At Bob's Red Mill, it's our goal to make all of your baking dreams come true. From providing you with wholesome ingredients to delicious recipes, we're honored to be a part of your baking journey. As a large team of at-home bakers ourselves, we've tried and tested some of the best (and worst) baking advice out there and have learned quite a bit. Over time we've mastered the art of cake baking. Especially when it comes to baking a moist cake.
If you're struggling with making the perfect, moist cake each time you attempt to bake one, we're here to help. Continue reading as Bob's baking experts share how to bake a moist cake and the best cake baking tips to help you make a perfect confectionary creation.
Follow the Recipe Carefully
Though baking is an art, it's also a science. And while we're all for getting creative in the kitchen, when following a recipe, it's important that you follow it step by step. When making cake batter from scratch, take time to read the recipe beforehand and make sure you have all the necessary ingredients and tools. We often make small substitutes here and there based on what we have in our kitchen or our dietary restrictions. Our best advice, seek out a recipe that works with you and your ingredients and follow it. Subbing out eggs, sugar and flour may work when baking certain treats. However, when baking a cake, each piece of the recipe comes together like a puzzle, and if even one puzzle piece is slightly off, the entire cake will be changed. While you may not want to spend time and money making a trip to purchase extra ingredients, using the wrong ingredients will surely sabotage your efforts. Usually, when a cake recipe fails, it's because the recipe wasn't followed correctly. If you're eager to make substitutions to a recipe you've previously used, try making them one by one and see how the cake turns out. If your cake holds its shape and texture when making a substitution, you can note that substitution is working.
Additionally, as important as it is to follow the recipe, it's just as crucial to use the appropriate pan. Unless it's stated that you can do so, don't substitute a 6-inch pan for a 9-inch pan or a round one for a square one. Using the recommended cake pan will help prevent overflowing, flimsy, sunken and dense cakes.
For a moist cake recipe that's easy to follow, make this Buttery Yellow Birthday Cake.
Understand the True Meaning of "Room Temperature"
So, your recipe calls for room temperature ingredients. Now, what does that mean? While room temperature isn't always a set degree, it is usually much warmer than your refrigerator setting. This being, room-temperature ingredients often bond together easier than colder ingredients. Additionally, when mixing room temperature ingredients like butter, the air is trapped within and expands when introduced to heat. The result? A light, fluffy and moist cake texture.
Simply put, cold ingredients won't bind in the same way that room temperature ones will, and using them could drastically change a cake's texture.
If you're a numbers person and seek a ballpark room temperature range, we'd suggest allowing ingredients to reach anywhere from 65-70°F. Depending on the climate you live in, using room temperature ingredients can be tricky. If the cakes you are making turn out dense, you're probably softening ingredients like butter a little too much.
Read over the recipe beforehand and allow yourself enough time to set out the ingredients. These ingredients should be warmed slowly, and taking a shortcut by microwaving them can yield unwanted results.
Recipe to Try: This Amazing Almond Layer Cake is easy to make and sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
Commit to Accurate Measurements
If it feels like accuracy is a theme in this article, it's because when baking a cake, accuracy is important. While measuring ingredients properly might sound like a no-brainer, it's a step where many bakers often make mistakes. The difference between a deliciously moist cake and a crumbly mess could all come down to a measurement that was slightly off. When measuring your ingredients, make sure you are using the right tools.
One of the most common issues we see is the same measuring cup being used for all ingredients. Doing this is taboo in the baking world and will result in mismeasured ingredients that lead to a cake disaster. There are specific measuring cups for dry and wet ingredients, and using each respectively will surely set you up for success.
Additionally, when measuring out flour, we suggest using the spoon and level method. Scooping flour directly from the bag will easily leave you with the wrong measurements and offset all of the recipe ingredients. Instead of scooping from the bag, use a spoon to scoop the flour into a measuring cup. Avoid packing and tapping the four. Rather, use the back of a knife to level off the top of the cup. For even more accurate results, invest in a kitchen scale. This will allow you to weigh the ingredients out to the exact amount the recipe calls for and leaves little room for error.
Searching for an easy-to-measure cake? Bake this Gluten Free Confetti Cake.
Mix Cautiously
Be cautious when mixing your cake's ingredients, and be sure to follow the recipe's instructions. Some recipes will require wet and dry ingredients to be mixed separately, whereas others will want it all mixed simultaneously.
There are several different ways to mix cake batter, and whether a recipe requires a whisk or an electric mixer, mix only until the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Over mixing a batter can cause the gluten to overdevelop, leaving the cake's texture tough and chewy. Under mixing will prevent the cake mix from binding properly, leaving you with a pretty crummy result.
Add Oil to the Recipe
If you're working with a recipe you've baked in the past and have tried the tips above, then it may be time to switch up the recipe a bit. When baking a cake, the ratio between wet and dry ingredients will determine its moisture level. If a cake recipe has too much flour and not enough wet ingredients (butter, oil, milk), it will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's not enough flour, it won't rise properly and it will taste too wet. The next time you're dealing with a dry cake batter, add a tablespoon or two of oil to it to increase the moisture levels.
Allow Your Cake and Pan to Cool Completely
Your cake is baked, now what? Just because a cake has finished baking doesn't mean the cake-making process is over. In actuality, the following steps you need to take are crucial when creating a great-tasting and looking cake. Once your cake is done in the oven and removed, be sure to let it cool.
Assembling, eating or decorating cakes before they've cooled is a straight shot to disappointment. During the cooking process, a cake's flavor and texture will settle. For the best results, allow the cake and pan to cool completely, depending on the size of your cake; this will take about an hour. After the cake is finished cooking, it's time to decorate It. Cooling off a cake before applying frosting will help the frosting stick rather than melt.
Storing and Transporting Cakes
Depending on the cake you've decided to make, there will be instructions on how it tastes best. Most cakes taste best at room temperature. However, there are exceptions. Cakes topped with fresh ingredients like fruit and berries or ones filled with ice cream/mousse will need to be refrigerated until you're ready to enjoy them.
Like with most things, frosting tastes best when it is fresh. If you made the cake a day beforehand, we recommend frosting it the day of serving. Additionally, if your frosted cake has been sitting out for a few hours, cover it and place it in the refrigerator. When you're ready to eat your cake, remove it from the fridge a few hours before and let it warm to room temperature.
Are you ready to make a cake that tastes and looks great? Simply follow the cake tips above to make a moist and flavorful cake that everyone will enjoy. From following the recipe carefully to choosing the correct flour, cake baking is an art with a bit of practice every baker can master. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you much cake baking success!
Know of a cake-baking tip that we didn't mention? Let us know what tips and tricks you use to make deliciously moist cakes in the comments below!
Kirby