I tested my cake a few times before I took it out of the oven. It tested "done". After sitting for a while, it fell (somewhat off of the center - it is a 9x13x2 pan). It is for my daughter's engagement party on Sunday. Can I rebake it say for 10 more minutes or must I start all over? Oh forgot to mention, where it fell, it's now NOT DONE. I can't begin to tell you how upset I am.

Sorry to hear about this. I would not suggest to put it back in the oven....I would start over, but you need a heating core, or put flower nails in the pan before you place the batter in. This will help your cake to bake more evenly...HTH

I agree with Linea. You won't be happy with the result if you put it back into the oven. Just start over and use an inverted flower nail as a heating core. It should come out much better.

I guess I knew someone would respond to start over. I guess I just didn't want to hear it, but it is for the best. I'll begin now (have a core, just didn't use it - uggh). Thank you for responding.

........tested my cake a few times before I took it out..... tested "done". After sitting for a while, it fell.........

What temp did you bake at? How long (in minutes approx.)? What flavor? How many times did you open the oven door? That probably made the oven cool off so the temp wasn't right for some time
I agree w/the others you probably should bake it over.
Can you alter the style of the cake some by cutting the ends off & using them on top - so you don't have to throw it out?
Or make a cake that maybe hubby, son or dau can take to work?

Definately rebake and use the flower nail inverted. You will probably be unhappy on sunday if everyone is eating the cake that has not been baked properly. Better to do again, you still have time!

Just thought of an idea for the cake that sank.....you can always make cake pops out of the cake that did come out, that way you do not feel like it was wasted...They are cute and quick! (Trying to lift your spirits, as this has happened to me, and I felt like so much was wasted.)

I had a cake that sank in the middle too, and I took the cake that I could salvage and made cake balls (cake truffles) out of it. My coworkers thought Christmas had come early when I brought them to work.

Congratulations to your daughter. What exciting times for your family.

Will you be doing her wedding cakes?

-Debbie B.

i bake 9x13 ... 11x15... 12x18... never used a heating core or flower nail.. bake at 325 ... close to time to be done.. i check.. if looks like to leave little longer.. thats what i do.. don,t even use the bake even strips.. i don,t open door.. except .. right at the end of time for it to be done.. hth

Agree w/icer101 - except for the temp.

I do the same as icer101, including temp. I do, however, use the bake-even strips and have never had a problem with them.

Usually, I can tell the cake is within a couple of minutes of done by the smell. DH is amused by the fact that I can go to the rear of the house and come back into the kitchen right before the "check the cake" timer goes off, even though I don't have any way of knowing the time is almost up.

I, too, can smell when a cake (or cookies or anything really) is done. It's a psychic cake talent! (or is that "psychotic"?)

Well, I did bake the cake over. It turned out just fine. I did bake it longer. Oh, first time, I bake it at 350 for 60 minutes. I used the Wilton 1/4 sheet pan. I wanted to try the 325 temp (exactly what was recommended by the Wilton Instructor I had two or three years ago). I didn't, I kept it at 350 and used a heating core that I had never taken out of the cardboard packaging (I had it for at least a year and never used it). The instructions said to fill half way after greasing inside and out. I filled it too much and the cake in the core rose way too much. I've heard of using flower nails, and I do have two of those, so I'm going to give them a try next time.

I am not making her wedding cake. I bought the pans thinking I would, but I decided a few months ago that I'd let her buy it from the caterer. I just don't want the stress. I can see me making one for a friend, etc., but not me doing it in the middle of helping with so many other things.

Thank you each and every one. I appreciate your help and guidance so much. Cassie
P.S. This site is the greatest.

I LOVE that smell the cake tip. I sometimes go on the computer while the cake is baking and stop paying attention to the time (my timer is currently AWOL status due to having three little kids), but as soon as I smell that cake, I shoot up and check it out. So cool.