I have made this cake recipe quite a few times (I just made it last week) and it's been perfect. Last night I baked it and it came out with a hard dry crust on the top and sides (the cake was moist inside though).

The only thing I did differently was grease my pans with crisco and then flour them. But that wouldn't account for the crust on the top of the cake anyway.

I am at a loss and totally panicking because I have to bake a 10", 8" and 6" for my niece's bat mitzvah (delivery is tomorrow).

Here is the recipe:

4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
2/3 cups of oil
2tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
I package Jello Brand vanilla pudding
3/4 cup orange juice

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare 9" pan.
In mixer bowl with paddle attachment, beat together eggs and sugar. Add oil and oj . In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients and add to wet mixture a little at a time until completely combined. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 60 mins.

Suggestions ..

Sugar rising to the surface due to incomplete mixing .. OR
too much sugar that the batter cannot absorb

Crisco is "frying" the exterior of the batter ..

I agree with auzzi. Usually when you get a crust on top it has a lot to do with the sugar in the recipe. Maybe try mixing it a bit longer next time.

I also agree with auzzi about the Crisco. When I use shortening and flour to prepare my pans I get a kind of shell on the outside. It sucks. I switched to Baker's Joy pan spray and it's way better.

annie

Thanks!!

I think it may have to do with my oven. It took me 90 mins to bake an 8" round.

I am having my oven replaced next week (although that doesn't help me now!)