Did you know that 52% percent of Americans have had a kitchen disaster at some point?
Maybe you’ve had a kitchen disaster trying to bake the perfect cake.
The good news is, we’re here to tell you exactly what you should do to make the ultimate perfect and delicious cake.
If you want to avoid another kitchen disaster, keep on reading.
Why Is Baking a Cake an Art?
Baking a cake isn’t quite rocket science, but it is an art. Furthermore, it’s an art that can be easily mastered with the right instruction and determination.
Baking a cake is an art because it requires a certain level of imagination as well as skill. It’s not just something that you can throw a few ingredients into a bowl and call it a day.
Baking involves precise measurements, the right amount of flavor, and imagination to make it visually appealing.
Baking a cake requires experimentation and trial and error. Just because one attempt fails doesn’t mean you need to quit.
Any success will come with a few failures, that’s just how life is. The cake is no different.
Just as an artist may take a few tries to perfect their painting or sculpture, cake is the same. Or how a writer will need to write several drafts of their story before it’s perfected, cake is the same.
Baking a cake takes time and effort. But, if you give it time and effort, and are willing to follow instructions, you’ll be a cake artist in no time.
What Are Some Tips Before We Begin?
So, what makes a perfect cake?
There are a few things you can do to ensure that your cake comes out the best. By following these tips for baking a cake, your cake will be a total win for your guests.
1. Follow the Recipe
Unless you are a professional baker and already have your own recipes, follow instructions.
Instructions are there for a reason, and baking is not like being a cooking expert where you can wing it how you want and see how it comes out.
The truth is: winging it will not come out right if you do not have experience baking a cake.
So take your time, read closely, and follow those instructions.
2. Cream It Well
Creaming your butter and sugar together is essential in baking a cake.
Before you add other ingredients to these two delicacies, cream them well until they reach a smooth consistency.
Creaming these ingredients helps fluff up the cakes and lets air fluctuate as it cooks. This will help the consistency and appeal of the cake. You want your cake to be nice and fluffy. . .not hard and dry.
3. Preheat Your Oven
Some people like to put their cakes in the oven as it’s preheating or before it’s preheated.
Don’t do that.
It won’t completely ruin your cake, but it will add some fluctuations and differences.
This applies to all things involving temperature as well. If a food has to be at room temperature, make sure it’s room temperature before using it.
Not having food at room temperature could completely alter your cake and affect the consistency that you are going for.
4. Prepare Your Pans Properly
Winging it and just pouring the batter in with an unprepared pan is a bad idea. If you don’t grease it or flour it well, it will fall apart when you take it out of the pan.
Even better, using round parchment paper sheets is the ultimate way to go. Parchment sheets will ensure your cake won’t stick to the pan and will come out perfect. If the cake sticks to the pan, it falls apart and may make applying the icing very difficult.
Round parchment sheets won’t let that happen to your precious cake.
5. Don’t Let It Burn
Nobody wants to eat a burned cake.
This is why you should set your timer 5-10 minutes early, to ensure that it is cooking properly and on target.
Furthermore, even though you might be nervous as it bakes that it will burn, don’t check it constantly. Just wait until that 5-10 minute mark and you should be fine.
Why? Each time you open the oven you let heat out, affecting the baking and potentially causing the cake to become uneven. Besides becoming uneven, it could even collapse the cake and it won’t fluff up as it should.
So, don’t check your cake 20 times before it comes out. Check it once or twice as it nears the end.
So, How Do I Bake a Cake?
Now that you know essential tips, how do you bake a cake?
Follow these general steps for your cake:
1. Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven and prepare your pans with those parchment rounds we mentioned. This should be the first step in any recipe you choose.
2. Combine Wet Ingredients
This includes any wet ingredients like liquids, butter, eggs, but also sugar. Like mentioned before, cream your butter and sugar first then add the rest of the wet ingredients. Another good tip is to add your eggs one at a time rather than all at once, slowly mixing it all together.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients
Your dry ingredients and wet ingredients need to be combined separately. Do not just add everything into one bowl.
Dry ingredients will include any spices, flours, baking powder, or baking soda, etc.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Now it’s time to combine both sets of ingredients together. The best way to do this is to add the dry mix to the wet mix a little bit at a time.
Mix in a half-cup or so of the dry mix to wet mix, mix it in, then repeat until it is all combined.
5. Pour Into Prepared Pan and Bake
Pour your mix into your prepared pans and ensure that the oven is preheated. Then just set it in the middle rack, making sure it is centered.
Almost done!
6. Let Cool and Decorate
The fun part! Let your cake cool for a couple of hours then spread that frosting and decorations on.
Get creative with your decoration and use your imagination!
Now What?
While baking a cake is never an easy task, you can follow the steps to make sure you end up creating one. If by any chance there are goof-ups, you can always save the day by opting for online cake delivery. This is why, unless you get good at it, try to avoid baking cakes for extra special occasions.
Start baking a cake and embrace your inner artist!
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