Last night I made 3 strawberry cakes using the original WASC recipe and all 3 of them came out with a sink hole right in the middle. What could be happening and can i still use those cakes... wedding on sat!

Please someone help me.

Did you open the oven while they were baking? That can cause sinking. I would level the cake and see what it looks like on the inside. Maybe it's just the top part that has some issues.

I did have to open the door as my light is out on my over-arrggghhh.. I will level them tonight and hopefully I can salvage them.

thanks so much!

What size pan are you using and how long did you bake them for? Are you sure that the center is cooked?

Even if you have to open the dor to check, I would wait to do that until at least the minimum cooking time for the cake has past. That way even if it's not completely done, it should be done enough not to fall. Good luck!

2 of them were 8x2 squares and the other 12x2 square. I tested with a tootpick and it came out clean??? and while on the subject.. is the toothpick thing a bad idea?

I had that problem 2 summers ago and I was ready to give up on cakes all together. Some said it was humidity but I started making sure that I used only cold water in my cakes and only one kind of egg and made sure my mixing bowl was cold and I have not had that problem again. Good luck with it I know it really sucks.

What did you add to it to make it strawberry? If you added puree you may have added too much and that will cause them to fall flat like pancakes and be really gummy in texture.

It may be a box mix thing I dont really know. My MIL had the same problem but could not tell me why so I just starting trying different things and that is what helped. I wish i had the answers for you but I dont. I do use a doctored box recipe.

thank you all for your help.