Making a cake is now simpler than ever. You may buy a variety of cake mixes that include every sort and flavor imaginable. It simply takes a couple of eggs, some oil, and some water to make a great cake.
Some individuals still choose to create cakes using family recipes. They need additional ingredients as well as a bit more time. Yet, whether you make a box cake or your sister Julianna’s excellent chocolate cake, you always want to make sure it comes out nice and even.
If one side of the cake is taller than the other, the cake will seem lopsided. And if you ice the cake and write anything over the top, it will simply look sloppy.
So, how do you make a cake that is even over the top? I’m going to share a few baking tips with you, so keep them in mind the next time you make a cake.
Contents
- What can you do to ensure that your cake bakes evenly?
- What to do if your cake rises in the middle?
- What do you do if your regular cake round cake rises into a dome?
- Removing the domed area yourself.
- What can you do to make sure the layers are even?
- How can you cut cakes into several flat layers?
- Weighing your cakes.
- Can you re-bake a cake if it has a dip in it?
- Keeping your cake even when you frost it.
- FAQs
- What to do if cake is taking too long to bake?
- What to do if your cake is not done in the middle?
- Can you stop and restart baking a cake halfway through?
- Can I bake a cake at a lower temperature for longer?
- What is the maximum time to bake a cake?
- What causes cake not to be done in the middle?
- What to do with a failed cake?
- Why do my cakes fall in the middle after baking?
- Can a half baked cake be rebaked?
- What to do with half cooked cake?
What can you do to ensure that your cake bakes evenly?
Cake strips may be used in three ways to ensure that your cake bakes level and evenly.
Seasoned bakers used to take a clean towel and cut it into 2-inch broad strips. Take two strips and immerse them in ice-cold water. Wring out the strips but leave them moist. Wrap them around the cake pan and use safety pins to secure them. As usual, bake.
Paper towel strips may also be used to make your own test strips. Wrap the wet strips in aluminum foil, then wrap the foil-covered strips around the cake pans. As usual, bake.
If you want to purchase your cake strips already prepared, they are available in many craft shops that offer cake decorating items.
What to do if your cake rises in the middle?
If you’re creating a bread cake, like banana bread or pumpkin bread, bake it in a loaf pan and it will rise in the center. They don’t have to be flat or even, and the domed shape resembles a loaf of bread, giving them a rustic appeal.
What do you do if your regular cake round cake rises into a dome?
After your cake comes out of the oven, if it has even a little dome on top, lay a clean dish towel over the top of the cake while it is still hot. Press down carefully; you don’t want to fracture the cake, just allow some of the steam out while keeping the top intact.
Removing the domed area yourself.
If your cakes have both come out of the oven with domes, this is a simple remedy. Measure a uniform height around the cake using a ruler and cut at intervals with a tiny knife. Next, using a big serrated knife, cut all the way around the object.
Remove the dome and place the cake cut side up on a platter. Apply the frosting to this layer, then, after cutting the second cake in the same manner, set it on top of this cake, cut side down and smooth bottom up. This will result in an even top layer.
What can you do to make sure the layers are even?
You may have seen a seasoned baker take their cake pans and drop them onto the counter a few times after filling them with cake batter. This is done to prevent air bubbles from developing and causing the cake to bake unevenly.
How can you cut cakes into several flat layers?
If you’re cooking a torte and need to cut your cake into multiple flat layers, you should use a cake leveler. They cost less than $5, so they are not expensive, but they might make your life much simpler and save you money in the long run.
They are adjustable and may be used on cakes up to ten inches in width. They may level the top of the cake or divide it so that you can ice each layer and construct a very tall cake for a special occasion.
Weighing your cakes.
Another easy tip that expert bakers do is to weigh each cake pan with the cake batter already inside to check how close they are to the same weight.
Can you re-bake a cake if it has a dip in it?
Can you put your cake back in the oven to attempt to lift it up after you’ve checked it with a toothpick to see if it’s fully cooked and it’s taken a dive in the middle?
No, unfortunately. The items used to bake the cake cannot be reactivated and rebuilt after it has been removed from the oven.
Keeping your cake even when you frost it.
After you have your cake level on top and your preferred buttercream frosting on the layers of your cake, add some frosting on the top of your cake and smooth it out using a flat spreader.
Next, without worrying about how it appears, apply icing to the sides, covering the whole cake with no gaps. After you’re done, slide a big spatula or the flat side of a butter knife along the edges to flatten and level the icing. You now have a nice, even cake ready to decorate.
You may make your own decorating bag by putting colored frosting in a zip lock bag and cutting off the very end. Compose your message on wax paper and place it in the refrigerator to harden up. After it has hardened, peel it off the wax paper and set it on top of the top layer.
Half-dipped strawberries in melted chocolate create a simple and dramatic cake decoration. Place them on a platter lined with wax paper.
Refrigerate the strawberries, then when the chocolate hardens, take them from the wax paper and arrange them around the rim of the cake. This is one of the simplest ways to surprise your guests with your flawlessly level cake!
FAQs
What to do if cake is taking too long to bake?
Cooking the cake is taking longer than it should.
First, the location of your oven rack is critical—it should be in the center of the oven unless the recipe specifies otherwise. For even cooking, there should be air circulation around the pan, therefore if you have other pans in the oven, they may slow down the cooking.
What to do if your cake is not done in the middle?
If it is still not cooked in the center, return it to the oven, closely covered with tin foil. While it traps the heat within, the foil will serve to heat the cake and aid in the cooking of the interior. Bake your cake for 10-15 minutes, checking after 7 minutes to ensure it is done.
Can you stop and restart baking a cake halfway through?
However, after a cake has cooled, it cannot be re-baked. The cake would have to be heated all the way through again, and the exterior would become too dry. Also, if the cake has sunk in the center due to underbaking, it will not rise again since the raising ingredients in the recipe have expired.
Can I bake a cake at a lower temperature for longer?
If the sides of your cake are browning too quickly, consider baking it for longer at a lower temperature. You may also use foil to cover the corners or the whole cake to avoid the color from becoming too intense.
What is the maximum time to bake a cake?
Bread is cooked at a temperature of 160-180 degrees Celsius for 25-28 minutes. The sponge cake is cooked for 40 – 45 minutes at 150 – 160 degrees Celsius. Bake the cookies for 15 – 25 minutes at 170 – 190 degrees Celsius. Bake cream puffs for 25 – 30 minutes at 190 – 200 degrees Celsius. A method for appropriately…
What causes cake not to be done in the middle?
What Caused My Cake To Sink In The Center? (And How to Repair It)
Using an incorrectly sized or shaped cake pan.
Baking in an Overheated or Underheated Oven. Using Too Much Baking Powder or Baking Soda. Undermixing the Cake Batter. Over-Aerating the Batter. Underbaking Your Cakes. Turning the Cake Pans at the Incorrect Time.
Apr 29, 2021
What to do with a failed cake?
7 Clever Pivots to Make After You’ve Cracked a Cake
Use your icing as “glue” for the cake.
Make a tres leches cake out of your cake.
Prepare tiny cakes (or petit fours)….
Trifle, just like the British…
Accept defeat and create cake pops or balls.
Prepare bread pudding using a cake foundation.
Prepare cake crumbs or croutons.
Dec 2, 2022
Why do my cakes fall in the middle after baking?
Underbaked cakes are the most prevalent cause of sinking in the centre. What exactly is this? If a cake is not completely cooked, the center does not have a chance to set and sinks. This results in a thick, doughy texture in the core of your cake layer.
Can a half baked cake be rebaked?
Can you rebake an undercooked cake? Yes, if you notice it in time, you can rebake an undercooked cake. But, once the cake has completely cooled, it cannot be rebaked. After cooling, the cake would get dry and would not puff up as it should.
What to do with half cooked cake?
So, how do you repair an undercooked cake? If the cake is undercooked in general, return it to the oven for another 10-15 minutes. If the centre of the cake is still moist, cover with foil and bake for another 15 minutes. If the bottom is wet, turn off the heat or cover with foil and continue to cook for a few minutes.