FOOD NEWS
The Most Ignored Cake Baking Advice Is Also The Most Apparent
By Betsy Parks
Cooking can have a bit of leeway, but baking is more of an exact science. Each ingredient needs to be added precisely and in a timely manner for a cake to rise properly.
Unless you're familiar with a certain cake recipe and know what you can and can't change, cakes come out much better when you follow every step the way the author intended.
If a recipe calls for a certain ingredient, it stands to reason that the author tested the recipe and decided that it was the best choice for that particular cake.
For example, swapping out baking soda for baking powder results in insufficient acid for the leavener. While adding vinegar can help the baking soda work, it alters the flavor.
Even if you use all the right components in a recipe, you still need to follow the instructions to tell you when to add each ingredient, the oven temperature, and the baking time.
Read your recipe once before you start baking, and then read it again backward. Once you have a feel for what ingredients and equipment you need, then start measuring and mixing.