Find the answer to the most common cake-baking problem and cake failure here. Why does cake sink in the middle? And learn ways to fix it.
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- Why and What Causes the Cake to Sink in the middle
- 1) High Oven Temperature - Hot Oven
- 2) Low Oven Temperature - Cold Oven
- 3) Inappropriate amounts of Leavening agents -
- 4) Over-aerating the batter
- 5) Changing Pan's directions at the wrong time.
- 6) Using the Wrong Type and size pan.
- 7) Opening and Shutting the Oven Door
- 8) Too much of Wet Ingredients
- 9) Wrong Recipe
- How to Prevent the cake from sinking, the next time you bake
- 6) Sift in the dry ingredients
- 7) Rotate the pans at the right time
- 8) Choose the Right Recipe
Why and What Causes the Cake to Sink in the middle
Why does my Cake sink in the middle, while baking? Why does my cake sink after baking? has been one of the most asked questions by my readers. It not only happens to beginners or to the ones who bake very rarely; but happens to the best of us.
While Cake sinking is one problem, There are so many other issues to baking a cake perfectly. Next time you bake a cake, Read these tips on baking a perfect cake. And you will confidently bake an excellent cake
Other problems can be Hard cakes after baking or Dense Cakes
And read this one on Preparing a cake pan properly
The cake has sunk in the middle. The reason why the cake sinks in the middle is
1) High Oven Temperature - Hot Oven
With high oven temperature, the cake rises rapidly and immediately sinks down. causing the cake to sink in the middle.
This is because, with high temperatures, the leavening agents in cake batter immediately start reacting to the heat and cause the sudden rapid rise of the cake. Not able to withhold the structure so fast, the cake will drop down suddenly causing a crater in the middle.
2) Low Oven Temperature - Cold Oven
Similarly, while the oven is cold, these leavening agents start reacting very slowly, creating large uneven holes and pockets. causing loose structure, eventually making the cake sink in the middle
3) Inappropriate amounts of Leavening agents -
The recipe would have used large amounts of baking powder and baking soda. Resulting in the cake sinking in the middle.
Using too much baking powder and baking soda will create large air holes or air pockets, weakening the structure further and making the cake collapse in the middle. One more reason, why cakes collapse in the middle.
4) Over-aerating the batter
When there is a lot of air incorporated into the batter, which makes the cake not able to withhold the structure, again resulting in the cake sinking in the middle. This is especially in the case of chiffon and sponge cakes. So incorporating right amount of air is essential.
5) Changing Pan's directions at the wrong time.
Sometimes, we need to rotate pans to make the cake bakes evenly and properly. This usually happens with ovens that have hot spots or unstable oven temperatures. Rotating pans at the wrong time will make the cake batter rise rapidly and sink. Or rise slowly and sink. both scenarios are totally possible.
6) Using the Wrong Type and size pan.
Your Cake can sink in the middle when you use the wrong type of pan and the wrong size. Every recipe specifies a particular kind of pan, and size. Some even give substitute pan kinds and pan sizes. But not all pan conversions work well.
Now if you use an eight-inch cake batter in a 6 or a 5-inch, there will not be enough space for the cake to expand while baking.
Similarly, using an eight-inch cake batter in a 10-inch pan will make your cake not rise properly. Because there is not enough batter to support the pan size and eventually it will have a loose structure, causing cakes to not rise properly or rise and sink rapidly.
7) Opening and Shutting the Oven Door
Opening and slamming the oven door, while the cake is baking, is one of the main reasons why the cake sink in the middle. This happens because, a sudden inflow of cold air from outside will disrupt the cake structure, and the risen cake will collapse and cause the cake to sink in the middle.
8) Too much of Wet Ingredients
A cake batter must have a proportionate amount of wet and dry ingredients. For a good cake structure, there must be flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. But both of them must complement each other and help in building the structure of the cake. A high quantity of wet ingredients will eventually sink your cake down. and will cause sunken cakes
9) Wrong Recipe
Sometimes, the recipe could just be wrong. The ingredients quantity could be off, there could me too much of wet ingredients or maybe the baking soda or baking powder could be more. So choose the right recipe for your cake.
Some recipes to help you get started - Try these no-fail cake recipes and perfect for beginners too.
Moist Chocolate Cake, Eggless Vanilla Cake or Easy Coffee banana cake, or this White Velvet Cake
How to Prevent the cake from sinking, the next time you bake
Next time you bake a cake, to avoid the cake sinking in the middle, make sure you follow these few guidelines.
1) Right Oven Temperature Use Oven Thermometer
Always make sure your oven is pre-heated well, at least for about 20 minutes at the temperature mentioned in the recipe. Use an in-oven thermometer. Using an in-oven thermometer helps to pinpoint the right temperature in the oven. Most often than not, the temperature reading in your oven is not right.
2) Use the Right Pan Size and type of Oven
The recipe will always mention the type and size of the pan to use, and recipe creators do so only after a number of trials. So, my suggestion is to stick to the recipe specification, unless and otherwise substitutes are mentioned.
3) Do Not Open the oven door while baking
Do not open and slam the oven door while baking. Never let outside cool air enter the oven while baking. In the same way, if you have opened then do not slam it. Disruption in the oven temperature because of cold air from outside, will weaken the cake structure, and if the cake is risen by then, it will definitely collapse causing the cake to sink.
4) Use the right amount of leavening agents.
If you have chosen the right recipe, then the quantity for leavening agents will be correctly specified but in case you have a doubt then going by the rule of thumb
1 cup flour - 1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup flour - ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.
To know more on >> Baking Powder and Baking Soda
Also, check for baking powder and soda freshness regularly every 3 months. If it is more than 3 months toss it over and get a new one.
5) Incorporate just the right amount of air
In any cake batter, incorporating air is essential. It is only by incorporating air do you get those light fluffy cakes. Now how much air to incorporate?
So first, while creaming butter and sugar - beat until sugar is dissolved and the butter is pale in color. this will take about 2 mins on medium-low speed.
Then while beating eggs into the batter, add one egg at a time, beating for a few seconds after every addition. Once all the eggs are added, beat just for a minute on low speed. You will not go past the ribbon stage at any point.
6) Sift in the dry ingredients
Always sift the dry ingredients ( flour, salt baking powder, baking soda, and salt). Sifting in the dry ingredients into the creamed butter sugar and eggs mixture will help distribute the baking powder and baking soda evenly so there are no concentrates of leavening agents at one particular place, which may also result in the cake falling in the middle.
7) Rotate the pans at the right time
If you have to rotate the cake pans, in between their baking time, then do so only halfway through your baking time, not early not late. Just exactly in the middle of your baking time.
8) Choose the Right Recipe
Choose the right recipe, from good resource website like Sallys baking Addiction. I totally love love her recipes, for the in-depth detail
Or check these cake recipes from my website
If you have read these guidelines and still have a problem with sinking cakes, then reach out to me at shri@bakewithsweetspot.com or on Instagram @sweetspotbakeblog.
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