It may seem simple but baking can be a challenge, especially when you are a beginner. But what joy when it all goes right! Here are some of the common mistakes we make when baking cakes.

It's all very well for those who just seem to 'know' what to add, but for some of us, measuring things is essential. Adding too much baking soda for example will produce a coarse cake. Likewise, too little liquid will do the same thing. Too little liquid will also result in a dry cake. You will get used to just how much, but this takes a little practice as too much liquid can also make your cake sink in the middle. Dryness can also be because of leaving the cake in the oven too long or if the oven is excessively hot.

If you don't mix your cake enough, those lumps, when cooked will not look or feel very pleasant in the mouth. The surface of your creation may look odd as well.

Getting the oven temperature right is also essential. The result of putting your cake into a cold oven can be disastrous! Taking the cake out too soon can result in it sinking in the middle, so don’t open the oven until around 2/3rds of the way through the cooking time, as the cold air will really affect it.

Make sure you grease the pan properly. If you don’t you may not be able to see when it's cooked as a common way to do this is by seeing when it has shrunk away from the sides of the pan. Don't take the cake out of the tin too quickly. Some cakes need cool completely in the tin and will not benefit from being removed too quickly.

Try not to bake when there is a chance of a lot of doors banging, as excessive vibrations during the first half of baking can cause the cake to sink as well. This is particularly so with light cakes.

The above does not guarantee everything will be perfect, but may answer a few questions and give a few pointers. Don’t give up, like everything else, it takes practice to create those masterpieces!

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