Baking cakes is definitely an art and requires a lot of practice to get the perfect cake in one go. There are a lot of steps involved in cake making and you need to get each step right to bake the best cake. Here are some cake making tips which are from the most experienced bakers. These tips are the result of trial and error and they are definitely going to help you make the perfect and the fluffiest cake. Let’s have a look at them one by one:
1. Follow the Recipe
This may sound very easy but when it comes to step by step baking we tend to skip a step or two. We even have the tendency to substitute one thing for the other. “Follow the recipe” is the most ignored baking tip ever despite being one of the most important cake making tips. We exclude the eggs, reduce sugar, use liquid sweetener instead of the dry ones, substitute cake flour with all purpose flour, baking soda instead of baking powder, egg whites instead of whole eggs, and so on. Baking cakes requires a lot of time, effort and also money to some extent. Don’t sabotage your chance at a perfect cake for few things. Sometimes in a rush of not paying much attention or substituting the ingredients, our final outcome turns out to be a disaster. It’s better to follow the recipe step by step to bake a perfect cake. Make sure you use the right size of pan, unless otherwise noted.
Image Source- The Spruce Eats
2. Room Temperature
Room temperature plays a major role in baking. Most of the cake recipes start with creaming butter and sugar together. In the creaming process butter traps air because it has the capability of holding air. The air trapped in the butter expands while baking and makes the cake fluffy and spongy. The ingredients at room temperature bond together easily and quickly. Butter at room temperature is about 18 degree Celsius. If you get a dense cake every time, then you might be softening the butter too much. Before you begin baking, allow your butter to sit on the counter for an hour or two. To test the butter, poke it with your finger. It should make an indent without letting your finger slip into it totally.
3. Measure properly
This tip also sounds lame and probably the easiest, but I can guarantee you that it’s not. The difference between a successful recipe and a failure recipe is measurement. Measuring all the ingredients properly is the key to getting a perfect spongy and yummy cake. Flour is the most mis-measured ingredient of baking. The right way to measure flour is to use the “spoon and level” method. Scoop the flour with the measuring cup then take a knife and level off the top of the measuring cup. This way you will have the exact measurement of the flour required for baking. Do not pack the measuring cup or tap it after putting flour in it.
Image Source- Jessica Gavin
4. Cake Flour or Refined Flour
Refined flour which is also known as cake flour is a refined version of all purpose flour which is perfect for baking cakes. The soft and tender texture of this flour blends perfectly with other ingredients. However, there are certain cakes for which cake flour is not good like, spice cake, carrot cake, banana cake and more. These cakes contain additional wet ingredients; therefore cake flour is not ideal for such cakes.
5. Don’t Open the Oven
Try not to open the oven many times while baking. This way cool air gets inside and the cake doesn’t rise and become fluffy. Set your oven at a required temperature and set the timer accordingly and get away from the oven until the cake is baked. The result will be delicious and you’ll finally have a perfect cake. If you are using a convection oven, then reduce the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Image Source- Cake Court
6. Bounce-Back Test
This test helps us to know if the cake is cooked properly or not. Press your finger on the cake gently and then remove it. If it bounces back to its normal position then it is done perfectly, else you need to bake it more. There is another way to test too. Stick a toothpick in the cake and pull it out. If it comes out clean then the cake is done.
7. Allow the Cake to Cool in the Pan
This may sound like the easiest tip but we are all in a hurry once the cake is baked. Decorating the cake before it has cooled down can lead to a disaster and also the frosting will melt on a hot cake. Leave the pan and let the cake cool inside it before taking it out or decorating.
8. Storing the Cake
Cake tastes best at room temperature. You can cool the cake completely and store it in an air-tight container at room temperature. If the quantity is more, then you can also store it in a refrigerator.
Image Source- Sugar Geek Show
If you are a beginner then you can easily try this recipe to bake cakes at home. Just follow these simple tips and your cake will turn out to be perfect and fluffy. Baking cakes is a fun activity and can refresh your mood at any time. If you are someone who loves baking and want to make a career in it, then here is good news for you. Hunar Online courses brings you a new baking course where you can turn your baking dreams into reality and have your own bakery. At Hunar Online, you will get access to detailed video lessons and can learn from anywhere. You will get 24/7 faculty support and a chance to learn from the experts of the industry.
So, what are you waiting for? Join Hunar Online Courses and start paving a new path to your career.
