23
Trouble-shooting - fruit cakes
Problem
Possible Cause
Fruit sinking to
the bottom
Low oven temperature which
may cause the cake to take
longer to set, allowing the
fruit to sink. Or, too much
liquid, or raising agent. The
fruit may not have been
properly washed and dried.
Cake sinking /
dipping in the
centre
Too much raising agent in
the mixture. Too hot, or
too cool an oven. Or, not
enough liquid or insufficient
creaming.
Surface cracks
Too small a tin, or too much
mixture in the tin. Too much
raising agent in the mix,
plus not enough liquid or
insufficient creaming. The
oven may be too hot.
Hard outer
crust with a
damp patch
inside
Oven too hot, therefore the
cake baked too quickly. Too
much sugar, or insufficient
liquid.
Burnt outside
Oven temperature too high.
Oven too small for the size of
cake. Insufficient protection
around the tin. Cake baked
on too high a shelf.
Texture with
pronounced
holes.
Too much raising agent. Flour
unevenly mixed.
Texture too
close and cake
insufficiently
risen.
Not enough raising agent.
Not enough liquid. Too
cool an oven. Insufficient
creaming.
Cake crumbles
when cut
Not enough liquid. Baked for
too long. Not enough sugar.
Too much baking agent.
Too dry
Over baking. Insufficient egg
or liquid. Too much raising
agent.
Trouble-shooting - sponge cakes
Problem
Possible Cause
Domed top
Insufficient creaming of
mixture. Cake baked on
too high a shelf position, or
at too high a temperature.
Paper liners can cause the
outer edge not to rise and
the centre to peak.
Hollowed /
sunken top
Too much raising agent.
Oven temperature too low, or
incorrect shelf position. Cake
removed from oven before
it’s cooked. Use of soft tub
margarine.
Very pale, but
cooked
Oven temperature too low.
Baked too low in the oven
Overflowing tin
Tin too small for the amount
of mixture
