Page 167 - Chocolate Cake Doctor

C H O C O L A T E P O U N D C A K E S 149

The Ideal Temperature

had heard from a couple of veteran for cheesecakes because it produces a
I bakers that you get moister cakes more tender and uniform cake. It is also
if you bake at 325°F rather than 350°F. recommended for cake layer pans that
So when I was testing these recipes, are larger than 10 inches because the
I gave the lower temperature a try on layer will rise more evenly at the lower
some of my basic cakes—devil’s food, temperature. And when a tube or Bundt
for example. Two 9-inch round layers cake takes a long time to bake through
took 32 minutes to bake at 325°F and and you don’t want to overbrown the top,
28 minutes at 350°F. If there was any baking at 325°F is preferable. On the
structural difference in the cakes, I could other hand, for pudding cakes, such as
not see or taste it. So, I chose to stick the Chocolate Soufflé Pudding Cake on
with 350°F for layer cakes and most page 235, where you want the edges crisp
other cakes, for the time saved. and the center moist and gooey, sometimes
A few exceptions do call for 325°F, 375°F is the right temperature.
however. The lower temperature is better

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven The batter should look thick and well
and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly combined. Fold in the chocolate chips,
mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable making sure they are well distributed
oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out throughout the batter. Pour the batter
the excess flour. Set the pan aside. into the prepared pan, smoothing it out
with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in
2. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk,
the oven.
oil, water, mayonnaise, eggs, amaretto,
and almond extract in a large mixing 3. Bake the cake until it springs back
bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low when lightly pressed with your finger and
speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and is just starting to pull away from the sides
scrape down the sides of the bowl with a of the pan, 53 to 56 minutes. Remove the
rub ber spatula. Increase the mixer speed pan from the oven and place it on a wire
to medium and beat 2 minutes more, rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long,
scraping the sides down again if needed. sharp knife around the edge of the cake