Thursday, March 28

Baking Tips

Whipping Egg Whites
Baking Tips

Whipping Egg Whites

Whipped egg whites act as the leavening for angel food and other sponge cakes. For successful whipping, the bowl and the beaters must be perfectly clean, because even a trace of fat prevents good loft. It is also important to start with room temperature egg whites. Sugar or cream of tartart is often added during whipping to help stabilize the egg whites. To test if the egg whites are whipped to the desired finish, lift the beaters and if you want to have soft peaks form, it should droop over gently and look wet. But if you want to have medium-firm peaks, it should stand upright but still appear moist and satiny.
Tips Adding Eggs to Cake Batter
Baking Tips

Tips Adding Eggs to Cake Batter

One of the secrets to making a good cake is blending the eggs well into the batter. You have to start with room temperature eggs. If the eggs are cold, the batter will separate, resulting in a heavier cake. Do not add the eggs directly to the mixer bowl. Instead, crack them into a separate bowl then break them up with the fork, and with the mixer on medium speed, drizzle them in slowly, stopping frequently to let the batter absorb them. If the batter begins to look curdled, increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the batter looks smooth again.