Cake Baking Problems That All of Us Face, and Some Easy Solutions

Baking a perfect cake is still a distant dream for many. If you are person who faces cake baking problems, go through this article for some solutions.

Cake baking is a tricky task that requires some expertise and experience. Even a beginner can come up with a perfectly-baked cake, if he uses the right materials in correct proportions, the right utensils; and follows the instructions strictly. Even an experienced baker may sometimes commit mistakes that may result in disasters. The cake may have a cracked top or a hard crust. Sometimes, it may stick to the sides or spill over the tin. It may sink in the middle or comes out with a gooey center. Some people repeat the same mistakes and decide that baking a cake is not their cup of tea.

Cake Baking Problems and Solutions

Cake baking is one of the unpleasant culinary experiences for many. Baking a cake involves numerous intricate details. You must have a basic knowledge about the possible baking problems and their solutions, so as to avoid mistakes. Here are some guidelines regarding the common problems that you may face, while baking cakes.

• A coarse texture could be due to excess use of baking soda or lack of sufficient amount of liquid in the cake batter. In some cases, a low oven temperature may also cause this problem. This may happen, if the butter and sugar are not beaten properly.
• If the cake sticks to the sides of the pan, insufficient greasing could be the main problem. This may also happen if you try to remove the cake from the pan soon after baking. If the cake is left in the pan for a long time, it may stick to the sides. This can be rectified with proper greasing and light dusting. Cooling the pan on a rack is advisable. If the cake is left in the pan for long, heat the pan slightly over the flame of a stove top.
• Sometimes, homemade cakes can be too dry. Dryness of cakes is one of the cake baking problems that can be caused by excess amounts of flour or baking powder. Insufficient amounts of shortening (like butter) or sugar may also cause this problem. Even high oven temperatures and longer baking times can contribute to dryness.
• You may also come up with a cake that is too dense. This could be due to insufficient amount of baking powder or excess use of eggs. Even over mixing of the batter can result in a dense cake. Sometimes, use of baking soda that has been stored for a long time, can also result in dense cakes.
• In some cases, the cake may sink in the middle. This could be due to use of small pans, excess amount of liquid in the batter, opening the oven door or moving the pan during baking, too low oven temperature, too short baking time, use of old baking powder, etc. The cake may appear wet in some areas, if the oven temperature is not constant, or is low.
• If the cake is lumpy, there is some problem with the mixing procedure. This is usually seen in cakes made of overmixed batter. A properly mixed cake batter will be free of lumps and creamy in texture. Another cake baking problem caused by over mixing of batter is formation of air bubbles and tunnels in the cake.

This is only a brief overview about some of the common cake baking problems that can spoil your efforts. A little bit of care, and a basic knowledge about the right cake making methods can be of much help. It is also very important to follow the recipe strictly.

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