Baking a cake...what causes this??

[wdwmom2]

What causes a cake to do this? I use a box mix, measure accurately, put it in the oven, and it seems to rise nicely(to the top of the pan). When it is finished baking, it is now down in the pan about 1/4 of the way. I use a Longaberger 9x13. I have also used aluminum and have the same thing happen. I am not at a high altitude. Can anyone shed some light on this????

Sharon

 

[Disneyaholic]

Is there a "help line" phone number on the cake mix box? They're usually a big help in pinpointing problems, and will often send you a few coupons to boot!

 

[SplshMtn99]

I'll take a guess with a scientific explanation --- rather than a bakers explanation.

Since warm air rises....it "inflates" the cake.
As the cake cools, there is less warm air....so it "deflates".

Sounds good to me????
Let me know if I'm right.


If it never rose in the first place, I would have said old mix with old yeast.

 

[dizneegirl]

Maybe over-mixing the batter?

 

[Mickey527]

There is a very easy explaination. The outside of the cake bakes before the inside so the middle keeps rising while it bakes as the outside stops. This makes the cake harder to frost and you have to cut off the "hump".
You can slow the outside baking by lowering the outside temperature of the pan so it bakes more evenly.
I make wedding cakes so this used to happen to me all the time until I bought a device that stops this from happening. It is fabric strips with cheesecloth on the inside and the fabric that ironing board covers are made of on the outside.
The easiest and cheapest way is to take a length of paper towel and fold it to the height of the pan. I use 3 sheets(or however many it will take to go around your cake pan) folded lengthwise in 1/2 then in 1/2 again. Wet this paper towel with cold water and squeeze it out. wrap the paper towel on the outside of the cake pan and clip it with a paper clip or some kind of metal clip that won't melt. I use those black clips that you buy at the office supply store that look like the chip clips. Don't know what they are called. If you can make the paper towel thicker, maybe 8 thicknesses it would work better to keep the pan cooler as the cake heats.
Hope this helps all those birthday cakes come out flatter. Peggie

 

[soccerchick]

How frustrating!

A couple of possibilities---

1. Most likely it is over-mixing like another poster said
2. you can put the bands around your pan to help w/heat distribution. I have never tried Mickey527's method, but Michael's sells a band made by Wilton. Not sure of the price.
3. If it is air bubbling, you can get rid of some of the bubbles before baking. I put down a thick dish rag and gently drop the pan 4 inches or so onto the rag. I do this up to 50 times, depending on the size of the pan. You can see the air bubbles rise and pop.

The suggestion to call the manufacturer is a good one-- try their website. Many of them have a troubleshooting section.

 

[wdwmom2]

Wow, I know that I'm no rocket scientist but baking a "pretty" cake shouldn't be this difficult. I will try the strips wrapped around the outside of the pan. I don't think that I overmix the cake but I will pay more attention to this the next time. Wish me luck!!!

Sharon

 

[Kismetdreams]

Also, when you put the cake batter into the pan, kind of spread more batter out to the outsides and have less in the center When it backes, it comes out more evenly.

 

[wdwmom2]

kristen

I just had to say how wonderful your wedding pics are. Maybe my husband and I will renew our vows at the 10 year mark.

Sharon

 

[betz]

Another thing it may be is your oven temp. Make sure your oven is at the temp it is supposed to be at before you put the cake in the oven. Otherwise you will be placing your cake in an oven that has a hot bottom and cooler top, thus baking the cake unevenly. My oven beeps when it reaches the temp I set it at. Also I am able to calibrate the oven to make sure that it is at the right temperature I set it at. If your oven is not calibrated correctly the oven may be to hot or to cool.

 

[wdwmom2]

Well everyone, I just baked another cake. Thanks Mickey 527, the damp papertowels around the outside did the trick!!! Thanks for everyones suggestions, they are greatly appreciated.

Sharon