If you’re celebrating a special day, like a birthday, wedding, shower, and the like, it’s time to pull out all of the stops and make a show-stopping cake. Whether you need a birthday cake or an over-the-top holiday cake, follow these Test Kitchen tips for a cake that’s scrumptious (and picture-perfect) every time. The Evangelical Alliance argued that “human rights have been affirmed and everyone is better off” after the ECHR ruling. The Christian Institute has supported the family in defending their baking company against Mr Lee’s legal action since 2014. There has been a mixed reaction to the ECHR ruling from Christian organisations and LGTB rights groups who had campaigned on opposite sides of the debate. The case began in 2014, when Mr Lee visited a Belfast branch of Ashers Bakery, and asked them to bake a cake decorated with the gay marriage slogan.

Pound Cake

Next, you’ll add the crumb coat, a thin layer of frosting that secures crumbs to the cake and prevents any from showing up in your final layer of frosting. If you make your frosting ahead of time and refrigerate it for safe keeping, bring the frosting back to room temperature.

Now that you know how to make a cake from scratch, keep practicing your cake decorating skills at home with different colored frosting, piping techniques, and toppings. For more cake ideas, here are some easy and elegant cake recipes to inspire your next baking session. When a cake bakes too quickly, it can develop tunnels and cracks; too slowly, and it can be coarse. Allow your oven to preheat for at least 10 minutes, and use an oven thermometer to be sure it’s reached the proper temperature. If you’re using dark cake pans, you’ll want to reduce the oven temperature called for in your recipe by 25°F. No one wants a cake to stick to the pan, so it’s important to prep your pans before pouring in the batter.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Read more about double chocolate loaf cake here.

To help the cakes cook more evenly, wrap damp cake strips or pieces of torn-up kitchen towel around the outside of each pan. Cook the cakes at 325° F (163° C), since a lower baking temperature will help them stay flat. The cakes are done when a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Turn the cakes out onto a wire rack, then chill them for at least 1 hour so they’re easier to cut and frost. If the layers domed during baking, saw off the top with a serrated knife to create a flat surface.

Spoon some of the batter in and then set another pan on the scale. Keep filling each of your cake pans while you weigh them so the batter is divided evenly. Divide the batter between your two cake pans or sheets. Bake the cake pans for around 25 minutes or 15 minutes for the sheet pans. To ensure even browning, rotate the pans or sheets halfway through the baking time. The cake is done when a tester or toothpick comes out clean after being stuck in the center.

This popular magic cake has three distinct layers, and it only requires four ingredients to pull it off. Store leftover bundt cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. If you overmix the cake batter, it will come out dense and tough and not be very pleasant to eat. The frosting will prevent the cake from drying out. Chilling the cakes will make them easier to slice and frost. Never try cutting or trimming warm cakes because they’ll tear more. Plan on increasing the baking time by one half when you reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Let the cake stand for 30 minutes so the frosting sets up. Let the cake layers cool in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes maximum. To remove the cakes from the pans, run a knife around the edges, which will loosen them from the sides of the pans. Place a wire rack over the top of each cake and flip the pan. Gently lift the pans off, being careful not to tear the edges of the cakes. If you used waxed or parchment paper, carefully peel the paper off the cake.