Perfect cakes are a work of art. Baking is a science, and there are many things that go into creating the perfect cake. Each step in baking a cake requires precision, as well as some thought.
You will be able to bake a delicious cake if you carefully follow the steps. Rosalind Miller wants to help you get those amazing results, so we have seven professional tips for cake baking that will make a big difference in your baking experience.
These baking tips will help you avoid common mistakes that prevent you from creating the perfect light and fluffy sponge that tastes great and looks stunning.
If you are serious about becoming a master baker, our Online Master class, which is taught by an expert team of award-winning experts, may be just what you need.
1- FOLLOW THE RECIPE
Although it may seem obvious, following a cake recipe can be one of the most crucial cake-baking tips. This is the most overlooked baking tip. Most bakers will substitute accuracy for convenience and use ingredients that are readily available.
This step is equally important as choosing the right cake baking temperature and time to bake your cake. You don’t want to end up with a cake that’s too hot or too cold. Baking mistakes such as using bread flour instead of cake flour or using granulated sugar instead of icing sugar can make your cake look worse or even cause a disaster.
Do not let your hurry or convenience get in the way when it comes to using the right ingredients and following a recipe. When recipes aren’t followed correctly, most cakes fail. It is a good idea not to change a recipe after you have tried it.
2 – USE ONLY THE BEST INGREDIENTS
When making the perfect cake, it is important to take into consideration what ingredients you are using. The quality and taste of your cake can be greatly affected by the ingredients you use.
When possible, it is a good idea to use organic ingredients and natural flavorings. Vanilla extract and vanilla seeds directly from the pods will always taste better than artificial vanilla essence. A special ingredient can also make a difference. For example, sponge flour or vanilla extract, which is specially grown with lower gluten and baked as a soft, lighter sponge.
3 – USE ROOM TIME INGREDIENTS
You should always use room temperature ingredients for baking. This will make it easier to prepare your cake and help you get the best results. These ingredients include eggs, butter, milk, and other dairy products.
Let’s concentrate on room temperature butter for the moment. To get the mixing process going, most cake recipes begin with creaming butter and sugar together. The creaming process incorporates air, which expands during baking to create fluffy cakes.
Unless otherwise stated, beat the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. Make sure the butter is not melted but soft. This can be checked by piercing the butter with your finger. You should see a line in the butter with your finger.
Because they are warmer, room temperature ingredients bond faster and are easier to mix together. Simply put, colder ingredients are more difficult to emulsify together to achieve the desired baking consistency.
4- MEASURE ACCURATELY
This is a simple tip that everyone should know, but this can also be the most common area for cake baking errors. One tablespoon of sugar can make or break a recipe.
It is crucial to measure ingredients accurately. To ensure accurate measurements, we recommend investing in a digital kitchen scale. An important tip for cake baking that many people forget to use is to measure eggs without the shells in order to determine the exact weight.
5 – MIX ALL INGREDIENTS PROPERLY AND DON’T OVER OR UNDER MIX
Don’t over-mix or under-mix your ingredients. A tough texture cake can result from over-mixing the batter. You’re essentially reducing the volume of the batter and over-developing gluten in the flour.
When adding flour to the bowl, sift it first. This helps eliminate lumps and allows you to incorporate more air.
Do not over-mix. All ingredients must be thoroughly combined before baking in the oven. Fold in the milk and flour gently. This can be done with a large metal spoon.
6 – GREASE AND LINE BAKING TINS
While a good quality cake pan is essential for the cake-baking process, it is equally important to prepare it properly. Line your tins using a grease proof or baking paper.
You can wrap the brown paper around the outside of a cake that is over 25 cm in height. This prevents the edges from getting burned before the center of the cake is baked.
7 – STORING CAKES
Sometimes cakes must be prepared ahead of time so they can be enjoyed after they are baked. To preserve freshness and flavor, it is important to properly store and wrap cakes. It is possible to bake the sponge ahead of time, wrap it in clingfilm and then freeze it. Once you are ready to ice the sponge, let it cool down until it is back at room temperature before frosting.