Customer Complains Maderia Cake Very Very Dry?!

Decorating By Clarabell Updated 6 Apr 2012 , 12:50pm by mclaren

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Clarabell Posted 14 Mar 2012 , 2:20pm
post #1 of 13

I have a customer that came back to me and gave me feed back that their cake was very very dry. I usually get complemented on how moist my cake is so I would really try to find out how it happened so I can make sure it doesn't happen again.

I used the same Madeira sponge recipe as i always use as follows:

450g of sugar butter and SR flour, 225g plain flour and 8 eggs.
160c for 1 and a half hours

Once cooled i did only cover the cake with buttercream and sugarpaste but didn't put a trim around the bottom. It stayed like that for a couple of days as I believed Madeira cake lasts 2 weeks when covered and I had a few more cakes to do. Could it be that the i hadn't sealed the cake properly and air got through to the cake and dried it out or did i bake for too long???

Any hints and tips where you think i went wrong would be much appreciated please icon_redface.gif

12 replies
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pmarks0 Posted 15 Mar 2012 , 3:00am
post #2 of 13

If you're using the same recipe as always it's hard to know if/where you may have gone wrong.

Did the client save you a piece of cake to show you? How many days after delivery did they complain? Did they store it in the fridge because that will dry out a cake? I wouldn't automatically assume that you did something wrong.

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machnumber Posted 21 Mar 2012 , 2:13am
post #3 of 13

i've noticed that the cake books that are wrtten by english authors they all seemed to use the same Madeira cake why? is that the only recipe if you want to carf a cake? i have a book that gives you the recipe for Madeira cake for carving cakes. well it's dry and tasteless i would be embarrased to serve that to any one . im just doing it because im interested on doing the tweedy bird house . that project does not envolve a lot of weird shapes . This is like a test that i'm doing but i did taste some of the cake and that's not for comsumption. Unless you have a gallon of milk next to you. icon_eek.gifthumbsdown.gifthumbsdown.gif

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chocolatefudgecakefan Posted 21 Mar 2012 , 2:11pm
post #4 of 13

In the UK we add glycerin to our madeira cakes and also keep a bowl of water in the oven too to save it from being dry.
Ive learnt to use this one here as it works everytime: http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/2009/12/17/baking-the-perfect-madeira-cake/

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myxstorie Posted 21 Mar 2012 , 7:13pm
post #5 of 13

machnumber, if your Madeira cake is dry and tasteless, you're doing it wrong. Try the recipe Chocolatefudgecakefan mentioned! icon_biggrin.gif

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Clarabell Posted 2 Apr 2012 , 12:05pm
post #6 of 13

The recipe used was from one of Lindy Smiths Books and i forgot to mention i tried the middle part of the domed crust and their was nothing wrong with it?

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MimiFix Posted 2 Apr 2012 , 1:13pm
post #7 of 13

If you've used this recipe many times before with no problem and you sampled a piece (so you know it was moist enough), then the problem is probably with the customer. pmarks0 posed some excellent questions. I've had customers complain about a product, then after my questioning them, I found out they had mishandled the item. Also, do you have the sense that the customer wants to leverage this complaint into a refund?

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MarizeteNogueira Posted 4 Apr 2012 , 5:32am
post #8 of 13

After making so many cakes and listening to my friends saying that I should wet the cake with mountain dew... I finally gave in and tried... And let me tell you.... They are delicious.. Really moist... Not too sweet at all..
After I placed the cake on the board I use a small spoon and wet it all over them I put the filling... Of course you can't do this to a cake that you will bel moving around from the board, at the end I covered with icing and fondant and it's absolutely yummy ... I never make a cake without wetting it...
And always worked for me..
Hope this help..
icon_biggrin.gif

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Clarabell Posted 6 Apr 2012 , 8:56am
post #9 of 13

What is mountain dew i wouldn't mind giving that a go?

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mclaren Posted 6 Apr 2012 , 10:13am
post #10 of 13

Mountain Dew is a type of carbonated drink. It tastes a little bit like 7Up but not exactly the same.

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Clarabell Posted 6 Apr 2012 , 11:19am
post #11 of 13

oh we don't have mountain dew in the UK

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lilmissbakesalot Posted 6 Apr 2012 , 12:08pm
post #12 of 13

A simple syrup would work too. I hate Mountain Dew, so I'd have a hard time putting it on my cakes.

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mclaren Posted 6 Apr 2012 , 12:50pm
post #13 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilmissbakesalot

A simple syrup would work too. I hate Mountain Dew, so I'd have a hard time putting it on my cakes.




Ditto on Mountain Dew, but I don't hate it as much as I hate Dr Pepper.. LOL.

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