Chocolate Cake Sinks

Decorating By scarlett873 Updated 9 Feb 2007 , 8:15pm by HollyPJ

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scarlett873 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 2:37pm
post #1 of 14

Hi everyone!

I have noticed a problem with sinking cakes, but it only happens when I bake chocolate cakes. Last week, I had to bake 2 round 8in chocolate layers and then 1 12in square chocolate layer and 1 square 12in french vanilla layer. The french vanilla layer came out perfectly (used flower nail trick)! But all of my chocolate layers sank after they came out of the oven! They were done...I checked that.

I've tried to bake them a little longer, but the edges come out hard and crunchy and the tops tend to split. I've also tried to use the baking strips around my pans too.

They were DH box mixes with a box of pudding and an extra egg added. I baked them one at a time (8in cakes were done together) at 350. And a flower nail was used in each of the 12in cakes.

Thanks so much for any suggestions!

13 replies
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shelbur10 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 2:45pm
post #2 of 14

I'm not sure what else you could try, but I have always used DH mixes, but recently tried Betty Crocker instead. I've found that they rise much more nicely and seem to be a little more dense and sturdy. Did you doctor the mix at all?

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scarlett873 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 2:52pm
post #3 of 14

I tried a Betty Crocker mix once and was so unhappy with it...maybe it was a fluke! I should probably try it again...

I followed the ingredients exactly as it states on the box, however I added one small box of instant pudding and an extra egg.

I was thrilled with the texture and flavor, but the center just sank...lol

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grama_j Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 5:45pm
post #4 of 14

" I followed the ingredients exactly as it states on the box, however I added one small box of instant pudding and an extra egg. "

Then I would suggest not doing that ! icon_wink.gif
Just teasing you scarlett..... I've had it happen to me from time to time to, and never found out why..... Sure makes me mad though !!

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vdrsolo Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 5:54pm
post #5 of 14

Did you open the oven door often to check the cakes?? I have read and have also experienced that chocolate cakes are more susceptible to the frequent loss of heat than non chocolate cakes. It affects the baking alot more.

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bakincakin Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 6:01pm
post #6 of 14

Sorry about your cakes. I have come to the conclussion about myself that I can not bake chocolate cakes to save my life. I tried another one a week ago and this time it took forever to bake and still had the burning smell (before it was remotely done) as it was cooking. WHY GOD WHY icon_cry.gificon_cry.gificon_cry.gif

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Narie Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 6:08pm
post #7 of 14

Did the mix already have pudding added? If so, try using the mix without the pudding added if you are going to add pudding mix. I don't know if that is the problem, but it might be.

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leily Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 6:35pm
post #8 of 14

I use your same recipe with the DH mixes. The only difference I do besides what you have stated is I always bake my cakes at 325. I know it takes a little bit longer but i seem to have more consistant results with it.

I also noticed that after I changed brands of cake pans it has a lot to do with your pans also. I was using wilton pans and had the problem sometimes. Since switching gradually over to Magic Line I haven't had the problem. I only seem to have the problem with wilton cake pans for somereason. It must be the way that they distribute the heat.

Something else you may want to try is a couple more flower nails near the middle of the cake. I tend to over do the flower nails i'm sure but I am one that would rather be safe than sorry.

Hope this helps some.

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lsawyer Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 6:53pm
post #9 of 14

Chocolate cakes are fussy--for me anyway! I use ML pans, a flower nail, magic strips, 325 oven, and I don't fill the pans more than 1/2 full. I do add pudding and an extra egg, along with one T of meringue powder. I never open the oven door until the cake smells done + 5 minutes. I cook in round pans only; I haven't tried these strategies with square pans.
I read, a long time ago, that some people will place a small pan of hot water in the lower rack to help with cracking.

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ablksapphire Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 7:01pm
post #10 of 14

I baked 2 8in square german chocolate cakes last weekend and had that happen to me...the only thing I had done that would have affected them differently than normal is allowing my dd to open the oven and look at them. I do believe that the loss of heat is what caused them to sink. The second set I did...the same day came out perfectly but I didn't open the oven AT ALL.

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scarlett873 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 7:57pm
post #11 of 14

Thank you so much for the tips!

I don't believe that DH has pudding in the mix...

I may try the magic line pans! I have the big 12x18 sheet pan by ML and it seems to work ok. It's been awhile since I've made a sheet cake though so I don't remember if my chocolate cake sank or not! icon_smile.gif

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HollyPJ Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 8:05pm
post #12 of 14

Just think of the sunken part as an extra place to put filling. icon_biggrin.gif

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scarlett873 Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 8:08pm
post #13 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyPJ

Just think of the sunken part as an extra place to put filling. icon_biggrin.gif


icon_lol.gif That happened with the two I made for my bosses birthday!! He was quite curious as to how I got so much extra filling in that one spot... icon_wink.gif

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HollyPJ Posted 9 Feb 2007 , 8:15pm
post #14 of 14

Oh...I've done it before too. If you like filling (and I do), it's awesome. I usually use chocolate whipped cream to fill my chocolate cakes. Mmmmmm

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