How to stop sponge cake sinking in the middle

If you open the door too early it may cause the cake to fall and create the opposite problem. By cooling the cake upside down the cake has plenty of room to stretch out of the pan instead of collapsing into the bottom of the pan.

When your cake is done cooking and ready to let cool you invert it without running your knife around the edge.

How to stop sponge cake sinking in the middle. When youre cake sinks in the middle grab an extra can of frosting to disguise the low spot. Simply add a bit more frosting or whipped cream and smooth to an even level. You can also fill a pastry bag 5 Walmart fitted with a specialized tip to create a unique frosting design for your sunken cake.

Unless otherwise told position your oven rack in the center and place the cake pans right in the middle of the rack. If baking two cake layers at once place them on the same rack side-by-side. Dont put one on top of the other.

They wont bake evenly that way. Here are some of my favorite recipes for perfect cakes every time. Make sure the cake is in the middle of the oven shelf - too close to one side or the other and the cake wont cook evenly.

Start by knocking 20C off the stated cooking temperature ie. If it says to cook a cake at 180C cook it at 160C. It may need a couple of minutes longer but should rise much more evenly.

Preheat the oven to 170C 150C fan 340F Gas mark 4. Grease and line the cake tin. In a large bowl beat the butter until soft with an electric whisk or a strong arm and wooden spoon.

Add the caster sugar and beat until its all combined and the mixture has turned a pale yellow. The purpose of the removable bottom is obvious run a knife around the side and push the cake out. However the tabs allow for a marvoulous technique when cooling your sponge cake.

When your cake is done cooking and ready to let cool you invert it without running your knife around the edge. If you need to rotate the cake pans during baking then wait until the cakes have baked for around 34 of the baking time and are almost fully set. Avoid opening and closing the oven door too sharply and move the pans around gently to minimize the risk of sinking.

Here are a few more tips to prevent sinking cakes. Beat the eggs and butter together at a moderate speed not high. The air bubbles will be more stable.

Add the eggs one at a time beating briefly between additions. There are many factors that can cause a sponge cake or other baked goods to sink in the middle after baking such as a lack of leavening too low of an oven temperature or opening the door too many times during the baking process. Using cold dairy products or undercooking the cake batter can also cause a sponge cake to fall in the center.

When baking a sponge cake or similar item make sure. The trick is to allow the cake long enough to cook in the middle without the edges and top browning too much. To do this I protect the edges with folded up newspaper tied in place with string this is exactly the same technique as for fruit cakes.

The top can be protected with a piece of foil. Test your cakes for doneness by putting a cake tester toothpick or skewer into the middle of the cake if it comes out clean with no stickiness or wettish crumbs its done. If not bake on and check at 5 minute intervals until done.

If your cake came out raw in the middle and you let it bake for the time suggested in the recipe it could be that your oven is too cool. Use an oven thermometer to calibrate your oven correctly. Let an undercooked cake bake until a metal skewer can be removed from the centre cleanly.

Adjust your oven accordingly to get the internal oven thermometer to the right temperature. Dont Open the Oven Door Too Much. Opening the oven door over and over again during the baking process allows cool air to get in the oven and this affects the way the cake bakes.

Avoid opening the oven door prematurely. If you open the door too early it may cause the cake to fall and create the opposite problem. If the cake rises in the middle lay a clean towel on the cake and push down gently as soon as you remove the cake from the oven.

Continue pressing on the high area to flatten it. There is a trick to prevent sponge cakes like Angel food cakes from sinking. Cool these cakes upside down.

By cooling the cake upside down the cake has plenty of room to stretch out of the pan instead of collapsing into the bottom of the pan. Cooling certain sponge cakes upside down leads to a taller cake and a lighter texture. Phil Vickery and James Martin answer viewers cooking questions.