Basic Cake Baking Tips – 1

I am happy as I will be sharing Basic Cake Baking Tips to all the beginners and people who fear baking. I also was a beginner and till today I am learning so many new things some on my own and some through television, net and experience. Baking Cake is fun as a kid we all loved cakes when we are an adult we yet love sweet cake treats but some just don’t indulge because of calories.

These are my treasured secrets which I am sharing with everyone. As I believe in sharing and learning. As I have learned baking in a hard way. I am gonna write further more to help all of you to bake easily and courageously. Hope my effort helps in developing good bakers 😉

Baking comes naturally to me I just love baking cakes. To see the batter transformed to a soft, spongy cake is so exciting 😉 Once you know the basic cake you could start experimenting with different kind of flavors. Now let’s classify the type of cakes

1. Sponge Cake
2. Cream cake
3. Cheese Cake
4. Gooey Cake
5. Eggless Cake
6. Vegan Cake
7. Pound Cakes
8. Chiffon Cakes
9. Pudding Cakes
10. Charlottes
11. Meringues Cake
12. Icecream Cake

The above list are the types of cake and not flavors so don’t mix them for flavors. It’s important as a beginner to know which type of cake you are making. As all the above cakes have different texture and method to make. Please feel free to add more types of cake if you are aware will be of great help to me 😉

Measurements: It’s quite imperative to take the exact measurements while baking. For instance you need to have the measuring cups, spoon etc to weigh and quantify your ingredients. Baking is an art which you will study once you start baking. The more you create disaster the more you gonna learn. Now you know I didn’t learn just like that ha ha. So proportion is very important when it comes to baking. Once you master the art then you can do blind baking!

Equipment’s : There are various baking equipment’s available in the market. Infact I just get tempted to buy and confused when I see the baking accessories. As beginners stick to basics like round pan, square pan, bundt pan, loaf pan, detachable pan, tart pan, muffin pan, baking tray etc. If you wish to to push further you could purchase a silicon tray Or mould which can be used for baking and freezing both. Remember stick to basics later you could buy rest of stuff.

Baking Accessories : Along baking moulds there are other accessories which play an important role. Some of them are baking paper Or butter paper, spatula, egg beater of good brand Or a hand mixie, baking powder, corn flour, butter/oil,margarine, caster sugar/brown sugar/icing sugar, flour Or self raising flour, microwave with a convection mode Or OTG and also a toothpick etc.

Oven Temperature: It’s imperative to preheat the oven before baking to create a hot atmosphere for baking cake. Also setting the right temperature for your cake is important. if the instructions says to preheat oven please do that for optimum result. Now all oven have different capacity and temperature. For instance if recipe calls for 180°C for 35 mins it might not be the same for your oven. It’s important to learn how your oven functions. My cake might get baked in 30 mins may be yours won’t. So don’t panic there is a toothpick testing.

Now what is toothpick testing? When should you do a toothpick check? Alright I will answer all your questions!

• Once you cake starts leaving the edges of your pan Or starts giving a great fragrance.
• Also once the planned time for your cake is over Or once you tap the top of the cake it bounces back.
• Once your cake is browned Or cracked from top.
• Need more help ask your basic instincts 😉

When your cake starts giving all the above stated signals please insert toothpick in the center of the cake till the bottom. If your toothpick comes out clean your cake is done if it’s not clean bake for sometime more. Conduct a toothpick test again. This has been of great help to me. A toothpick check is not required if you are making a chocolate lava cake, cold cheese cake Or if stated in the recipe.

Some Do’s

1. If using nuts mix some flour and add them in the end. This will help the nuts to float above and not sink to the bottom of the cake.
2. If making eggless cake and recipe calls for vinegar Or lime juice. Please mix them at the end for better results.
3. Use a good quality egg beater which makes your work easy.
4. Always try using good brand for cocoa powder, corn flour, sugar, butter/margarine/oil etc.
5. Preheat the oven for better baking.
6. Most important use a good baking oven of a good brand else all your efforts will go in vain.
7. Follow measurements to the tee.
8. Use eggs at room temperature.
9. It’s important to grease the pan and dust with flour. Alternatively you could grease the pan and place baking paper on it.

Some Dont’s

1. Please don’t tamper with oven door while baking cakes. If you open door you cakes will start cracking. So avoid this unless you wanna cracked cakes.
2. It’s better to grease your pans with butter, ghee (clarified butter) Or margarine instead of oil.
3. It’s important you don’t underbake Or overbake a cake.
4. Always allow the cake to cool down before unmoulding it. Otherwise there are chances the cake might not hold proper shape.
5. Never overmix the cake batter. Also never whisk the batter it’s important you fold the mixture from the center to sideways.
6. The baking instructions can differ from Oven to Oven so its better you keep checking your cake and know your oven temperature.

Wanna know what is self raising flour? click here to know more!