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Common mistakes in baking – my views, please add!

Baking is a rewarding experience, but can be a challenge for the newbie. But what joy when it all goes right! Here are some of the mistakes for bad cakes.

It’s all very well for those who just seem to ‘know’ what to add, but for some of us, measuring things is essential. Adding to much baking soda for example will produce a coarse cake. Likewise, too little liquid will do the same thing. To little liquid will also result in a dry cake. You will get used to how much, but it takes a little practice as too much liquid may make your cake sink in the middle. Dryness can also occur because of leaving the cake in the oven for longer than necessary or if the oven is to hot.

If you don’t mix your cake properly, those lumps, when cooked won’t look or feel pleasant in the mouth. The surface of your creation may look odd as well.

Getting the oven temperature right is also essential. Putting your cake into a cold oven can prove disastrous! Taking the cake out too early can result in it sinking in the middle, so don’t even open the oven until about 2/3rds through the cooking time as the cold rush of air will really upset it.

Make sure you grease the pan properly. If you don’t you may not be able to see when it’s cooked, as a common way to do this is by checking if it has shrunk away from the sides of the pan. Don’t take the cake out of the tin too quickly. Some cakes need to stay in the tin much longer than say a sponge will.

Try not to bake when there is a chance of a lot of doors banging, as excessive vibrations during the first half of baking can cause the cake to sink as well. This is particularly so with light cakes.

The above does not guarantee everything will be perfect, but may answer a few questions and give a few pointers. Like everything else, it takes practice to create those masterpieces so don’t give up!