Newby Need Help From Pros :((

Decorating By iphoenixle Updated 10 Mar 2013 , 5:08pm by cookielvr13

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 5:33am
post #1 of 15

AHi every one, I am new on cc. I love to bake, or at least be able to bake for my friends and family. I have tried so many times to bake a cake so I could make my mom a birthday cake but I alway failed. I've been searching for recipes from online to library to book stores but my cake alway come out try and hard, not light and puffy like a normal cake should be. I recently got a recipe from this site and I followed it word by word but I still couldn't do it. I used the mixer, and folded the egg white by hand. If some one could help me and point out what I could of done wrong, that would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

14 replies
iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 5:33am
post #2 of 15

AThis is the recipe that I got from this site :

Posted by miri35 I found this recipe while in search for a moist White/ Vanilla Cake. I tried it and it is awesome.Moist and tasty Ingredients 2 3/4 cup cake flour 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 - 1 cup canola oil 6 tablespoons sour cream 4 large egg yolks 2 teaspoons grated orange peel 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whole milk 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 large egg whiltes pinch salt 2/3 cups granulated sugar Directions Preheat oven to 350 F, butter 3 8 inch pan. Sift the dry ingredients- Flour 1 1/4 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, set aside. Whisk the oil 4 egg yolks in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in the sour cream, then milk, orange peel and vanilla. Whisk in the dry ingredients in 3 additions. In a small bowl using electric mixer beat egg white with a pinch of salt until soft peak forms, while still beating gradually add remaining of 2/3 cup of sugar, while on high speed until stiff peak forms. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in 4 additions. (Do not over beat (fold), I've done this cake many times and on my second try i forgot about the over beating and it wasnt as fluffy as its suppose to be.) Divide between pans and bake cakes until the center is just golden, insert a tester or tooth pick until it comes out cleanI wont provide timing because it always varies depending on oven :) I hope you like this recipe as much as i do. You can fill and use extract of choice.:)

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 5:43am
post #3 of 15

AThank you for the advice , I'll get it tomorrow :))

shanter Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
shanter Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 5:55am
post #4 of 15

Is your baking powder fresh?

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 5:58am
post #5 of 15

AYes, well I bought it last month but I've been trying to bake ever since .

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 6:01am
post #6 of 15

AHow long should I beat the eggs white for? I beat it until the is no liquid at the bottom but still a little runny when I tried to scoop it up with my spatula.

vgcea Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
vgcea Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 9:30am
post #7 of 15

AGoogle whipping egg white stages to get a clue of what the recipe asks for.

meriem Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
meriem Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 12:44pm
post #8 of 15

Its hard to know what you might be doing wrong. It says to beat the egg white until stiff peaks form, so if i was doing it i will beat till when you turn the bowl upside down it would drop. maybe your over beating the mixture at the end, that would knock all the air out of the mix. you need to fold it in a 8 figure motion till just combined. Also check your oven temperature like mentioned. And check if your cake is done 20-30 min after (depends on your cake pan size can't give you an exact time) and take it out as soon a tooth pick comes out clean don't over bake it.

handymama Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
handymama Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 1:40pm
post #9 of 15

Have all of your ingredients at room temp.

Stiff peak: when you stick your spatula in and pull straight up, the peak should remain sticking into the air, not flopping over. "Runny" is way, way underbeaten.

Make sure you use cake flour, not all purpose, and check the expiration date.

Once you hit the stage where you fold in the beaten egg whites be very, very gentle.

Try baking at 325.

When your cake starts smelling like cake and the top is no longer shiny it's time to test.

kikiandkyle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kikiandkyle Posted 9 Mar 2013 , 11:16pm
post #10 of 15

What's the official name for a cake that's made using this kind of method? I haven't seen it before. 

shanter Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
shanter Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 12:42am
post #11 of 15


If it weren't for the sour cream, it would be a chiffon cake, so I don't know if it is a "type." A few thoughts:

 

1. As meriem said, when you fold in the egg whites, be gentle. https://www.google.com/search?q=you+tube+folding+in+egg+whites&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I use the "lift and turn over" method instead of the figure 8 (not sure what that is).

 

2. I am surprised that the recipe doesn't include adding a little cream of tartar to the egg whites while you are beating them.

"Adding cream of tartar (1/8 teaspoon for each white) and sugar will help stabilize the beaten egg whites.  Cream of tartar should be added once the whites are foamy.  Continue beating the whites and once they have reached the soft peak stage, gradually add the sugar (this ensures that the sugar fully dissolves into the foam). "

That is from this page, which has other good hints: http://www.joyofbaking.com/eggs.html

 

3. I'm puzzled at the 3/4 to 1 cup of oil. It's not specific. How much did you use?

 

4.When you test the cake and the toothpick comes out clean, it is probably slightly overcooked at that point. The toothpick should come out with a few crumbs on it.

 

5. Everything that handymama said.

 

Good luck!

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 2:18am
post #12 of 15

AHi Shanter, thank you for you reply. I was being very gentle when folding in the egg white. The recipe called for 3/4 to 1 cup so I used in between. I think it might be a little over cook then because the tester came out clean :(

cookielvr13 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
cookielvr13 Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 3:33am
post #13 of 15

AHi,

Lately I've been baking at "low and slow" meaning no more than 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

It takes a little longer but has worked really well so far.

Give it a shot and one tip when baking is ZERO distractions.

Good luck!!

iphoenixle Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
iphoenixle Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 4:49am
post #14 of 15

AHi cookielvr13, how would I time it , or how could I tell when it's done ?

cookielvr13 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
cookielvr13 Posted 10 Mar 2013 , 5:08pm
post #15 of 15

AIf the recipe doesn't give you an estimate check after about 15 or 20 min. If the center is still in a liquid state and jiggles let it bake and check after another 10 to 15 min.

Once the center looks firm, poke w a knife in the center or lightly pat w your hand.

If it feels firm to the touch or knife comes out clean you're done.

Remove from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%