October 1, 2009 - 11:38am
how to bake cakes resulting in a flat even top
Is there a technique for avoiding the "mountain bulge" in the middle of the cake when baking? How do you achieve a cake with a flat evenly baked top?
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how to bake cakes resulting in a flat even top
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I've never used them, but the people at King Arthur Flour sell cake strips which they claim accomplished your desired goal:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/cake-strips
SteveB
www.breadcetera.com
I do use these & they yield a flat topped cake.
They are also good for baking cheesecakes; they eliminate the need for handling pans of boiling water & the danger of splashing the water into the batter.
Recommended for those of us who aren't in the same league as Qahtan, ;>)
Patsy
I've never used them myself, but the people at King Arthur Flour sell cake strips which they claim accomplishes your desired goal:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/cake-strips
SteveB
www.breadcetera.com
The secret is NOT to beat the day lights out of the batter when you are adding the flour. FOLD it in, in particula a sponge.
Even a heavy fruit cake, gently does it....... qahtan
Picture of flat top fruit cake still in pan, and Swiss/Jelly roll made with Genoise sponge that has to be flat to roll it.. ;-)) qahtan
Wedding cake bakers do two things for flatter layers: Reduce the temperature by 25 degrees, which helps a lot, and then plan on slicing off the slightly domed top for perfectly flat layers. They have an adjustable frame that supports a "bow saw", but you can improvise with a long, clean hack saw blade and a couple pieces of wood.
I noticed those insulating bands on King Art's website. Makes sense...the sides would stay cool and not set before the center.
Terri
I don't do either............. qahtan ;-))
Bjames....when I baked wedding cakes, I cut an old terry cloth towel into two inch wide strips (that's how deep wedding pans are) and then wet them and wrapped them around my cake pans, using safty pins to hold the strips together. The batter would rise up evenly, creating a flat top....I wrapped the pans with two layers of towel strips and they never burned...they would scorch a little, but it worked. I used the same strips for years....make sure you wet the strips throughly and wring them out, then wrap around pans.
I don't believe no one has mentioned this...
Turn the cake upside down. The bottom is always flat.
Mini
But then if you had it as a rounded top you would end up with a space all around the bottom,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ;-(((( qahtan
Genoise.
6 whole eggs
1 cup sugar
warmed in large bowl and beaten till thick like custard.
Fold in ½ cup melted butter and 1 cups sifted flour alternating each.
bake as you wish, 350 . 35 minutes.
If making Swiss roll. line pan with greased parchment paper, but get it to fit nicely. pour in batter gently and smooth evenly over pan, bake 25 mins check to see if springs back when touched with finger. Do not over bake or it will crack when rolling.
remember to work quickly after removing cake from oven.
When done run knife round edge of sponge to release from sides,, turn out onto clean tea rowel that has been dredged heavily with sugar, remove parchment and useing the aid of tea towel roll up not too tight, place on cooling rack still in towel for about 10 -15 mins, gently unroll remove tea towel, reroll to cool, then when cool unroll, spread with jam, buttercream whatever, . enjoy