Everyone loves cakes and just saying the word is enough to make mouths water. One can make this scrumptious delicacy in such a way that it makes everyone fall in love with it. Cake is a piece of flour/dough enriched with delights like egg, butter, dry fruits, baking soda & sugar which is then baked to perfection in order to get a delicious & yummy dessert. There are a variety of flavours available while baking and you can choose the one you like.
Image Source- Wide Open Eats
What are the different types of cakes?
Apart from eating, baking cakes is considered therapy. There are different types of cakes and you can choose the one you like & start baking. Cake Making is a simple and fun-filled activity but the accurate measurement of ingredients can make it a bit complex. Broadly, you can divide a cake into three categories, namely: – Classic cake, Eggless cake and Special Diet Cake. Let’s have a look at them one by one:
1.Classic Cake
Classic cake uses almost the same ingredients in each of its varieties. There are different options available in classic cakes. Let’s have a look at a few them one by one:
a.Carrot Cake
Carrot cake is one of the most loved classic cakes and is easy to make. The cake making process of it is very simple and the outcome is very delicious. Needless to say, the batter consists of shredded carrots and you can do the icing for it with a white cream cheese frosting among other choices of frostings.
b.Black Forest Cake
It is one of the best contributions by Germany in the baking world. If you have tasted this cake, then you would know the heavenly taste of it. A black forest cake consists of several levels with cherry and kirsch filling and each layer has a thin coat of whipped cream on it. Everyone loves it & it is very popular for birthdays, anniversaries and other parties. It is topped with chocolate shavings as an added bonus.
Image Source- Steffi’s Recipes
c.Sponge Cake
This is a foam-style cake which has no artificial leavener in it. It gets its volume from the whipped eggs. It can either be a whole egg or just the egg whites. To make the different flavours, you can bake with flavoured syrup or add concentrates to the batter and layer with whipped cream.
Image Source- Yummly
d.Chiffon Cake
Chiffon cake is a mix of sponge and oil cake. The addition of oil while baking a chiffon cake gives it the same richness of sponge cake. You can bake different flavours of it.
e.Devil’s Food Cake
This cake is called so because of the amount of chocolate used in it in the form of cocoa powder. One can use either chocolate frosting or whipped cream for icing. You can make it airy and light by adding some extra baking powder.
2.Eggless Cakes
Eggless cakes are perfect for all those vegetarians who love cakes but can’t eat it because of eggs. You can make this cake light and airy by adding baking powder or baking soda to do the tasks of eggs. There are different types of eggless cakes. Let’s have a look at a few of them one by one:
a.White Chocolate Cake
You can make this delicious cake using white chocolate as the main ingredient. You can use baking soda or soda water to get the fluffiness and you can also use buttercream or ganache for frosting.
b.Eggless Orange Cake
One can bake this cake like other eggless cakes, but use an orange flavour while mixing the batter & baking it. Candied oranges are used for garnishing and frosting. One can also add orange pieces in the batter or orange flavoured syrup in it.
c.Lemon Semolina Cake
It is a simple and healthy eggless cake which uses semolina in its batter. Lemon syrup is also added in the batter and candied lemon pieces are also added for decorating purpose.
d.Eggless Mango Cake
Eggless Mango Cake is the easiest and the tastiest cake to bake. Mango pulp or mango puree is used in the batter. This egg-free recipe also includes condensed milk and butter which makes it airy and light while baking.
Image Source- 2 Bliss of Baking
e.Eggless Chocolate Cake
Eggless chocolate cake is made exactly like a classic chocolate cake but without the use of eggs. Baking powder or baking soda is used to make it soft and spongy & add the missing element in it.
3.Special Diet Cakes
Special diet cakes are perfect for all those health conscious people who have a sweet tooth. Baking a special diet cake is not very complex and there are a variety of special diet cakes which you can bake and satisfy your sweet tooth while maintaining a healthy diet. Let’s have a look at the different types of special diet cakes one by one:
a.Flourless Chocolate Cake
While baking this cake, refined flour is not used as it is not very healthy and people following a diet usually avoid it. Instead gluten-free flour and dark chocolate is used to make this delicious delight.
b.Ultimate Banana Cake
One of the healthiest and most delicious special diet cakes is the banana cake. It is made from gluten-free flour and caramelised bananas. For sweetening it, jaggery sauce is used as it is a healthier alternative to sugar.
Image Source- Baker by Nature
c.Diabetes Special Cake
This is specially made for people living with diabetes but have a craving for cakes. Special diabetes cake is made from natural sweeteners which is good for diabetes patients and is generally low in sugar.
d.Vegan Vanilla Cake
Every ingredient used in this cake is natural and plant based. The gluten free flour is used to make it even healthier. Natural sweeteners are used to make it sweet and tasty.
e.Chocolate Cake with Rice Flour
This variation of the special diet cakes is very healthy and tasty as it is made from rice flour. Just like the other special diet cakes, natural sweeteners are used and people following a diet can also indulge in its deliciousness.
These are some of the variety of cakes and the list is never ending. You can bake any type of cake you want from your home. Sometimes we tend to mess up while baking. This mostly happens because we tend to neglect the importance of measurement. There are many factors responsible for not-so-yummy cakes. Baking a perfect cake is an art and it requires a lot of patience and practice to reach the level of perfection. There are various steps involved while baking and you need to get each step right while in the cake making process.
What are the Best Cake Making Tips?
As the cake making process is a bit complex, here are some tips by the experienced bakers that will help a beginner get a perfect cake every time. These tips are based on trial and error & therefore are going to give the best results to help make it soft and fluffy. Let’s have a look at these tips one by one:
1.Follow the Recipe Step By Step
It may sound very simple but it is the most important yet the most neglected tip for baking. While baking, we tend to skip a step or two and follow our own measurements. Then we wonder ‘what went wrong?’ Most of the time we substitute the ingredients with what we have and use them while baking.
We tend to reduce the number of eggs, use liquid sweeteners instead of the dry ones, reduce the amount of sugar, use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour, baking soda instead of baking powder, egg whites in place of the whole egg or vice versa and the list goes on. Make sure you don’t sabotage your recipe by doing such things until the recipe suggests some alternatives. Doing this will only waste your time, effort and money.
Sometimes, we are in a rush to bake & we end up 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 while baking, unless otherwise noted.
Image Source- Joy of Baking
2.Make Note of the Room Temperature
Room temperature plays a major role in baking. It may be a puzzle for you but there is science and a legitimate reason behind it. Almost all the recipes start with creaming butter and sugar together. In the creaming process, the butter traps air because it has the capability of holding air. The air trapped in the butter expands while baking and makes it 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.Take Proper Measurements
This is the key to getting a perfect cake everytime. Although it may seem easy, we tend to take things lightly when measuring the ingredients. 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 failed recipe is the measurement. Measuring all the ingredients properly is the key to getting a perfect spongy and moist cake.
Flour is the most mis-measured ingredient while 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.
4.Cake Flour
Cake flour forms the major part of the cake and it is considered the base. It is basically the refined 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 Over-mix or Under-mix
Mix your cake batter just perfectly and make sure that you don’t over-mix or under-mix it. It doesn’t matter whether you are using an electric mixer or a hand whisk. Make sure that you are mixing all the ingredients perfectly. Over-mixing the batter gives a tough texture to the baked cake. You wouldn’t want your cake ingredients to be badly mixed. Therefore, it is advised to mix the batter properly.
6.Don’t Open the Oven
Try not to open the oven too many times while the cake is baking. This way, cool air gets inside the oven and the cake doesn’t rise properly or become fluffy. Set your oven at the required temperature, 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.
7.Bounce Back Test
There are certain ways to check whether the cake is done or not. You can check if the cake is properly baked or not by sticking a toothpick in the centre of it. If the toothpick comes out clean then the cake is perfectly done else it needs to be baked for some more time. There is another way to test if the cake is properly baked or not. It is known as the ‘bounce back test’. 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.
8.Allow the Cake to Cool in the Pan
We are often in a rush to remove the cake from the pan as soon as it is done and it is understandable too. Decorating the cake before it is completely cool can wreck the whole recipe. It may lead to melting of the icing. Leave the pan after baking and let the cake cool inside the baking dish before taking it out or decorating.
Baking can be a bit overwhelming for the beginners but following these tips can help them a lot. 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.
Image Source- Serious Eats
What are the Tools Needed for Baking Cakes?
There are certain tools that are needed for baking cakes. Baking requires a lot of patience and effort, therefore, one must use the right tools to get a perfect cake. Everyone must have tried baking at least once in their lifetime but may have felt that the availability of the right tools may have made things much easier. Without the right tools, the cake preparation process becomes very difficult. We have compiled a list of essentials that you can add to your kitchen so that the baking process becomes easy and you can have fun. These tools include:
- A Sifter/Sieve
- Measuring Cups
- Whisk
- Parchment Paper
- Hand Mixer
- Spatula
- Cooling Racks and so on.
These may seem like a huge expense, but I assure you it is definitely worth it. These tools will help you in making delicious, mouth-watering desserts that look exactly like the picture and taste even better. A good baker is well-equipped to deal with any step the recipe calls for.
Here, we are going to take a deep dive into the few of the essential tools that are recommended by most cake baking classes so that you learn better and faster. Feel free to use this list as a reference when you go shopping /order your cake baking essentials. Let’s have a look at the important tools required for baking.
1.Measuring Cups
Measuring cups are very crucial to the baking process. While baking, it is very important to follow the recipe exactly. This includes adding the right amount of ingredients as specified. Most recipes stick to stating the measurements in cups or tablespoons. This is why measuring cups are a one-time investment that will last you a very long time. These usually come in a set with 8 or 10 and have measurements of 1, ¾, ½, ¼ cups, 1, ½ tablespoons & 1, ½ teaspoons. This is because most recipes require ingredients to be added in such standard measurements only, it makes sense to invest in this tool. This is a boon for every baker and makes the preparation process easier.
Image Source- Allrecipes
2.Sieve
A sieve is used to mainly sift the dry ingredients before mixing them with the wet ingredients. This is a very crucial step that most people skip because it may be a little messy. In fact, until very recently, home bakers believed sifting was a myth, created by the sieve industry to boost sales. This myth has been busted by various professional bakers and it has been confirmed that sifting helps make the batter airy and also remove any impurities. The final dish comes out soft and fluffy when the dry ingredients like flour, sugar, baking soda etc. are sifted before being mixed. Did you believe sifting was a myth or is it your secret weapon to making light and airy cakes?
3.Parchment Paper
Any experienced baker knows that the best way to avoid the dish from sticking to the pan is using parchment paper. This is more effective than simply greasing the pan. You can find rolls of brown parchment paper or simply invest in a silicon baking sheet and reuse that everytime you bake. Earlier, parchment paper was a luxury commodity so home bakers couldn’t invest in a lot of it. With the evolution of social media and the origin of home baking, vendors were forced to bring down the prices to boost sales. This sheet can be used while baking cakes, cookies, breads and so much more. What would you rather use, parchment paper or a silicon baking sheet?
4.Hand Mixer and Spatulas
It is always recommended to mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately before combining them. Hand mixers are the perfect tool to mix the wet ingredients perfectly. Ingredients like eggs, milk, butter etc. can easily be mixed together with a hand-held mixer or even an automatic mixer. The hand-held mixer allows you to control the movements and mix evenly. The dry ingredients can be mixed using a whisk. Once they are thoroughly mixed, it is time to combine the dry and wet ingredients with the help of a spatula.
You need to be very gentle while folding them together so that the final product is fluffy and airy. If you mix it too much, then there may be some heat produced that may coagulate the batter. If you mix it too little, the mixture will have lumps and will not bake evenly. So keep in mind that you fold the ingredients in gently until no more lumps can be seen.
5.Steel Whisker
You can beat one egg using a fork but if you have to whisk several eggs you will need a whisker to get the job done properly. It comes in handy for mixing several ingredients. You can mix all the wet ingredients of a cake thoroughly and nicely with it. This tool is designed to whip air into the liquid ingredients because of which the cake becomes soft and fluffy.
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6.Wire Rack
This is a very handy tool for baking because no one wants soggy cake and cookies. A wire rack allows the air to circulate evenly on the cake so that it can cool properly at room temperature. This enhances the taste and retains the freshness of the cake.
These are just a few tools that help a beginner efficiently while baking. However, there are times when the cake gets stuck on the pan. There are several reasons for it.
How to Avoid the Cake from Sticking to the Pan While Cake Making?
Cakes are the first thing that comes to our mind for every little celebration. There are times when we want to celebrate the little victories and bake delicious cakes at home. Sometimes, things go wrong and we have to deal with the cake getting stuck to the pan. There are several reasons for it and removing the stuck cake from the pan can be a task. This blunder can be avoided if we take the proper measures for it. There are various tricks and tips through which you can easily avoid the cake from sticking to the pan. Here are some ways to avoid the cake from sticking to the pan:
1.Make Use of Parchment Papers
Parchment papers are the best thing to use to keep your cakes from sticking to the pans. These papers do an excellent job of keeping the cake from sticking to the pan and they are also very inexpensive. Using parchment paper is no rocket science, all you need is to trace the lining of the baking pan on the parchment sheet and cut out the perfect shape. Like most people you can also use a permanent marker to trace the shape of the baking pan or you can simply use a pencil and cut out the shape using a pair of kitchen scissors. After you are done, place the papers on the base of the baking pans and you are ready to go. This way you’ll definitely get better results and your cake also won’t stick to the pan.
Image Source- Reynolds Kitchen
2.Grease Your Cake Pan
Greasing the cake pan with the help of a brush can help you avoid the cake from sticking to the pan. Greasing your cake pan is the next important recommendation when it comes to avoiding the cake from sticking to the pan. When getting ready to go through this process, you have few options.
You can use normal butter to grease your pan as it is the standard practice or you can also use vegetable shortening to get this done. Most of the bakers prefer to use vegetable shortening rather than using butter as it gives a better output. The reason behind this being that water can cause the cake to stick to the lining of the pan and butter contains more water as compared to vegetable shortening. Also, vegetable shortening doesn’t add any extra flavour or taste to the cake. If you are thinking that using butter could enhance the taste of the cake then you are mistaken yet again. A thin layer of butter on the base of a baking pan would have no effect on the taste of the cake.
Once you’ve decided what to use, smear some amount of butter or vegetable shortening on the base and the lining of the pan. You can use a brush to spread it evenly.
3.Sprinkle Some Flour
To remove your cake from the pan instantly & without any extra effort, sprinkle some cake flour in the greased pan. A small amount of flour can be sprinkled directly over the butter or vegetable shortening. If you want to ensure that your cake doesn’t stick to the sides of the baking pan, then don’t skip this process. You’ll be glad to see the results and this can save you from all the extra effort. You’ll be amazed how easily the cake comes out after you leave it for a while and let it cool on a wire rack.
4.Use a Non-stick Pan
Using non-stick pans while baking makes the whole process of avoiding the cake from sticking to the pan very easy and it is also loved by many people. These pans are specially designed to avoid the cake from getting stuck to the pan while baking. They have a special non-stick coating that is there so that it can prevent the cake from sticking to it. If you have the choice of a non-stick pan,then you should definitely go with it. These pans are easily available all over the market and are perfect for hassle-free baking.
Now that you have a clear idea about how to keep your cake from sticking to the pan while baking, all you need is to follow the recipe and use the right measurement to bake a perfect cake. The next time you bake a cake, things will be easier and more fun.
Sometimes, the craving for cakes hits us very hard but we don’t have all the ingredients at home. You can substitute some ingredients for others.
What are the Different Substitutes used for Cake Making?
We Indians are the best at substituting one thing for the other. We can manage any shortage and come up with brilliant ideas in no time. Same goes for cooking too. If you run out of any ingredient while baking a cake, don’t worry! You have just the perfect substitute for it in the kitchen.
Often the substitutes need to be mixed with other ingredients or the quantities need to be altered but the substitution is possible. Some of the commonly substituted ingredients are as follows:
- Baking Soda for Baking Powder
- Brown Sugar for Maple Syrup or Granulated Sugar
- Powdered Sugar for Granulated Sugar
- Honey for Maple Syrup or Corn Syrup
- Butter for Margarine or Greek Yogurt
- Cake Flour for All-purpose Flour and Cornstarch
Let’s have a look at some of the ingredients which we can easily substitute while baking a cake.
1.Baking Soda
At Least once In our lifetime, we all must have mixed up baking soda and baking powder. The common mistake that most beginner bakers make is that they think both baking soda and baking powder are the same thing. The major difference between them is their concentration. Some recipes call for baking soda while you may have only baking powder at hand, or vice-versa. All you have to do is tweak the quantities a little and you can easily substitute baking soda with baking powder. For ½ teaspoon baking soda you can use 2 teaspoon baking powder.
2.Sugar
No cake recipe is complete without sugar. However if you are running out of sugar or you are avoiding sugar because of health issues you can substitute it for other healthier things like jaggery or date syrup. You can get the same taste of sweetness in your cake and it is also a healthier option.
3.Honey
If your cake recipe calls for the use of honey, then you can substitute it with maple syrup or corn syrup if you have run out of honey at home. These are a healthier substitute and won’t make you feel that there is something else replacing honey.
Image Source- Fab Magazine
Baking is an art and there are various ways to achieve perfection in this field. If you are a beginner and want to bake cakes at home for you and your family, then you can easily learn baking with Hunar Online. The curriculum of this course is very simple and can be understood by all. Baking cakes is a fun activity and can refresh your mood at any time.
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