-If you don't have a Kitchen Aid mixer, save your lunch money and buy one! It is so useful for baking. I LOVE my Kitchen Aid mixer.
-Measurements matter! When baking (anything, not just cakes) you CANNOT eyeball ingredients. It also matters what type of measuring instruments you use. Don't use eating utensil spoons. Use real measuring spoons. Level off dry ingredients, and don't over/under fill the cups.
-I like to line my cake pans with parchment paper then grease and flour them. I use Crisco shortening to grease the pans (with my hands, fun!) and then sprinkle flour and shake off the excess. I have also used that Baker's Joy cooking spray, and it works fine, too.-Preheat! The oven needs to be pre-heated for at least ten minutes before you begin your baking. Don't open the oven until the timer goes off! And set the timer according to the directions!
-Don't over-mix the batter, just until ingredients are blended. About two minutes is standard. Scrape the sides and bottom to make sure everything gets incorporated.
-Ingredients are better when they are all the same temperature, so set the eggs out at room temperature for fifteen minutes or so. Butter for frosting needs to be left out for about thirty minutes (I usually set the butter out after I put the cakes on the cooling rack, see below.) Don't let the butter get too soft, or your icing will be a hot mess.
-Cool it! Let your cakes stand for ten minutes in the pan (set the timer so you don't forget) then flip them out onto cooling racks to cool completely. If you don't let the cakes cool in the pan first, then they will most likely fall to pieces. But if you let the cakes cool too long they will stick to the pan. Ten minutes, no more no less.
-Please, please, please don't use icing from a tub. It is so gross. Homemade icing is so simple and can make a box cake really yummy. Some of my favorite icings:
Cream Cheese I put pecans in this frosting for Dr Hubby's favorite Hummingbird Cake. This frosting is great on Red Velvet box cupcakes. (If you want nuts in frosting, toast the nuts-about half a cup-in the oven for a few minutes first for some extra flavor. Yum!)
Strawberry Buttercream My favorite!
Troubleshooting-My number one trouble-shooting tip: If the cake didn't turn out right, you didn't follow the directions OR you used a crappy recipe. I think I addressed the main problems people have when baking cakes. Please leave a question/issue if you have any! I find that Southern Living has the best cake recipes, and their recipes never need to be adjusted. I don't really like decorated or themed cakes, I like old-fashioned style cakes that taste good. Now you are wanting some cake, huh?
Some links to some of the other cakes I have made:
I was going to post a pic of Chris's birthday a few weeks ago, but I can't find my USB cord...I think Brooks hid it from me.
2 comments:
I love your face and I am so glad I didn't see this post until I got home tonight.
what about the infamous hummingbird cake recipe? Why didnt you post it?
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