogurt.

DIY Mayonnaise

• If you're still worried about making a cake that will taste like a sandwich, you can go the extra mile and make your own mayonnaise to control exactly what goes into it. Occasionally, a mayonnaise recipe will include a tad bit of mustard, and that's definitely a flavor you'll want to avoid. It's easy to make your own by blending egg yolks and oil until you have a smooth emulsion.