What is up with this problem....?

Let me explain. have you come across recipes that tell that the recipe for cake you are making fills a 9 x 13 pan and when you pour it, it doesn't? Not that is more, but much more less?

I have learned by experience to eye ball the mixture and figure out what size pan it best fits...

It not only has happened to me once, but several times....

For example, I did a Tres Leches cake this weekend and the recipe said to pour the mixture into a 9" x 13" pan. Well, guess what, it barely made it into an 8" x 2"...

Can someone explain this discrepancy?

Might be where the recipe originated from or how old the recipe is. I found that happens with the much older recipes that I have. Measurements were a lot different in the "good ole' days!"

I find that certain recipes are horrible in so many ways - I wonder if they even test them before they print them. I have heard that William Sonoma's books (the ones they author - not the ones they sell that others have written) are pretty bad.
On the pan size thing - I agree! Good, glad I'm not nuts...

I use the Williams Sonoma books quite often and have not run into the problem of there not being enough "mix". I always find that there is too much!!! These are the ones that they wrote -- note the ones they sell for other people.

gilson6 - yeah....I don't have their books, but I have heard from a few folks that their recipes just dont work right (although, they were not always referring to the baking books - some of them are the cookbooks). Maybe the baking ones are better.

I have a betty croker recipe for a carrot cake that calls for 9" pans - but it is really better in 8" ones.

I found that most of the recipes (muffins & breads) only taste good while they are warm and fresh from the oven. I made some Applesauce Walnut muffins yesterday and I ate one this morning and it tasted very yeasty. This has happened with quite a few of their recipes that I've tried. Their cake recipes are very good. One of the favs of my customers is a mixed berry mary ann cake. Guess it's all a matter of trial and error.

Well, thank goodness it's not just me!!!!!

Thank you for helping me feel better!!!