A cake doesn’t sound like too much; it’s not the size of a basketball, but is something more important than that! Let’s look at what makes a cake, and what it takes to make one yourself! We’ll take you through these five steps on how to create the perfect icing for your cakes, and give you tips on how to get started in no time.
Cake Making 101 | How To Make Your Own Chocolate Cakes
1. Sugar and flour
When people are cooking with food or baking for themselves, they often need this as well. You don’t have to use all ingredients to make a cake, so make sure to experiment with adding sugar and other ingredients. Some recipes call for just 1-2 tablespoons (or less) of sugar or flour, while others use a little bit of both! Either way, choose a recipe that calls for 1-2 tablespoons of each, and mix everything together!
2. Butter
This can be a real pain to make by hand. But if you want to avoid having to cut up butter, buy some unsalted butter, and melt it. If using store bought milled butter, stick to a lower quality product. Look for an unflavored “cheese cut” type butter and skip the flavored variety. Always make sure you use unsalted butter that is 70% fat free and has been made a few days prior to use. This will prevent any build-up from occurring during the mixing process. After you use a flavorless unsalted butter, whisk it until smooth and creamy. I personally love when my cake batter becomes fluffy and light and fluffy, which happens due to the addition of eggs during mixing.
3. Eggs
The main ingredient in every major baked cake is eggs. They provide structure to the base of the dish, and ensure that the final result will taste delicious and moist. Whether used fresh, frozen, or fresh ground, there are so many ways to add more egg to your recipe. Here are a few examples of great options:
Add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to your cake batter and beat with a fork until light and fluffy
Use 3 tbsp of cream cheese in your frosting after prepping
Add a pinch of salt to the eggs before heating them
Omit the whole egg wash step in the end of the mixing process
4. Chia seeds
Chaussing the chia seeds into the batter is one of the easiest things to do! Just follow this recipe for easy results:
5. Vanilla Extract
Adding vanilla extract into baked goods has become very popular over the years. There are many reasons why this ingredient can play such a pivotal role. First, it adds a delicate sweet richness to the flavor of a cookie. Second, people believe that consuming too much sugar causes blood glucose to spike; however, there are actually several studies that show you shouldn’t use too much added sugar. Instead, try keeping those sugar levels low. Furthermore, studies have shown that cocoa powder helps keep blood sugars stable and increases satiety among people, which is helpful when eating desserts. Finally, the antioxidant capacity of cocoa powder plays a significant role in helping reduce oxidative stress in individuals with heart disease. With all this in mind, adding 1 tsp of coconut milk into the top of your dessert could help you reach your goal of reducing the risk of heart disease. Even though you’ve probably seen ads that say you can only eat 1 tbsp of chocolate per day, you should still consider it!
6. Ground cinnamon (optional)
Cinnamon flavor is always fun, especially in the holiday season, where you typically see lots of different types of cinnamon sprinkled throughout a baking event. However, if you’re planning to include raw cinnamon, you can buy this spice in bulk and cook with it throughout the week. For example, you might sprinkle it on a sheet pan to bake a quick dinner, then add it to your next batch of cookies, then again for another pot of coffee. Try sprinkling them throughout the entire week!
Now, let’s talk about getting your cake ready for its journey to the kitchen! Start by choosing the right icing, whether you go full traditional or opt for new kinds of flavor. Another option is making a cupcake stand, which allows you to put out multiple cakes at once, and also helps you save space and mess! From here, there’s a process to make your first layer, and the last! So get cracking!
