How to make cake: top 10 problems fixed (2024)

FAQs

How to fix cake problems? ›

If your cake is too dense or too heavy, you may need more leavening or liquid, or you may have used too much sugar or shortening. If your cake crust is too light, you may need more sugar. If your cake doesn't have good flavor, your formula may be unbalanced, or you may need to check the quality of your ingredients.

You can also place your baked items in the fridge for a half hour, and this should cool and dry the surface as well. The fridge is known to be a dry environment as it naturally dehumidifies air by cooling the insides. Just don't leave it in there too long uncovered because it will completely dry out your baked goods!

If a cake is browning too quickly then it is best to try and shield the top of the cake by laying a piece of foil or baking parchment (parchment paper) over the top of the tin, as this will deflect some of the heat from the oven. Sometimes this is recommended towards the end of the cooking time in a recipe.

When it comes to creating moist and delicious cakes, sometimes the secret ingredient is something unexpected. In this case, it's applesauce. Not only does applesauce add moisture to your cake, but it also serves as a healthier alternative to high-fat ingredients.

Too Much Flour

A cake batter with too much flour will be dry, crumbly, and heavy. To avoid this, make sure you weigh your flour instead of scooping it. Although it's quick, scooping with a measuring cup can easily result in too much flour.

Add Sour Cream

To help prevent a dry, dense cake, let's add a creamy and light wet ingredient. Milk is usually required in a cake recipe to thin out the batter and lighten up the crumb, but sour cream is often overlooked. In addition to milk, add a Tablespoon or 2 of sour cream.

Most common reason is when the oven door is opened too soon and the cake hasn't set up and baked properly. The mixture could be too soft due to not enough ingredients or if there is too much liquid added. Using too much raising agents can make the cake rise too much too quickly and it implodes on itself.

Cake becomes hard when the temperature set is incorrect or less. Try baking a cake between 180 degrees to 220 degrees, depending on the type of cake and if it still happens, then you should reduce the quantity of the batter.

Why is my cake crunchy on top? ›

Crispy means absence of moisture… Specifically though, it may mean you are getting too much top heat. Cakes work best with bottom heat. If that seems likely, try lowering the baking rack in your oven.

Brush the cake with a simple syrup glaze.

Start by making the simple syrup from boiling equal parts of sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid has reduced and thickened. If you're making a layer cake, trim the tops and then use a pastry brush to coat the surface of the cake with the syrup.

put it back in the oven for 12 or so minutes, at a slightly lower temperature. if the top is getting brown, cover the cake with foil before you put it back in the oven. take it out, check it with a skewer, if it comes out clean, its done, if not, put it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

Depending on how your cake broke, your best option might be to “glue” it back together. Think of the frosting as mortar and spread it in and around the crack to get the cake to hold. Then frost all around it to cover the mistake, chill, and voila! Nobody will know (or care) when you slice it up and serve it.

One way to fix a bitter cake is to add a small amount of an acidic component, which is highly recommended especially when you toss in too much baking soda. If your cake recipe contains chocolate, you can add a ½ teaspoon of cocoa powder. Here are some other ingredients you can try: Lemon juice.