Food Articles & Product Announcements

Baking Secrets from Wilton

Expertly Bake and Ice Your Next Cake

Woodridge, Ill. - (August 2005) Whether you just purchased your first cake pan or have decorated more wedding cakes than you can count - the experts at Wilton share some of their secrets to ensure you get the best results every time.

Baking Starters

Simple steps along with attention to detail can go a long way to making baked goods turn out picture perfect. Follow these tips each and every time you bake for a great end result:

Assemble and measure all the ingredients and supplies before beginning your project so that you bake seamlessly - from preparing the pans, to mixing, to baking and decorating.
Preheat the oven unless otherwise directed. This allows the cake to rise and brown evenly, as well as bake in the time the recipe indicates.
Sift flour only if indicated in your recipe.
Always measure carefully and correctly. Use nesting dry measuring cups for flour, sugar and other dry ingredients and clear glass measuring cups for all liquids.
Sift confectioners' (powdered) sugar when making frosting to prevent lumps which look bad and can clog your decorating tip.

The Oven is On

Bake your cakes with care and you'll always start with a uniform decorating surface. Here's the easy way to get it right:

Prepare the pan

Use Wilton Bake Easy™ Non-Stick Spray, Wilton Cake Release or solid vegetable shortening.
Never use butter, margarine or liquid vegetable oil - they'll burn the cake surface and cause sticking.
Apply Bake Easy™ Non-Stick Spray, Cake Release or shortening to the pan with a pastry brush or paper towels. When using shortening, many recipes also say to sprinkle about 2 tablespoons flour inside the pan; shake to cover all greased surfaces, and then tap out all loose flour.

Bake the cake

Pour cake batter in pan, spread evenly with a spatula and tap the pan on your counter top to remove air bubbles.
Bake on the middle rack of a preheated oven. The first time you prepare a recipe - check for doneness 5 minutes before the recipe indicates it should be done. Ovens tend to get hotter as they get older.
To test whether cake is done, insert a toothpick or cake tester near center and remove. If tip is clean or has just a few cake crumbs sticking to the pick, cake is done. If batter is visible, bake a little longer until toothpick or tester comes out clean.
When done, remove your cake from the oven and cool in the pan on a rack for at least 10 minutes (your recipe should tell you exactly how long). Cool completely before icing.

Leveling the cake for icing

Make your cake perfectly level by slicing off the crown (dome) with Wilton's Cake Leveler or a serrated knife. After leveling, flip the cake for easy decorating with less risk of getting crumbs in the icing. The layer's flat bottom also has a smoother surface to decorate.

Have Your Cake and Decorate It Too

Over the years we've developed the following methods to prepare a perfectly smooth iced cake:

Start by positioning the cake on a cake circle or board placed on a turntable.
If necessary, thin the icing with a small amount of corn syrup so it spreads more easily.
Place a large amount of thin consistency icing on the center of the cake top.
Spread the icing across the top, pushing the excess icing down onto the sides of the cake. Build up enough icing in front of the spatula to prevent pulling up crumbs.
Never allow the spatula to touch the cake surface or to pull already spread icing from the cake surface.
Ice the sides of the cake a section at a time. When the sides are covered, hold the spatula with the edge against the side, slowly spinning the turntable without lifting the spatula from the icing surface. Return excess icing to the bowl and repeat until sides are smooth.
Smooth the top of the cake in the same manner.

Transporting Cake

Don't let all your time and effort go to waste. Follow these guidelines to assure your cake arrives at its destination in perfect condition:

Wait to place toppers, candles and ornaments on the cake until you arrive at your destination.
Prevent the cake from shifting in the cake carrier or box by selecting a container that is sized to the base of the cake. You can also place small loops of tape on the bottom of the cake board and affix the cake firmly to the base of the carrying container.
Place the cake on the car floor or use non-slip mats rather than the car seat.