Common Cake Mistakes To Avoid

Common Cake Mistakes To Avoid

Baking a cake is a pretty simple task. But, a lot can go wrong if you aren’t careful. If your cake isn’t turning out tasty or smooth, there are chances that you are doing something wrong. Usually, you won’t notice these mistakes until the cake comes out of the oven.
Wondering how to ensure your cake turns out just fine? Keep in mind these common mistakes when baking cakes and become a pro baker.

What are the common cake mistakes you must avoid?
You might have the right ingredients, follow the recipe step-by-step, and still, your cake can turn hard, crooked, or broken from the top. Here are some common things to avoid while you are baking a cake:

1. Baking in a naked pan:
A majority of people tend to avoid greasing the pan, especially if it is non-stick. But, skipping this step can lead to a blunder. Your cake can stick to the corners of the pan and not come out properly. To avoid it, always grease the pan with butter before you pour in the cake batter. You can rest assured your cake will come out of the pan smoothly.

2. Over or under beating the batter:
For your cake to be perfect, the batter must be of accurate consistency. The way you whisk the batter can decide the consistency. If you over whisk the cake batter, it can toughen the cake, whereas under mixing it will make the cake crumble. As a rule of thumb, only whisk the batter until all the ingredients are mixed well.

3. Slicing a warm cake:
When the cake is baking, the delicious aroma makes it impossible to resist. While you might want to dig in and slice the cake as soon as it is fresh out of the oven, it can hamper the texture. Wait until the cake cools down and set, and only then cut the cake. It will ensure the cake has good texture as well as volume.

4. Using cold ingredients:
While some of the cake ingredients are at room temperature, others like milk, butter, or eggs may come straight from the fridge. If you directly use cold ingredients, the cake might not have the desired consistency. To avoid that, you can ensure the ingredients are back to room temperature before you use them for baking. Butter at room temperature will fluff up more, while the eggs will add volume to your cake.

5. Not weighing flour:
Some recipes list flour requirements in weight, while others usually list flour in cups. Measuring flour in cups can be a tricky way as no cup is the same, and when you scoop through a cup, you usually get 30% more flour in it. For every cup that a recipe lists, you can take 130 grams of flour to make sure you don’t use more flour.

6. Opening the oven too often:
Another common mistake that people make is opening the oven too often to check up on the cake. Ovens are sensitive, and each time you open it, you let heat escape from it, leading to uneven baking. Try to avoid opening the oven door time and again.

Final thoughts
If you are demotivated by your cake turning out bad every time, it is time to master this art. Keep in mind these common mistakes that you might be making during your baking journey. It will help you bake delicious, soft, and decadent cakes for your clients each time.