Baking Help!

[InLuv101]

Hi all you fab PS bakers!!

I know there are alot of great bakers here since I stalked the cupcake thread, but I needed a quick answer so I'm posting here.

I made a cake yesterday evening (plain old yellow cake recipe). After it was totally cooled, I stored it in an airtight cake carrier container so I could frost it this morning. When I opened it up, the cake's surface was very very sticky. If I touched it, I pulled some cake off with my finger. What did I do wrong? How can I fix it? I didn't even attempt to frost it since I figured I would make a huge sticky mess.

I'd appreciate any help or opinions! TIA

 

[tlh]

sounds like you covered it when it was still warm, and trapped some moisture inside the airtight container... which made it spongey. I''m not quite sure how to fix, but I think I''d just carefully over frost.
Good luck! I love cake!!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

the cake probably wasn''t totally cool when you put it in the airtight container and moisture condensed on the top of the cake. Try leaving it on the counter for a bit to dry out before trying to frost it. Or, you could trim the sticky top part off and then frost with a crumb coat (thin coat), then refrigerate so the CC sets, then frost again.

 

[Bia]

Date: 5/1/2009 12:12:25 PM
Author: tlh
sounds like you covered it when it was still warm, and trapped some moisture inside the airtight container... which made it spongey. I''m not quite sure how to fix, but I think I''d just carefully over frost.
Good luck! I love cake!!!

Mmmm, me too!

I''m not a baker, but I feel like making a cake tonight. You''ve inspired me InLuv101!

 

[medicsn]

Wrap lightly with plastic wrap and pop it in the freezer for 4 - 6 hrs. Should be able to frost easily after that......

 

[InLuv101]

Thanks Tlh and Hudson. I figured that might be it, but I took it out of the oven at 6p and let it cool until 10p before covering it up. I figured that would be enough time, but maybe not. I already chucked the cake and am planning on making another later. Thanks!

Bia -- Happy baking! it's kind of addicting...

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Bummer about the cake. Try putting it in the freezer for 10 minutes right before you frost it to ensure it''s REALLY cool.

 

[misskitty]

Ahh, too bad you chucked it! I always like to turn "ruined" cakes into something else, like a layered dessert.

Freezing is definitely a good plan. It won''t hurt the flavor or serving texture of your cake, but it''ll make frosting and decorating worlds easier.

 

[honey22]

Date: 5/1/2009 12:18:08 PM
Author: InLuv101
Thanks Tlh and Hudson. I figured that might be it, but I took it out of the oven at 6p and let it cool until 10p before covering it up. I figured that would be enough time, but maybe not. I already chucked the cake and am planning on making another later. Thanks!

Bia -- Happy baking! it''s kind of addicting...

Sticky top cake in soooooo yummy! I love it when butter cake goes sticky on the top, it''s just sticky goodness!

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 5/1/2009 12:18:08 PM
Author: InLuv101
Thanks Tlh and Hudson. I figured that might be it, but I took it out of the oven at 6p and let it cool until 10p before covering it up. I figured that would be enough time, but maybe not. I already chucked the cake and am planning on making another later. Thanks!


Bia -- Happy baking! it''s kind of addicting...

you...you...you threw it AWAY?? you threw away sticky CAKE??

sigh. is there no justice in the world? (whitby luuuuurves cake)

seriously, if it was COMPLETELY cool when you put it in the container (cause as previous ladies said, normally that''s a case of it not being totally cold when it''s stored) you can sometimes get a sticky top if it''s a) very humid weather b) not completely cooked c) meant to be like that due to the recipe. was it one you had made before? some high sugar cakes are meant to be slightly sticky on top. was it a high fat cake? was it made with oil? sometimes these cakes can be sticky also.

but in any case...

never throw away good home made cake!! at the very least, if you dont want to make trifle (my favorite way to use broken or imperfect cake) serve it warmed up with icecream. that''s ALWAYS a winner!

how did the next one turn out?

 

[Lorelei]

inluv, it sounds to me like it wasn't cooked through, that yellow cake type mix tends to be more ' spongy' than sticky so it could be that. Use a skewer to insert into the middle of the cake or a cocktail stick to see if it comes out clean, also press lightly with your finger to see if the centre springs back, if not then it needs extra time.

 

[AGBF]

I'm laughing because Whitby said everything that I had been thinking but would have been too reticent to say!!! How on earth could you have thrown out a cake, InLuv?

AGBF

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 5/2/2009 2:06:27 PM
Author: AGBF





I''m laughing because Whitby said everything that I had been thinking but would have been too reticent to say!!! How on earth could you have thrown out a cake, InLuv?


AGBF

you are my new best friend, AGBF

 

[Mara]

i love sticky cake tops. well not when i am trying to frost but when i am eating it. yum. if it''s so sticky i can''t deal with it, i trim off the top. but typically i would just do a crumb coat, pop it in the fridge for 10 min then frost the rest with a thick layer.

nothing is necessarily ''wrong'' with it because it had a sticky top. you trapped the cake with no moisture in it...i have that happen sometimes in tupperware or even with saran wrapped cake layers, to me it just makes it more moist. now if you left it like that for 3-4 days, then it would be kinda icky. maybe. hehe.

that poor little cake. i bet it was yummy. hehee.

 

[JulieN]

should''ve trimmed the top off.