Why did my chocolate cake go wrong?

Question

I used all the right ingredients (i think) but it was really heavy and not light and fluffy, do you have any tips?

Answer 1

Did you use the right kind of flour? If you use plain flour you'll be needing to add some baking soda or powder. If you are American I think you call plain flour something else though.
Once the cake is in the oven, make sure you don't open the door until it has risen. Keep practising it'll improve it time.

Answer 2

if it was just plain heavy.....sieve the flour properly and beat it until you can see plenty of bubbles......this is achieved by 'lifting' the mix out of the bowl when you whisk in a high circular motion........if it appeared sunken in the middle.....then dont open the oven door. However if you want a very very fluffy cake separate the mix into two cake tins.....and microwave it....make sure they are micro safe!!! the manual that came with your microwave will usually supply a recipie

Answer 3

You probably didn't beat it enough to get air into the mixture. But it is also possible that someone did something as simple as slamming a door or knocking the oven (opening it to quick or shutting it too hard) these can all lead to knocking the air out of the mixture and getting a heavy cake;

Answer 4

First of all u needed to follow directions of the recipe ..Also u probably needed to change the temp to 350 or 375 and bake for 30min depending on the recipe and what it called for. Also the size of the pan really should not matter it just makes the shape of the cake when fully cooked. By the way where did u get the recipe? Also where did u come up with the 180 mark why did u increase the time?

Answer 5

Double check your levening agent (i.e. baking powder v baking soda) also check the type of cake if it was a pound cake type of cake it is meant to be heavy. Also try wisking your milk and eggs together first before adding them to the batter. All so make sure your flour was sifted, unsifted flour makes for heavier cake.

Answer 6

Try beating the mixture well before you put the flour in then fold the flour in gently. Cakes seem to have a will of their own sometimes they work sometimes they dont. Did you use Self Raising flour.

Answer 7

did you use the right kind of flour did you measure the ingredient correct, did you use baking powder ,did you use the right amount of eggs , did you beat the mixture enough to get air into it ,

Answer 8

so many great answers and they are all true ones

but I ask again what type of flour you used..it does make a difference in how your cakes turn out...

and of course I did not help, so if I did..it would of at least looked OK,...laugh..smile..have fun..
but check your flour, please...

good luck

Answer 9

you overworked the ingredients, used probably too much flour, too much butter, and probably did nt beat it enough. Oh, God, you have made me so hungry, I am off to raid the fridge. Chocolate oh yum.

Answer 10

if you have used all the correct ingredients but still feel that it is heavy, try seperating the eggs, and whisking your egg whites, incorporate all other ingreidents and then carefully stir in your egg whites, that will give it a lightness, would advise to fold in whites using spoon or spatula