Further cake advice

Another request for help this week has been, can I put an undercooked sponge back in the oven?

The answer, of course, is no. Just rebake, you know it will take longer than the last time.

To check if a sponge cake is cooked:

• use any cooking instructions you have read for that or similar recipes and use them as a guide;
• use an oven thermometer to check that the correct temperature is achieved and maintained throughout the cooking time.
• check with a clean skewer and if it comes out clean, and the cake top is springy to the touch then its ready.
• check the middle as that will be the last part of the cake to be cooked. But check other places too, in case your oven has cold spots which take longer.
• if in doubt wait and check again in 5 minutes.

I think more cakes are ruined by undercooking and over-cooking than anything else.

Learn how your ovens and tins work together to bake your cakes, above all practice.