Here are the rest of the tips from ALLRECIPES.COM – (my last post had the first one about fresh baking powder etc) and I especially like the last one! ENJOY!
Below is the reason why I bake – two little boys each of whom lost a tooth last week – so cute!
2. Take the time to preheat the oven
Some ovens preheat in just minutes. Some take a ridiculous 30 minutes! Know thy oven. Know it even better by dangling an oven thermometer from one of your baking racks. Finally, you’ll know for sure that the temperature on the oven dial matches the temperature inside. While you’re at it, make sure your oven rack is centered for even baking.
3. Actually wait for your ingredients to come to room temperature
You know those recipes that call for room temperature eggs and butter? Stop ignoring them. You’ll be glad later when that smooth batter becomes a moist cake with a tender crumb.
4. Don’t overmix your batter
You wanted to be thorough, you say. Well, sadly, your cake can easily fall victim to your good intentions. Overmixing the batter (easy to do with a stand mixer, especially) can incorporate too much air and result in a fallen cake as it cools later on. It’s all about a light hand. Think gentle.
5. …but don’t undermix your batter, either
Not enough of a good thing can also cause drama: unintentional swirls of flour or sugar, nuts and raisins playing refusing to play with the wet ingredients, butter blobs. You’ll know your batter’s in a good place when nearly all the flour is absorbed.
6. Definitely grease, flour, and/or line your baking pans with parchment, per your recipe
7. Nope, nope, nope: Don’t fill your pan to the brim
Fill your cake pan(s) no more than halfway (unless the recipe says otherwise). Why? This helps ensure your cake will rise evenly rather than overflow into your oven like a cake batter volcano. Check our handy Baking Pan Conversion Chart for more tips on volume.
8. Smooth the top and tap the pan
Take your spatula and smooth the batter for your best shot at an even cake. Tap the pan against your countertop (tap-tap-tap-tap) to scare away any last few little air bubbles trapped within.
9. Resist the urge to open the oven and check your masterpiece every five minutes
You know why? You’re letting out all the hot air and temperature fluctuations make for an unhappy, uneven cake (or, worse, Total Cake Collapse, which hey, could make a good band name for a bunch of bakers). Resist until the last few minutes of baking when you should…
10. …But remember to check for doneness
Poke a wooden toothpick into the center of your cake about five minutes before its suggested baking time comes to an end. if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs stuck to it, it’s time to pull your cake from the oven. Batter on the toothpick? Let it keep baking. Out of toothpicks? Use a dry spaghetti noodle.
11. WAIT until your cake cools before you frost it
Yes, this means you! Build adequate time in your day for this by counting backward from when you want to slice into the cake. Allow for at least one hour for your cake to completely cool before you frost it so that it goes on smooth and doesn’t tear blobs of cake along with it—it’s just not a good look.
12. And if all else fails…
Crumble up your cake and make trifle!
