Fruit Cake Help Please!

Decorating By SScakes Updated 14 Mar 2007 , 1:19pm by boring

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SScakes Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 7:13am
post #1 of 16

Hi,

I attempted a fruit cake and after the baking time of 3 hours I tested the cake and the skewer came out clean but about 5 mins after taking it out of the oven I noticed in sunk in the center. It does not look that bad but it is not all level...hope this makes sense.

Now, what could have gone wrong? This cake is for a class that I have tomorrow evening and we will be covering it with mazipan and then fondant.....will I be able to to still get an even top?

15 replies
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aine2 Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 8:27am
post #2 of 16

Turn your cake upside down so that the bottom becomes the top. If this is for a class I'm sure they will show you so don't be worried. For fruit cakes, I always add a little extra time to the times given in recipes...just in case! icon_wink.gif Your cake is probably fine and has just settled because it has cooled. Enjoy your class. thumbs_up.gif

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Feefs Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 8:28am
post #3 of 16

Fruit cakes tend not to be level - not sure why it sunk - may depend on the recipe... usually when you cover a fruit cake you flip it over and use the bottom as the top - otherwise u have lumps & bumps everywhere.

I wouldn't too much... just level it off and flip it over


-- Fi

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SScakes Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 11:41am
post #4 of 16

Thanks Aine2 and Feefs,

Much appreciated. I feel better now.

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boring Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 12:49pm
post #5 of 16

I always cover the bottom of a fruit cake that is how I was taught so that you can almost get it level or at least you get a flat surface to work on.

The only reason I could think of it sinking would be it needed a bit more time in the oven. You could have turned the oven off and jsut let it cook that way after your 3 hours. The taecher may have a better idea.

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LeeAnn Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 1:04pm
post #6 of 16

It is undercooked/ what temp were you baking at........what size tin and is it a heavy fruit cake. All my fruit cakes are cooked at 140 and and it should be tested with a butterknife

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SScakes Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 1:07pm
post #7 of 16

I used a 23cm with a depth of 10cm and it was a heavy fruit cake. I tested with a skewer in a few places and it came out clean and it also baked for a full 3 hours at 140

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LeeAnn Posted 12 Mar 2007 , 2:22pm
post #8 of 16

This size takes me 3 hours 40 minutes but I do not check with a skewer as I told you any cake I ALWAYS USE A butter knife I bet if you push the middle of the fruit cake it is stodgy and with a skewer it comes out clean but a knife I find is more accurate and about 15 minutes before push down with your fingers to check after the knife test and it should bounce back up...For certain you can use it for your class just fill the dip with marzipan. Good luck I always write down tin sizes and amount of mixture and times but never ever swear by the times give or take 10 minutes....

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SScakes Posted 13 Mar 2007 , 5:13am
post #9 of 16

Thank you all for your replies......

I removed the wax paper last night and the cake looks really good (smelt great too). Tonight I will take it to class and see what the instructor thinks.

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boring Posted 13 Mar 2007 , 9:50am
post #10 of 16

We cook ours at 160 degrees and use a cake skewer to test with also the touch test. In the cake shop my uncle owned they always used a skewer a wooden one.

Good luck with your cake and let us knolw what the teacher says.

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SScakes Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 6:46am
post #11 of 16

Hi all,

Just a quick update.
Instructor said it was fine, we fixed it by filling the centre and then covered it in Mazipan. it really looks really good.
I feel good about it.

Thanks to everyone for the help

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franjmc Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 7:01am
post #12 of 16

I'm sure your cake will be lovely. I adore fruit cake although it does have rather a bad reputation in Australia as being over cooked and dried out. Probably because often they are icon_wink.gif
I always cook mine at 150 in a fan forced electric oven inside a corrugated cardboard box. It gives a beautifully even heat and I find that my cakes are usually very close to, if not. level. I test them with either a knife like LeeAnn suggested or a bamboo skewer, because I find that metal skewers just don't do the job.

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SScakes Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 7:04am
post #13 of 16

Yes I agree I will be changing my method of testing the cakes. I think the butter knife is a good one and also the bamboo skewer.

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Briarview Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 7:14am
post #14 of 16

I do a lot of fruit cakes and always place cardboard underneath the tin and place layers of newspaper around the outside of the tin. Just before I place the cake in the oven @ 160degrees I wet the top quite liberally with water and I find that it stays level. Nothing better than a really moist fruit cake and it is amazing how many people prefer this. Perhaps the cake should have been cooked a little longer and I have had this problem also but don't know why. The cake tastes great even though it sunk a little in the middle. You can always level it and I always make the bottom of the cake the top when I ice it. Let us know what it is like when it is cut. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

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SScakes Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 7:19am
post #15 of 16

Yes, i am looking forward to tasting this cake. But, since it is for class and I think the instructor plans on having the cake decorated but mothers day, I will have to wait a while.

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boring Posted 14 Mar 2007 , 1:19pm
post #16 of 16

We also wet down the top of the cake and put newspaper around the tin with brown paper on top and cook in fan forced at 160. Never really had a dry one the whole time we have been makeing fruit cakes and we usually do about 20 each chrsitmas. I forgot we also drop the cake on the cement before it goes in the oven to settle it.

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