Cooking (or Baking?) Hacks

Prevent Cakes & Cupcakes from Falling (Rising high and then sinking in the middle)

• Use the exact amount of baking powder/baking soda.
• Use room-temperature eggs.
• Before mixing melted chocolate/butter/oil with eggs, let it cool to around room temperature first.
• Don’t over-mix the batter.
• Don’t set the oven temperature too high, 350°F is usually ideal. 
• Adjust oven temperature based on baking pan/dish material; It differs for metal and glass pans.
• Bake on center rack.

Prevent gummy/rubbery/dry cakes and brownies

• Use right amount of flour: spoon out into measuring cup and level with knife, or weigh.
• Don’t skimp on moisture – use the applesauce or yogurt or butter or oil as specified.
• Use right amount of liquid, not extra.
• Don’t over-mix the batter. Only lightly mix when dry ingredients are added.

Make cake extra high, light, and airy

• Whip the eggs for about 5 minutes until it gets a lot of air incorporated.
• Sift dry ingredients in, and gently fold to avoid letting the air out.

Fudgy brownies, not airy & fluffy

• Room temperature ingredients!
• Don’t use too much baking soda/powder
• Fold in dry ingredients into wet, don’t use a whisk.
  It prevents too much air from being incorporated.

Get baked goods out of the pan easily

• Use a non-stick pan, and just oil it!
  Here’s my faves:
  Muffin Pan
  Loaf Pan
  9 x 13″ Sheet Pan
  8″ Square Brownie/Cake Pan
  8″ Round Cake Pan

For not non-stick pans:

• Line pan with parchment paper/foil, and grease the foil.
• Lift product out of pan using parchment paper and allow to cool before removing.
• If goods are sticking to paper, use a sharp, knife with plain edge (non-serrated) to cut along the edge of the item & paper, so it comes off entirely, without bits sticking to the paper.

Sharp edges when you cut a brownie/cake

• Use a plastic knife

Pancakes & Waffles

Light Fluffy Pancakes

• Mix dry and wet ingredients separately. No need to whisk egg white separately.
• Add dry mix to wet.
• Stir very gently until just combined. Batter will be thick and lumpy, but don’t over-mix.
• Use non-stick skillet/griddle or cast iron skillet on medium-low heat.
• Scoop batter onto skillet and slightly spread with bottom of scoop/spoon.
• Flip when bubbles start to appear in middle and edges are slightly dry (2-3 min).
• Cook another 1-2 min.
• Don’t double flip!

Crispy, Light Waffles

• Batter should be only slightly thick, and pourable.
• Batter must easily spread on waffle iron.
• Add a splash of milk to make thinner.

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