Tips - Baking Cakes

Baking a cake is a great idea-no really, it is. Cakes are not as easy as they seem, however, especially if you are making them from scratch and not right out of the box. There are many things that can go wrong, things that you may not discover until you have done everything and you take that first test bite. This is why it can actually be a rather stressful endeavor, especially if you are baking for a special event or important occasion.

However, to help make your cake be the most successful it can be, here are some important tips to keep in mind and things to avoid:

-- Air Bubbles: This is a baker's worst nightmare. Air bubbles in a cake are the sure sign of an amateur, but really they can happen to anyone. There is a simple way to help prevent this unsightly flaw. When you have your batter all mixed you need to run a knife through it, this releases any trapped air that might have snuck in while you were mixing.

-- Shiny Crust: A shiny crust is what all good bakers' desire. A shiny crust means that when you start icing it will be perfectly smooth. It also means that the inside is well encased so it will be fresher and keep for a longer period of time. To get this amazing crust here is an old trick. Mix one egg and a bit of milk and paint the top of your cake with it before you bake. This will seal in your batter and give you a shiny crust.

-- Cracks on Top: Another sign of the beginning baker are cracks on the top of the cake. This usually occurs during the cooling process. So to prevent this you need to do something before you even put that cake in the oven. Add a small package of gelatin when mixing the dry ingredients together, this helps keep all the ingredients sticking together and prevents drying out. But don't worry adding these will not change how your cake tastes.

-- Lumps: One of the best ways to prevent lumps is to sift all your dry ingredients before adding them to the wet ingredient. This will make sure that everything is completely mixed and you will not get chunks of flour, egg or sugar that can detract and taste funny to the eater.

For More Information

If you would like more tips on how to make the perfect cake, other cooking tips, or more recipes, visit www.cdkitchen.com today!