5 steps to baking the perfect cake
Cakes have a special place for all of us. Cakes are a special treat for any celebration. Many home bakers are disappointed by bland, dry homemade cakes which don’t match their bakery counterparts. We’ve compiled our best tips as experienced bakers to help you create a tasty cake with a tender crumb, sweet flavour and the right texture.
Preheat your Oven
Preheating the oven can be a crucial step that is often forgotten when baking. Failure to properly preheat the oven can cause major problems, such as uneven rising, dried edges, or uncooked centres. You’ll need to calibrate your oven thermometer for best results, as some ovens are slightly warm or cold. Allow your oven to fully preheat—most need between 15 and 30 minutes to reach their set temperature.
Double-check the oven’s temperature to ensure it is set at the correct temperature. Even a difference of 25 degrees can mean adjusting the cooking time. With proper oven preheating, you can be confident that your cake will bake evenly from the edge to the centre.
Choose the Perfect Tin
The final shape, structure and texture of your celebration cake will be affected by the cake tin that you select. The wrong type of tin can cause uneven cooking, burned edges, and crumbling of layers. If you are choosing cake tins for baking, choose smooth metal ones without scratches. This will make it easier to remove the cake once it is done.
Round, square, and rectangular cake pans are all excellent for shaping. Round tins provide the best heat distribution for baking layer cakes, and square or rectangular tins work well for sheet cakes. It is important to prepare the pans properly by rubbing them with oil or butter and then dusting them with cocoa or flour. For a foolproof release, you can line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
Use the recipe to determine the temperature of the ingredients.
In many cake recipes, ingredients such as eggs, milk, and butter are specified to be either at room temperature or chilled. Adhering to these instructions is crucial for the best results. Ingredients at room temperature promote even mixing, structure development, and better consistency.
Some recipes call for the use of chilled ingredients. This is especially true when they contain perishable dairy products, such as cream cheese and buttercreams. Cold ingredients prevent icings from melting too quickly and becoming runny. Plan ahead and always check your recipe. If the eggs need to be warmed up, take them out up to one hour before baking. In the same way, chill any ingredients required by the recipe for at least two hours before you begin.
Mix thoroughly
The way you mix the cake batter will determine the final texture. Start by mixing all the dry ingredients, such as flour, baking powder, and salt, in a single bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients, such as eggs, oil, and milk. Pour the wet ingredients slowly into the dry ones and gently fold them together with a wooden spoon or spatula.
The batter should not be over-mixed, as it can cause the gluten to develop too much, resulting in a dense cake. Gently mixing the batter will create a light, fluffy crumb. Final step: Gently fold in any add-ins, such as chocolate chips or walnuts, at the end. Be careful not to deflate your batter.
Let your cakes cool completely.
While your cake is still hot from the oven, it can be tempting to ice it. This is a huge baking mistake which can ruin the texture of your icing and its decoration. It is important to cool cakes properly before decorating them.
Warm cakes can cause fondant, icing, or frosting to slide, melt, and drip down the sides instead of staying in place. Freshly baked cakes can also cause icing flavours to not fully develop and create condensation underneath the icing, which will affect the decoration. Patience allows the cake to fully set its structure and form, resulting in a stable base suitable for icing.
It is rewarding to bake the perfect cake, but it also requires precision and care when following recipe instructions. Mastering basic cake techniques takes effort, but the results are worth it.
Save yourself time and hassle next time you want a stunning cake for an important occasion by letting the professionals at Cakes By Robin do it. We have years of experience creating bespoke cakes that are as delicious as they are beautiful. Contact us today to order a custom cake.