Mace Cake Recipe

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 13- by 9-inch baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

Beat eggs with 2 cups sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer at high speed until tripled in volume and thick enough to form a ribbon that takes 2 seconds to dissolve into batter when beater is lifted, 7 to 8 minutes in a stand mixer or 14 to 16 with a handheld.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon mace.

Bring milk and butter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then remove from heat.

Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in hot milk mixture until combined (batter will be thin).

Stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon mace in a small bowl.

Pour batter into baking pan and sprinkle evenly with mace sugar. (Sugar will form a crust as cake bakes.) Bake until pale golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool cake in pan on a rack until warm, at least 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature, with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Cooks' note: Cake keeps in an airtight container at room temperature 3 days.