Cake problem.....?!
my question is how do i bake a sponge cake that has a flat top?
Answers: ok i can cook a cake BUT i ALWAYS ALWAYS end up with a huge bump one one side of the cake....
my question is how do i bake a sponge cake that has a flat top?
You need to make sure that your oven is level. It sounds like it tilts to one side. Do your cakes alway get that bump on the same side?
If you can figure out which side is off- you can make a wedge from tinfoil to place below the rack to lift the low side.
Then just make sure that you evenly spread the batter, I always push a little extra to the edges to prevent the bump in the middle of the cake.
Good luck next time!
If your cakes get a bump on one side, the racks in your oven are not level, or your stove itself is not level. Get a level and check it out.
Well you should even out the batter when yo set it in the pan
Your oven temperature is uneven - you can place a Pyrex cup with water on the side where the "bump" occurs and that should absorb the excess heat.
If you have the manual for your oven there are ways you can calibrate the oven to fix the problem - if not call a service tech to tune up all your kitchen devices (microwave, oven, stove and fridge) Sears provides a good tune up service and take care of all appliance brands. Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Rotate your pans 1/2 way through the baking time. Pros end up with this problem also but you never see it because they cut off the top (the bump)of the cake before they fill and stack them.
Either your oven is not level or you have a hot spot in it, which will make one area rise before the rest of the cake. The other answerers gave you good advice about leveling your stove/oven. Always cook your cakes in the center of the rack and position the rack in the center of the oven. If you are still having the problem after leveling your oven, then oven calibration is next. Also, rotating your pan during baking can help.
Check to see if your oven rack is level. If it isn't, you can either use a small wedge of tin foil to level the pan, or just rotate the pan partway through cooking.
You'll usually end up with a bit of a bump anyways. To solve this, flip the cake out onto a plate upside down - that seems to help for some reason. Or, take a really long slicing knife - like a bread knife - and carefully slice off the bump to create a flat surface. No one's going to know since you're going to frost the cake anyways. Also, it makes a nice snack for the chef ;-)
Level your stove and the problem will disappear.