My cake didn’t rise and is as flat as a pancake
- You may have forgotten to put in baking powder or didn’t use all purpose flour, which is self-rising.
- Check for the freshness of your baking powder.
- Don’t over mix your ingredients. Once your ingredients are combined, stop whisking and start baking.
- If the cake is soft and spongy, you can put on a thin layer of icing, and cut it into mini cakes to serve.
My cake is stuck in the tin
- Run a knife around the edge of the cake, between the cake and the baking tin. Give it a little pat around the edges and on the bottom.
- Don’t attempt to get it out of the tin when it is hot. Let it sit for 15 minutes or more. As it cools it will shrink a bit and stick together better.
- When ready to flip the cake out, place a serving platter or plate on top of the cake tin and flip them simultaneously. Your cake should pop out onto the plate if you properly greased the pans.
- If it comes out broken and in pieces, crumble up the cake, and layer it with some prepared pudding and cool whip to make a trifle. It all tastes the same.
My cake is burnt
- If it is completely burnt—like black beyond saving, throw it away.
- If it is a little crispy around the edges, but soft on the inside, then cut off the edges. Frost as usual.
- If your cake starts to brown before the inside is cooked, place a piece of tin foil on top to stop browning and allow the inside to cook.
My cake is too dry
- Make sure to add the correct amounts of flour. If you put in too much flour, the wet ingredients will absorb the flour leaving your cake dry and crumbly.
- Turn them into cake pops by adding some frosting, mixing, and forming them into balls. Place on waxed paper and freeze. Dip in melted chocolate.
My cake has sunk in the middle
- Don’t open the door when baking a cake. Only check it when it is in the last few minutes of baking.
- If the cake is sunk in the middle, but cooked all the way through, just cover the top of the cake with frosting or pudding to disguise the concave.
My cake has risen unevenly
- Make sure to spread it evenly into the baking pan when preparing.
- If you need to fix it, slice off the uneven piece with a bread knife. Cover with frosting to hide the imperfection.
