Comments on: It’s a Cake, Not Rocket Science (Or is it?) http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:36:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Indianapolis Wedding Cakes http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-9040 Indianapolis Wedding Cakes Mon, 03 May 2010 01:39:37 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-9040 I think it turned out great looking, especially if you are not particularly used to baking cakes. A friend of mine always said, "Baking IS a science!" Great work though, I am sure the next one will be even better with fewer issues! :) I think it turned out great looking, especially if you are not particularly used to baking cakes. A friend of mine always said, “Baking IS a science!” Great work though, I am sure the next one will be even better with fewer issues! :)

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4871 Kimberly Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:54:42 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4871 I do think that the issue (if there actually is one) may be your oven temp... and buttermilk certainly can't hurt... but I also think that you can get away with using your 1" layers if you add a couple more of them. Even under perfect circumstances I don't think you'd get MUCH more height out of them... Every time I've made this cake I've used 4" or 6" pans and the cakes were probably about 2-3" at most. (I did have leftover batter when I used the 4" pans... so made a few cupcakes.) I do think that the issue (if there actually is one) may be your oven temp… and buttermilk certainly can’t hurt… but I also think that you can get away with using your 1″ layers if you add a couple more of them. Even under perfect circumstances I don’t think you’d get MUCH more height out of them… Every time I’ve made this cake I’ve used 4″ or 6″ pans and the cakes were probably about 2-3″ at most. (I did have leftover batter when I used the 4″ pans… so made a few cupcakes.)

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4870 Kimberly Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:54:26 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4870 I do think that the issue may be your oven temp... and buttermilk certainly can't hurt... but I also think that you can get away with using your 1" layers if you add a couple more of them. Even under perfect circumstances I don't think you'd get MUCH more height out of them... Every time I've made this cake I've used 4" or 6" pans and the cakes were probably about 2-3" at most. (I did have leftover batter when I used the 4" pans... so made a few cupcakes.) I do think that the issue may be your oven temp… and buttermilk certainly can’t hurt… but I also think that you can get away with using your 1″ layers if you add a couple more of them. Even under perfect circumstances I don’t think you’d get MUCH more height out of them… Every time I’ve made this cake I’ve used 4″ or 6″ pans and the cakes were probably about 2-3″ at most. (I did have leftover batter when I used the 4″ pans… so made a few cupcakes.)

]]> By: Jennilynn http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4869 Jennilynn Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:30:05 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4869 After reading more comments I'm thinking its probably your oven. When you get home just check out the thermometer before you decide what to do :o) But the whole lemon zest & buttermilk thing really shouldn't be the issue since it is powder you are using (baking powder is essentially baking soda w/ acid added to it). And as other said- box cakes are not the devil! If you want to go the box cake route but be a little more creative you can go the Sandra Lee (semi-homemade) route- I'm sure she has some sort of cake recipe. After reading more comments I’m thinking its probably your oven. When you get home just check out the thermometer before you decide what to do :o) But the whole lemon zest & buttermilk thing really shouldn’t be the issue since it is powder you are using (baking powder is essentially baking soda w/ acid added to it). And as other said- box cakes are not the devil! If you want to go the box cake route but be a little more creative you can go the Sandra Lee (semi-homemade) route- I’m sure she has some sort of cake recipe.

]]> By: ariana http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4868 ariana Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:51:28 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4868 Sarah, that made me LOL that he told you not to make it from scratch! Kimberly, do you really think that 1 inch layers is how it was supposed to come out? That seems wierd to me, because the recipe said to use 9 inch rounds and a 2 inch high cake seems so flat. I did buy a mix and a thermometer.. now I just have to go home and decide what to do.. mix and get one fluffy cake or two more flat layers to layer ontop of previous layers. My concern is that if it didn't rise properly it will taste too dense. If you didn't see my fb/twitter update, I did a google search a few hours ago on "why do cakes fail to rise" and guess what post is on the first google results page? Ah the notoriety.. ;) Sarah, that made me LOL that he told you not to make it from scratch!

Kimberly, do you really think that 1 inch layers is how it was supposed to come out? That seems wierd to me, because the recipe said to use 9 inch rounds and a 2 inch high cake seems so flat.

I did buy a mix and a thermometer.. now I just have to go home and decide what to do.. mix and get one fluffy cake or two more flat layers to layer ontop of previous layers. My concern is that if it didn’t rise properly it will taste too dense.

If you didn’t see my fb/twitter update, I did a google search a few hours ago on “why do cakes fail to rise” and guess what post is on the first google results page? Ah the notoriety.. ;)

]]> By: murphyec http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4867 murphyec Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:44:26 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4867 Honestly, even the most avid bakers i know, the ones who make wedding cakes for friends, use the box mixes for cakes, so that is what I do. Honestly, even the most avid bakers i know, the ones who make wedding cakes for friends, use the box mixes for cakes, so that is what I do.

]]> By: marybeth at www.babygoodbuys.comWe http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4866 marybeth at www.babygoodbuys.comWe Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:19:54 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4866 Well, I'm all for taking the easy way out! I'd use a Duncan Heinz mix with homemade icing. Wilton recommends that brand and professional cake decorators swear by it! Really, most mixes rival the flavor of homemade, and they also seem to stand up better to decorating. Besides, it's the decorating that counts (this time around, at least!) Well, I’m all for taking the easy way out! I’d use a Duncan Heinz mix with homemade icing. Wilton recommends that brand and professional cake decorators swear by it! Really, most mixes rival the flavor of homemade, and they also seem to stand up better to decorating. Besides, it’s the decorating that counts (this time around, at least!)

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4865 Kimberly Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:17:27 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4865 Oh, also... I know that to all of us who bake, the extra 2-minute beating of the batter in my recipe that you used this time does seem counter-intuitive, BUT it is a critical part of the instructions and this recipe comes out every time for me and for all the commenters I've seen who have tried it on other blogs. Hence, the name, "Perfect Party Cake." :) Oh, also…
I know that to all of us who bake, the extra 2-minute beating of the batter in my recipe that you used this time does seem counter-intuitive, BUT it is a critical part of the instructions and this recipe comes out every time for me and for all the commenters I’ve seen who have tried it on other blogs. Hence, the name, “Perfect Party Cake.” :)

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4864 Kimberly Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:14:20 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4864 Oops, that was me above... my link didn't go for some reason. Darn iPhone. ;) Anyway... I think given that you're using 9" pans that the height of your cakes are probably about right. As someone already said, if it were a really high cake, that would indicate a lot of air which doesn't provide much structure... hence you can't really put fondant on an angel food cake.... it would be too heavy for the cake to support. My 9" layers on James' cake were only about an inch thick, and I used 2 of them... so my bottom layer was not as tall as my top layer, which was a 6" cake made up of 4 layers. Your cake will just be one round cake rather than a tiered one, and I think that 4 cakes 9" around and 1" thick layered with buttercream should yield a cake that in the end will be around 6-8" tall. Keep going, you're doing great!! :) Oops, that was me above… my link didn’t go for some reason. Darn iPhone. ;)
Anyway… I think given that you’re using 9″ pans that the height of your cakes are probably about right. As someone already said, if it were a really high cake, that would indicate a lot of air which doesn’t provide much structure… hence you can’t really put fondant on an angel food cake…. it would be too heavy for the cake to support. My 9″ layers on James’ cake were only about an inch thick, and I used 2 of them… so my bottom layer was not as tall as my top layer, which was a 6″ cake made up of 4 layers. Your cake will just be one round cake rather than a tiered one, and I think that 4 cakes 9″ around and 1″ thick layered with buttercream should yield a cake that in the end will be around 6-8″ tall. Keep going, you’re doing great!! :)

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/08/12/its-a-cake-not-rocket-science-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4863 Kimberly Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:58:14 +0000 http://www.becoming-mom.net/?p=1303#comment-4863 It sounds like your latest cake came out fine. I have always made it with buttermilk and I also did 6" cake pans and then split the cakes in half to build the cake. I've also made that recipe both with and without the lemon and it comes out beautifully either way. I would use your white cakes and just make another batch, giving you 4 cakes to layer without splitting them In half. I would buy an oven thermometer, they're inexpensive and you can just leave it in your oven all the time. Don't give up and use box cake. I guarantee if you followed the recipe to a T, which you did, it will be fine. It sounds like your latest cake came out fine. I have always made it with buttermilk and I also did 6″ cake pans and then split the cakes in half to build the cake. I’ve also made that recipe both with and without the lemon and it comes out beautifully either way. I would use your white cakes and just make another batch, giving you 4 cakes to layer without splitting them In half. I would buy an oven thermometer, they’re inexpensive and you can just leave it in your oven all the time. Don’t give up and use box cake. I guarantee if you followed the recipe to a T, which you did, it will be fine.

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