Let’s face it; your baking adventure is not without disastrous mishaps in the kitchen. Even those who know their way around the kitchen will have their down days, even more for those who are entirely new to baking. Whether you’re new to baking or are quite adept at the art of baking, these not-so-secret baking tips will ensure that you get that perfectly moist and decadent cakes.
1. Make Sure Your Ingredients Are At The Right Temperature
The ingredients, down to its temperature, make all the difference in your baking process. When at room temperature, your dairy products such as eggs and butter, will form an emulsion, which helps trap air – an essential component to a nice and fluffy cake. Moreover, ingredients bond together easily in room temperature, creating a seamless and evenly textured batter. So be sure to prepare your butter and other ingredients at room temperature, lest the cake that comes out of the oven is a dense and flat one.
2. Beat Your Eggs Properly
As one of the ingredients that set the very foundations of your baked goods, the importance of eggs is not to be understated. Besides providing that rich goodness, eggs also set the structure to your desserts and give that much-needed support to delicate baked goods such as cakes and pastries.
To ensure that you make the most use of your eggs, you’ll want your eggs to be at room temperature and ensure that you separate the whites from the yolk, should the recipe calls for it. In most recipes, beating eggs in sugar is necessary to obtain the light and fluffy texture. At the end of the process, the consistency of the beaten eggs should be light in colour and foamy. The eggs should fall thickly into your bowl once the beater has been lifted. Bakers should also keep in mind not to overbeat the eggs, as this will give a weird dense structure to your cake.
3. Make Accurate Measurements
Baking without precision is nothing. Many will try to estimate their ingredients, but you can only go so far with estimations. Adding too little or too much of a specific ingredient can make or break your baked creation – and often cases, the latter. When a baking recipe calls for a certain number of eggs or however many cups of milk, you’ll want to follow it to the tee. It is always recommended to buy the correct measuring tools to make sure your measurements are perfectly accurate for better baking results.
4. Folding The Ingredients Properly
Baking requires precision and meticulousness, and this applies to mixing too! It’s very easy to both over mix and under mix the ingredients in your bowl. Whilst it may not seem particularly important in the bigger picture, the quality of your mix determines the texture and the density of your desserts.
The best method of compiling the ingredients together is to fold them, rotating and turning your bowl as you do so. This will make sure all the ingredients are evenly mixed, and that the batter is just right.
5. Have A Smooth Baking Process
Always preheat your oven before baking to evenly distribute the heat and prevent any cold spots. Position a rack in the centre of your oven and then place your cake batter on top of it to ensure that your cake rises properly.
Take note to limit the opening of the oven door to check on your cake as you’re merely increasing the risk of sinking your cake, especially if the centre isn’t fully set yet. Instead, use the window in your oven door to check and see if your cake is rising properly or not.
6. The Toothpick Trick
To make sure your cake is done, insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, that means your cake is thoroughly cooked and ready for decoration. Otherwise, your cake is better left in the oven for a few more minutes.
If you wish to be more proficient and adept at baking, then these above-given tips are sure to help! When it comes to baking, it pays off to be a perfectionist and practising even the smallest details will help bring you the recipe success.
If you need your sweet tooth fix and would rather skip on the time slaving away in your kitchen, Polar Puffs & Cakes is here to indulge. Having spent over 9 decades perfecting recipes to suit the Singaporean tastebuds, we take pride in bearing witness to several milestones and celebrations. Continuing doing what we know best, let us be that one-stop bakery for all your desserts needs. You can order our cakes online or opt for our online pastry delivery! Giving you quality cakes at your convenience, start ordering your desserts today!
