I made an Italian Cream cake that called for beating egg whites stiff and folding into the batter. The batter went into 3 pans. When the cakes came out of the oven, they were perfect and beautiful. But, within 2 or 3 minutes, it was like someone stuck a hole in a balloon! They shrunk from the sides of the pans by at least 1/2 inch and the tops shrunk more than the bottoms, so when I tried to stack them they were very uneven on the side and I had to use a huge amount of frosting to even it up.I'm not new to baking, but I've never had this happen before. I have to make another one soon and would love any input anyone can give me. Thank you so much!
Please post a link to the exact recipe you used or say which cookbook it came from.
Tell us how you measured your flour.
Tell us what size of pans you used.
Tell us whether anybody was playing football in the kitchen while the cakes were baking (yes that happens to be directly relevant to your problem)
BakingIrene,
I don't remember where I got the recipe but I searched recipes online just now and most of them are the same as what I used. Here it is:
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/3 c. coconut
I used 3- 9 inch rd. pans, buttered, parchment paper, buttered again, floured.
Sift together flour, soda, salt. Cream butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla. Add egg yolks one at a time. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in coconut. Beat egg whites until stiff; gently fold into batter. Bake at 325 for 25-35 mins. Do not overbake.
I measured the flour by spooning it into the cup measure and leveling. I measured before sifting with soda and salt.
No one else was home, so no disturbance while it baked.
Any ideas?
Can it be possible that no one has ever heard of this happening, or is it just that no one is interested in helping me? I see all of these other posts get lots of answers, but mine is going ignored. Is it me?
Hi dawnybird, I doubt if folks are ignoring you. I tried to do a search online for why you cake did what it did, and came up with so many possibilities:
- Excessive liquid.
- Batter too cold.
- Oven too hot.
- Improper mixing procedure.
- Baked too long.
It could be for so many reasons. Do you use a separate oven thermometer to monitor your oven temp?
I've found that when I have cake shrinking issues it's typically because I over-baked, especially with my cupcakes. I've often heard that if you cake has that super golden brown color when you pull it out of the oven it's already over-baked. Maybe try baking for a little less time than you did this time.
Also, baking strips might help so the sides don't overcook while the middle is still baking. That's all I can come up with.
Thank you for your answer. I'll consider all those variables. I don't have an oven thermometer. Guess I better get one. I don't remember how long I baked it, so I'll try to guard against over-baking. I appreciate your input.
Mine did the same thing. It rose really tall and beautiful in the oven and I thought this is going to be a beautiful tall impressive cake and then out of the oven, it deflated. Oh, well. Now I bake the same recipe in 8" pans instead of 9" and make 4 layers from the two 8" pans and it is fine. The deflating doesn't affect the outcome taste, flavor, or texture. It's still yummy.
Candace
Hi dawnybird, I'm not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but this is the recipe I follow from my Italian uncle and always never fail have great results with.. hope it gets better for you!
Ingredients:
1 C butter, softened
2 C sugar
5 L eggs
2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 C buttermilk
2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 - 3.5 oz Can flaked, sweetened coconut (or 3.5 oz from a bag)
1 C chopped nuts, either pecans or walnuts (I prefer pecans)
Frosting Ingredients:
1 pkg 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 - 1 lb. box confectioner's sugar
1 tsp pure almond extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
Using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
Stir together the flour and baking soda with a whisk, to blend. Add flour mixture, alternately with buttermilk to sugar mixture, being sure to begin and end with flour.
Stir in vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Divide evenly into greased pans. Bake for 30 minutes, after 20 minutes check cakes, by inserting a toothpick and when it comes out clean, it's done. Check every five minutes, until done. Do NOT over bake!
Allow to cool 5 minutes. Invert onto rack and cool completely.
While the cakes are baking, you can prepare the frosting.
To make the frosting, cream together cream cheese and butter. Add confectioner's sugar and almond extract. Beat until smooth. Spread frosting on top of the first layer, carefully place second layer and frost the top, carefully place the third layer and frost the top, now frost the sides and you're done!
It did the same for me... My cake lasted till I actually decorated it... wend to bed .woke up and the whole cake has collapsed!! I was so sad and tired i told my self I will never do that recipe again.... But I have over come that... Still loving cake decorating!!
Thank you auzzi for all that info. I actually had stopped making white cakes ( was using Whimsical Bakehouse recipe) that required the egg whites be beaten separately because of these reasons...shrinking, etc. They are delicious, but it all just annoyed me. So I was/am using Colette's Brown Sugar White Cake. While I love and it and so do my customers, I always felt a little off not offering a true white cake. I always suspected that I was over whipping!
BakingIrene,
I don't remember where I got the recipe but I searched recipes online just now and most of them are the same as what I used. Here it is:
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/3 c. coconut
I used 3- 9 inch rd. pans, buttered, parchment paper, buttered again, floured.
Sift together flour, soda, salt. Cream butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla. Add egg yolks one at a time. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in coconut. Beat egg whites until stiff; gently fold into batter. Bake at 325 for 25-35 mins. Do not overbake.
I measured the flour by spooning it into the cup measure and leveling. I measured before sifting with soda and salt.
No one else was home, so no disturbance while it baked.
Any ideas?
I believe the use of baking SODA as you have typed it would also help to make the cake fall. Normally baking POWDER would be used to add some leavening. Normally egg whites are stabilized by adding acid like cream of tartar or lemon juice. Baking SODA is alkaline.
AI have had the same problem using Better Homes and Gardens Italian Cream recipe. I made a cake last night for a cake decorating class and the cake fell. I'm not sure what the problem is but this has happened every time if have baked this cake. My instructor said it could be due to the high altitude. I was so upset. I love the cake and it is always a favorite. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Quote:
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipe/high-altitude-baking.html
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