5 Ways People Mess Up Cake
By Adina Steiman
No matter who you’re baking for, birthday cakes mean pressure. After all, the cake is the edible manifestation of your affection for the birthday boy or girl. So what kind of message would dried-out cake or a bad frosting job send?
If you want to learn how to make birthday cakes that will make anyone smile (and go back for seconds), go ahead and make it easy on yourself by steering clear of these common errors.
Don’t try fancy swirls or piping. The most important thing to know about decorating a cake is…it’s usually not worth it. Why invest in piping bags, leaf tips, and offset spatulas when a simple glaze on this caramel cake (above) looks just as impressive, and tastes just as delicious?
Get the recipe: Caramel Cake
Do. Not. Whip. Egg Whites. When in doubt, stick to a single layer cake that comes together in just one bowl with no fancy footwork. That means avoid recipes that call for whipping egg whites or melting chocolate. This simple chocolate cake has an amazing sheen from its chocolate glaze, and the sprinkles add birthday party shine.
Get the recipe: Glazed Chocolate Cake with Sprinkles
In fact, don’t bother with frosting at all. No need to frost at all with this vanilla-scented cake. Three kinds of berries make for a colorful topping that adds instant polish.
Get the recipe: Mascarpone-Filled Cake with Sherried Berries
Use an amazingly eye-catching garnish. Who needs perfect swirls of frosting when you can cover the entire cake with toasted coconut?
Get the recipe: Coconut Southern Comfort Cake
Make a guaranteed extra-moist cake. If you’ve been traumatized by a few crumbly cakes in your past, this is the cake for you. A dose of mayonnaise (i.e., oil and eggs) in the batter ensures a super-moist cake every time.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
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photos: Squire Fox, Stephanie Foley, Quentin Bacon, Jamie Chung, Stephen Lewis
