Baking a cake

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Baking a cake

Question
How do you get your cake so flat on top when you are baking it?

Answer
My cakes don't always come out flat on top. I usually have to slice off a little from the top. Although I have never used them, cake strips may be the way to go to make sure that your cakes bake evenly.

You dampen the strips and wrap them around your pans. This keeps the outer edges from baking too quickly and prevents a dome in the middle of your cake.

Wilton Bake Even Cake Strips or
Magi-Cake Strips are two well known brands.

Hope this helps.

Comments for
Baking a cake

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Apr 22, 2010
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Doming
by: Kate

It depends on your cake recipe - If I'm making a vanilla sponge, Ill make a very thick Madeira batter and then once its in the tin, scoop out the whole middle bit, right down to the bottom so you can see the tin. Basically redistributing the batter so that it looks like a big donut. Its a bit scary to do this at first as your sure it will come out weird, but I promise you, it works!

If my batter is too thin to do this I make my own cake strips from backing parchment, greaseproof paper or even brown paper or newspaper, whatever is around - I fold it so the strips are 4 layers thick at least than tie them around the outside of the tin with string.

The key to both techniques is to cook the cake for longer at a lower temperature. This also prevents doming.

If all else fails and your cake does dome, as soon as its out of the oven and while still hot, press down on the domed part with a clean tea towel.

Apr 23, 2010
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Great baking tips!
by: Lorelie

Thanks Kate,

I love the DIY strips idea. Never heard of scooping out the middle but I can see how that could work with a thick batter.
Thanks for your suggestions.

Aug 18, 2011
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alternative to baking strips
by: Anonymous

I am very cheap and did not want to pay for baking strips. What I do instead is wet an old tea towel and wrap it around the pan, it works just the same. Another trick that seems to work for me is decreasing the baking temp a little and increasing the time.(ex- instead of 350 try 325)

Nov 08, 2011
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The baking strips idea
by:

Just to add to your ladies ideas,just turn your cake upside down & decorate it as is,it gives your cake a smooth even finish.

Jan 14, 2012
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How to make it rise
by: Anonymous

Hello
my oven isn't that good but I have tried to bake cakes and they JUST will not rise. Could it be the oven or over mixing ???
Any help would be great ..
Thx

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