Does this scenario sound familiar to you?

Cakes are one of my favourite things to bake, however cutting into a cake in front of guests can be a little daunting if you don’t know if it is completely cooked through or not. You can always test a cookie, cupcake or muffin but you can’t always test a cake…or can you?

Usually baking times in a recipe are what has worked for the author of the recipe however, this baking time won’t always be the exact same for you because it is likely that you will be baking your cake in a different oven. And we all know ovens have different ‘personalities’. Thus, knowing a few secrets in how to tell when your cake is done can be very helpful so that you can avoid serving raw cake to guests and also this from happening. Here’s a few baking secrets of mine I’ve learned along the way to help you –

How to know when your cake is done:

1. The edges of the cake pull away

Usually a cake has finished cooking when the edges of the cake pull away from the side of the tin. You should be able to see a gap between the cake and the tin.

If your cake is bouncy/springy when you gently press down on it with your finger, it is likely that your cake is ready to be taken out of the oven. A wobbly or firm middle that doesn’t bounce back is a sign that the cake needs more baking time.

5. Cut the cake! If in doubt/too eager/excited to see what the cake looks like on the inside, you can always cut a very thin wedge from the cake to have a peep – but don’t eat it just yet! Fit the wedge back into the cake and cover the cake completely with icing/frosting. No one will ever know!Alternatively, level the cooled cake with a bread knife, taking a thin layer from the top off (you can eat this part!) Check for texture, taste, and ensure the cake is cooked through.

With these baking secrets you’ll never have to worry about serving an unbaked cake ever again!

Phew.