Questions tagged [cake]

Questions about preparing or baking cakes, defined as chemically or mechanically (using eggs) leavened flour batter.

Cakes are made from batter and contain either chemical or mechanical leavening to cause them to rise and be light and airy. (A very few cakes, such as coffee cakes, are yeast raised.)

Cakes are typically baked in an oven and most often are sweet.

Note that while items like muffins and banana breads are similar to cakes, the tag is more appropriate.

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Correct way to join two halves of sponge cake?

When you join two halves of sponge cake (as in this photo) which way round are you supposed to do it? The instructions I've used seem to assume what comes out of your two cake tins are two fairly even, level cakes. In my case I always get quite…
Tea Drinker
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Making a carvable cake

My son and I want to make a cake shaped like a frog. Our plan is to bake two layers, cut them out into shapes, stack one on top of the other, and then finish carving the cake into the shape of a frog. In the past, I've found it very difficult to…
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Holes in baked cake

I baked a chocolate and pear cake whose batter is made with yolks, sugar, butter, melted chocolate and amaretti, flour and baking powder and whisked whites. It was (not very evenly) divided in two layers, sandwiching a layer of pear pieces…
David P
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What kind of Creme or Mousse is the most robust? How can I strengthen a mousse?

I want to make a multi layer cake where one of the top layers consists of some kind of mousse. I haven't decided on what kind of mousse/creme yet because I have to transport the cake once it's done and I am afraid that the mousse will collapse. What…
Sven
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Historical recipe for cake before refined sugar

What ingredients were used in cake before the invention of any factory produced or processed foods such as refined sugars? Does anyone know where I could find historical recipes for such things?
Clarkie Cat
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How will less flour affect molten lava cakes?

I made some molten cakes the other day, using this recipe from Betty Crocker. However, it is very "cakey." The molten cakes I've had before in restaurants have had more of a "truffle" consistency. Much denser, and smoother in consistency (I'm unsure…
ehmhunt
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What is the difference between cheesecake and NY cheesecake?

I believe it's density but I'm not sure. What make cheesecake a NY style? Is there different ingredients. Some people call their recipe NY Cheesecake and they are not.
Jakatak
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Lemon cake has no flavor

I have tried and tried numerous recipes for lemon pound cake. None of them taste very lemony. I tried adding extra lemons n lemon extract but no real difference. The only thing to make it taste like lemon is the glaze. What am I doing wrong?
Marie
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How to trim a cake so it's level?

If you cake is too domed, you can just cut the top off, right? Thing is, I tried this, and now my cake is taller on one side than the other. So it's still not flat! ;-) Does anybody have any good tips for keeping the cut level? (I already know you…
MathematicalOrchid
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How do beets bake up in flour?

I am thinking about incorporating some raw shredded beets in a vegan chocolate sheet cake. Since it is vegan, I will be substituting with Ener-G, chia, or flax egg substitutes and earth balance margarine, and can add more if a solution so dictates.…
mfg
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What is the best technique to put icing on plastic?

I'm going to attempt to do is bake a cake for my daughter's first birthday. The cake is going to be based on this recipe, but I want it to look more like this one. Now if you look at the 2nd link, it seems as though the icing has been put directly…
Tim B James
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What purpose does coffee serve in a chocolate cake recipe?

I have a recipe for a chocolate buttermilk cake. It's not constructed like most cakes, but it's always turned out OK. I've always wondered what does the coffee in the recipe do? Is the coffee just there as an additional flavor? (The cake never…
KatieK
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Can you overmix a gluten-free cake?

If you're making a regular cake, you add all the first ingredients (eggs, butter, sugar, ...) and mix everything well. When you add the last ingredient, the flour, you mix until it's just incorporated, since over-mixing can make the gluten form and…
Mien
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How does the baking time change if I scale up a cake recipe?

I have recipes for chocolate cake, Maderia cake, lemon drizzle and champagne cake. I want to increase the ingredients to make a bigger cake. Do I still use the same baking time and temperature?
Carol Eskine
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How much difference does the placement of the shelf in the oven make to the final outcome of a cake?

Unknowingly, I used to keep the cake on the center shelf in the oven, then I realized that the shelf can also be placed at the bottom of the oven. Does this make a huge difference in the final outcome? If I put the shelf on the bottom, and then…
Aquarius_Girl
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