Tips on baking
Baking results
Possible cause
Remedy
The cake is not browned
sufficiently below
Incorrect oven level
Put the cake on a lower oven level
The cake sinks (becomes
soggy, lumpy, streaky)
Oven temperature too high
Use a lower setting
The cake sinks (becomes
soggy, lumpy, streaky)
Baking time is too short
Set a longer baking time
Do not set higher temperatures to decrease baking
times
The cake sinks (becomes
soggy, lumpy, streaky)
Too much liquid in the mixture
Use less liquid. Look at the mixing times, specially
when you use mixing machines
Cake is too dry
Oven temperature too low
Set a higher oven temperature
Cake is too dry
Baking time too long
Set a shorter baking time
Cake does not brown
equally
Oven temperature too high and
baking time too short
Set a lower oven temperature and a longer baking
time
Cake does not brown
equally
No equal mixture
Put the mixture equally on the baking tray
Cake does not cook in the
baking time set
Temperature too low
Use a slightly higher oven temperature setting
Top oven cooking chart
Food
Shelf position
Gas mark
Cooking Time (Total
Hours)
Biscuits
1-2
4
0:10 - 0:20
Small / Queen Cake
1-2
5
0:18 - 0:25
Sponge
1-2
4
0:18 - 0:20
Victoria Sandwich
1-2
4
0:18 - 0:25
Gingerbread
1-2
2
1:15 - 1:30
Meringues
1-2
1
2:30 - 3:00
Flapjack
1-2
5
0:25 - 0:30
Shortbread
1-2
3
0:45 - 1:05
Fruit Pies, Crumbles
1-2
6
0:40 - 0:50
Milk Puddings
1-2
3
1:30 - 2:00
Scones
1-2
7
0:08 - 0:12
Choux Pastry
1-2
6
0:30 - 0:35
Éclairs / Profiteroles
1-2
5
0:20 - 0:30
Flaky Pastry
1-2
6
0:25 - 0:40
12
