How to Bake a Cake From Scratch

Cake baking is not a difficult task, if you have a basic know-how of the procedure and the ingredients. I am not talking about the ready-made cake mixes that are easily available in the market. Even though, it is very easy to make cakes with these mixes, those prepared from scratch are found to be more flavorful and healthy. You can come up with delicious cakes by using ingredients that are readily available in the kitchen.

Baking a Cake from Scratch

It is a common misconception that baking perfect cakes is a difficult task. In order to master this art, all you have to do is to strictly follow the measurements as well as the procedure of making it. It may happen that one or two failed attempts precede a successful venture.

Easy Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• Cake flour (or all-purpose flour) - 2 ¼ cups
• Butter (or vegetable shortening) - ½ cup
• Sugar - 1 ½ cups
• Eggs - 2
• Baking powder - 2 ½ teaspoons
• Milk - 1 cup (may require one or two tablespoons extra)
• Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon

How to Prepare
Take a bowl and add the butter and sugar into it. Blend them well, till they reach a creamy consistency. Once done, add vanilla, along with the eggs (one by one). Make sure to blend the mix well, after adding each egg. Now, keep this mixture aside and sift the flour along with the baking powder. It will be better to sift these ingredients together for two to three times. Now, add the flour and milk to the butter-sugar mixture, in small batches. Beat the mixture, every time you add milk and sugar. Once done, pour the batter into a greased baking dish (may be you need two) and bake for around thirty minutes in the oven that is preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want the cake to be served with frosting, then allow it to cool before applying the frosting.

Bake a Cake Without Eggs

If you don't like eggs or if you run out of eggs, you may try some cake recipes without eggs. The following is one such recipe that does not require eggs.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour - 1 ½ cups
• Soy milk - ¾ cup
• Sugar - ¾ cup
• Egg replacer - Equivalent of one egg
• Baking powder - 2 teaspoons
• Vanilla - 2 teaspoons
• Salt - ¼ teaspoon

How to Prepare
Sift the flour along with the baking powder two to three times. Take a large bowl and add the sifted flour. Mix it with salt and sugar. Once done, add all other ingredients and beat the mixture for around three minutes. Now, pour this batter into a greased cake pan and bake for around thirty minutes in the oven that's preheated to 350 degree Fahrenheit. Your cake without eggs is ready.

Cake Without Baking Powder

Ingredients

• Cake flour - 3 cups
• Margarine - 16 ounces
• Eggs - 6
• Confectioner's sugar - 16 ounces
• Vanilla - 2 teaspoons

How to Prepare
Take a large bowl and add the margarine, along with the sugar. Combine them well, before adding the eggs, one by one. Each time you add an egg, beat the mixture till it mixes well. Now, add the flour and vanilla and beat the mixture till it reaches the consistency of cake batter. Now, pour the batter into a greased cake pan and bake for around 60 to 80 minutes in the oven that's preheated to 325 degree Fahrenheit. If perfectly baked, the cake will turn golden brown in color with cracks on its top.

These are some of the easy recipes for baking cakes from scratch. You may try these recipes and come up with some flavorful cakes. You may also try other variations, once you get comfortable in making cakes from scratch. All you have to do is use the right amount of ingredients, prepare the batter in the right way and bake it for the said time, that too at the stipulated temperature. So, why wait? Try these recipes and enjoy the goodness of delicious and flavorful cakes.