I do have a sports ball pan on the oven right now, but I just open the oven after 40 min, and notice that the cake wasn't ready. I didn't even insert anything. Inmidiatelly I close the oven and afetr 1 more min. the cake got a big hole in the middle
I have to make 2 balls cakes for this saturday.
I need help! What did I do wrong? Should I use a flower nail in that pan?
How long do I have to keep it in the oven? it is usually that long?
Please any help would be appreciated.
I already have the batter for the next try, and I do not want to mess that one as well
Biviana

The same thing happened to me the first one I tried. Then, I baked at 325, and used a flower nail in the center. I also put it on a heavy cookie sheet.

I baked it at 325 for an hour. It just really takes a long time to get the center done on any pan that's so thick. I didn't use the nail, but I never do. I just don't open the oven for an hour on the ball pan.

Good luck!!

Hi,
Thanks so much for your answers. At least I am not the only one.
Well I just put the next one. I'll try at least an hour. Whish me luck this time. I hope the center is gonna be done thus time. I'm also baking at 325.
Thanks again. I let you know if thisone worked

What does a flower nail do? Does that help the cake bake evenly like using a heating core?

Question about the Ball Pan~~~

I have tried this pan four times..... and once I get the cake done and decorated the bottom always starts to collapse..... It is as if the top of the ball is too heavy for the bottom cake to support it.

Any suggestions??? This is driving me crazy.

TIA

Yes, the flower nail helps it bake evenly like a heating core. But the advantage of a flower nail is that it leaves a very small hole.

I should add, when using the flower nail, or the heating core, make sure you grease it up as well, to help it come out clean

HTH!
Mirjana

The flower nail is used to get the cake done inside before you burn the outside. Yes like a heating core.

jekizer ....
I didn't know it was gonna be that difficult. I need suggestions as well as I have to decorate 2 of them by Friday night .


Please any advice? Do I have to dowell the cake? I was planning just on putting some filling in between. mmm HELP!!!!

Sorry..... Didn't mean to scare you biviana. I hope this doesn't happen to you..... But if it doesn't I want to know what you did to make it work.

The second try didn't work either.
What should I do? Do you think is my recipe?

I'm so sorry..... I don't know what to tell you. I wish I had some insight....

I just checked the ball pan instructions that are online at Wilton. It states to use a pound cake or firm texture cake.

I would definitely use a pound cake mix. Duncan Hines makes them or you can use one of your favorite pound cake recipes. This site has a recipe called "Durable Cake for 3D and Wedding Cakes" and is specifically for this type of cake.

so glad I saw this thread, I was getting ready to make a regular lemon poppyseed cake in the sports ball pan to try to make a teapot out of it. back to square 1.

Yep, use a pound cake recipe. I actually made my first ball cake Monday. It turned out perfect. I used DH pound cake. You should dowel it. Just using straws would work just fine. Also bake at 325 for 40 to 60 minutes & don't open the oven. That is what is causing you to get a hole & make the cake sink. Leave the door closed till the time allowed. It's just my opinion but I don't think you need a flower nail. Just bake it 325 & it should be fine~ Good luck with your next ones. I hate your having so much trouble. But your learning so that's good! Hang in there & don't get discouraged it'll turn out ok~ You'll be a cake ball pro by the time this is over!

Yes I'm learning!
Third time and it didn't work either. This time I was baking at 325 using a flower nail, but I thik I overfilled the pan. It actually grow to much that it got out of the pan. I didn't listen and didn't put a cookie sheet under it. It started to burn.....
Anyway I hope next time is gonna work. I'll start baking like in half an hour. I run out of eggs
Thanks for all your help. I'll let all of you know how it did go.
Wish me luck....again
Biviana

Hang in there Biviana~ You'll get it!

i'm glad I saw all of this. My cake ball is on the way. I need to make a chocolate brain by November 4. I was going to use the cake extender recipe using DH devil's food. Will that work or do I need to search for a pound cake?

And after all this, I'm not looking forward to using the ball.

I wouldn't use devils food because it is very crumbly. You need something thicker. Maybe a homemade devils food but I wouldn't use a box.

I think DH has a recipe of a choc lb cake on the back of the lb cake box. I just made it Monday.. sorry I don't have another box or I'd look it up. I'll look in my Cake Mix Dr book & see if it has one. Hold on a few~

Going to PM you with a recipe~

Sure just give me a few minutes to get you a PM~

I'm glad I saw this post. I have to make a bowling ball next week and the customer wants marble cake. Normally I would just swirl choc batter into a reg yellow cake mix. but now I now I'll use pound cake for my base...Kim