Home bakers sometimes have a hard time knowing when a cake is done. Nothing ruins a cake like overbaking it and drying it out or burning the edges. Likewise, an underbaked cake will be messy and hard to cut. Use these tried-and-true tips to know when your cake is perfectly baked.
If you’re feeling a little nervous about your ability to determine when a cake is done, we’ve got plenty of tips that simplify the process. Follow this easy guide, and with a little practice, you’ll be making perfectly baked moist and delicious cakes every time.
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Getting Prepared
The best way to set yourself up for successful cake baking is to get prepared with the proper equipment and supplies. Here are a few things to think about when you’re getting ready to bake your cake.
Test Your Oven – Ovens vary widely and the oven temperature settings aren’t always perfectly accurate. If you haven’t done so, it’s worth purchasing an oven thermometer, so you can check to see if your oven is heating to the correct temperature.
Use the Right Oven Rack – Your cake recipe will likely specify which oven rack the cake pan should be placed on for best results. If yours doesn’t specify, I’d recommend using the center oven rack, as this is the spot that usually allows for the most even baking.
Don’t Open the Oven Door – I know it’s tempting to check on the progress of your cake, but try to avoid opening the oven door more than absolutely necessary. If the oven loses too much heat during baking, this could cause your cake to collapse.
Preheat Your Oven – It’s a good idea to wait until the oven is fully preheated before you put in your cake. If you put it in before the oven is hot enough, the top of the cake may burn while the middle of the cake may be underdone.
Rotate Your Cake – You’ll want to rotate your cake during baking, to ensure that it bakes evenly. But wait to do this until about two thirds of the way through the baking process to prevent the cake from collapsing. If you’re baking 2 cake layers on different racks, you’ll also want to swap them at this time.
Testing Cake Doneness
Once your cake is baking, how do you know when it’s ready to come out of the oven? There are a few simple ways to figure it out. Keep in mind that you may want to use a combination of these to ensure that your cake is perfectly baked.
Baking Time – Most cake recipes will give you a range of baking times. You can use the recipe times as a best estimate of how long you may need, but don’t rely on time alone to determine when your cake is ready to come out of the oven. You’ll need some visual cues as well. And to avoid ending up with an overbaked cake, always set your oven timer to the minimum time in the range, then check your cake using some of the following methods and add additional time if needed. Don’t forget that every oven cooks slightly differently, so yours may need a shorter or longer baking time than the recipe specifies.
Check the Edges – The edges of the cake provide the first sign that you’ll want to look at. As the cake batter cooks and solidifies, the edges of the cake will be done sooner than the center. If you’ve greased your pan thoroughly, they should start to shrink inward and pull away from the sides of the pan, leaving a thin gap. This is a good sign that your cake is nearing doneness, but it may still need some extra time for the center to become fully baked.
Look for a Golden Brown Top – If you’re making vanilla cakes or other lighter cakes, you should notice a light golden brown color on top, with edges that are a slightly darker golden hue than the middle of the cake. With a chocolate or other darker cake, this becomes tricker, as the dark color of the cake will make it difficult to see the golden brown edges. With chocolate cakes, you may notice that the cake changes from the shiny and translucent look of the wet batter to more of a matte finish once it’s ready to come out of the oven.
The Toothpick Test – Another great way to check for doneness is to insert a toothpick, a long wooden skewer, or a metal cake tester into the center of the cake to see if the middle is fully baked. If the toothpick comes out wet or with batter and crumbs clinging to it, your cake still needs more time. Don’t have a toothpick, skewer, or metal tester? Try using a paring knife or any small sharp knife instead. In fact, this might even work better, as its larger surface area will more clearly reveal if there are any underdone spots.
Gently Press the Center – If your cake has already passed the toothpick test, use this next test to confirm that the cake is finished baking. Gently press the top of the cake with one or two fingers. If the cake springs back, it should be ready to come out of the oven. But if your fingers leave indentions in the top of the cake, it still needs more time. Put the cake back for a few more minutes and then test again. This test works particularly well with a sponge cake or angel food cake, which should spring back easily when finished baking.
Internal Temperature – If you’ve got an instant-read thermometer, this is another tool that you can use to help you determine doneness. Most cakes will reach a temperature between 200 and 210 degrees Fahrenheit when fully baked, but this will depend on the individual cake so it’s not always completely reliable. If you choose this method, we recommend combining it with one of the other methods above.
What to Do Next
Once your cake is out of the oven, let it sit in the pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes before you store it or attempt to remove it from the pan. This will help ensure that it sets properly and doesn’t break apart when you remove it.
If you’re not planning to serve the cake immediately, you should cover it with plastic wrap before moving it to the fridge. This will help keep the cake from drying out. Keep in mind that even a frosted cake can dry out if not properly covered. Then simply keep the cake chilled until you’re ready to serve it.
Delicious Cake Recipes to Try
Now that you’ve followed our simple tips and are a cake baking pro, the only thing you’ll need to worry about is finding the perfect cake recipe to impress your guests. If you need a new recipe to try out, we’ve got plenty of delicious options. For an easy yet impressive cake that’s perfect for parties and special occasions, check out this Apple Cider Bundt Cake or this sweet and delicious Hummingbird Cake. And if chocolate cakes are more your style, you love this list of our favorite Luscious Chocolate Cake Recipes.
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