Baking Cake.
I recently came across this community and I found out many people are finding it difficult to bake a cake. I get it. It’s intimidating for a first timer. Thus, I am going to try and give you the easiest formula to make your first cake.
Disclaimer - most cakes are some variation of a pound cake, so let’s start with that one. A pound cake is a cake that weighs a pound - about half a kilo, 500g.
To make a pound cake you need these things.
200g butter
200g white sugar
200g eggs - which comes about 4 medium eggs. Room temperature.
125 mL milk, if using milk powder - 4tbsp milk powder and 125ml of warm water.
200g flour
1 tbsp of vanilla essence
1tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/4tsp of salt.
And to mix the batter, use a mixer.
Process - melt the butter in a microwave if you have one. Don’t fully melt it, 45s is enough. If doing in a pan, melt it for 5-6 minutes on low to medium heat. It should be softened or room temp butter otherwise.
Add butter and sugar with salt in the mixer and blend. There should not be any granular sugar left after blending.
Break the eggs individually into a small bowl and add one by one in the same mixer, DO NOT ADD EGGS DIRECTLY IN YOUR BATTER. Add vanilla essence and blend.
Sift your flour and add BP and BS. Put it in the mixer jar, add the milk, and blend. The milk actually hydrates the flour. All the flour should be mixed into the batter. If you dunk a spoon and lift it, the batter should be ribbon like and make an 8 on top of it.
This is your basic batter. If you want to make chocolate cake, replace 30g of batter with same amount of good quality cocoa powder. And always add 1/4tsp of any instant coffee powder in it. It brings out the chocolateyness of the cocoa powder. It’s a non negotiable.
PS - if you have some orange or lemon lying around, add about 1/2 tsp of the zest. It gives a beautiful flavor to your cake.
Now baking. Always grease the tin. If you are out of butter, use any neutral oil. It works great. Always, always, I mean always, you need a cartouche. Use baking paper. Cut as per the tin size and place it at the bottom. Pour in the batter and bake. You can add a few embellishment on top if you like. Bake for 40-50 minutes at 180C or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. If you are using a pressure cooker, put a plate underneath the baking dish, then cover WITHOUT THE WHISTLE. Cook for 35-50 minutes on low medium heat. Again use the toothpick method.
Always, I mean always, take the cake out once done, let it cool. Your cake needs to rest. It should feel coolish when you touch it.
Enjoy.