Doubling a Recipe Does NOT Always Work

I tried making my pineapple cake today, doubling the recipe of my basic yellow cake, using the DaVince Pineapple syrup for the liquid.

Well……., the cake is delicious, but did not raise to the expected 1 1/2 inches, it only made it to 1 1/4 inch.  That 1/4 inch affected the texture a bit, making it more dense (not as light).   Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed, but I learned a valuable lesson.  Just because you were successful with one layer, doesn’t mean doubling it will get you the same result.

The layer above is the single layer recipe, and this one measured 1 1/2 inches, and had a much lighter texture.  What a difference!!

My first reaction was to go to the net for info regarding this matter.  That in itself was a blessing as I found out I was not alone.  I also found out that many factors affect the outcome of doubling the ingredients- the various weights of flour, sugars, and liquids, even eggs can affect the final product.

So…, I will simply make one layer at a time.  Of course, the present cake won’t be too hard to swallow, as I threw in a bit of coconut with the filling, and added some tinted coconut on the top for my presentation.

I have made the changes in the e-book, so you might want to check that out sometime.

The strangest thing of all that comes out of this is that the chocolate cake recipe is not affected at all.   It always raises high and gives me beautiful layers.  All I can figure out is that there has to be a chemical reaction going on between  the cocoa and the remaining ingredients.  Hummmm??????????

Always striving to improve-  J

Another Chocolate Cake?

Since updating my recipes I have been dying to try my idea for a Cinnamon Mint Chocolate cake, so today I indulged.

This cake measure slightly over 4 inches in height

What changes did I make to the original?

Bake 345 degrees for approx 30-35 minutes.
Prepare 8 inch by 2 inch high round pans with liner(parchment or wax paper.    Do not grease sides. Moisten and fold towel strips. Stretch strip around pan and pin. Set aside.

By the way,  this recipe with make two nice 9 inch layers as well.

Cake
Dry ingredients-
9 tablespoons pure cocoa powder (9)
2 cups of oat flour (Arrowhead flour = 108)
4 tsps baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp Guar Gum
1 tsp salt
2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/3 cup of dry milk powder

2 cups – Splenda ( measured then pulsed to fine powder)
6 large eggs
½ cup Bestfoods Mayonaise (0)
½ cup oil(0)
4 tablespoons Sugar Free Maple Syrup (0)

1 1/3 cup  DaVince SF  Mint Patty Syrup
½ tsp vanilla

How to’s-  the cake

Turn on your oven!

Beat eggs, Splenda, syrups, mayo, oil, and powdered milk together for about 1 min.  Set aside.

Sift and measure your flour.  Return measured flour to sifter and add in other dry ingredients.  Sift again.  Place in mixing bowl.

Prepare pans ( don’t forget the towel trick)

Lastly-  make well in center of dry ingredients, pour in liquids, beat no more than one minute.

Pour equal amounts of batter in each pan and bake.

Frosting

2 cups of heavy whipped cream

1 or 2 tbsp of SF vanilla pudding mix ( I use 1 tbsp)

1 tsp of mint flavoring ( or more, depending on how minty you want your frosting)

1/2 -2/3 cup of Splenda ( measured, then pulsed to fine powder)

How to’s- the frosting

Pour about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of your cream into mixing bowl.  Add in other ingredients and stir with a spoon or spatula to blend.   Beat  on high speed until mixture begins to feel heavy.  This will be a true “butter cream.”

Enjoy!

PS – Here is a tutorial for making your own baking pan jackets.

Baking Pan Jackets

 

 

J

 

Yellow Cake Success at Last

In my last post I share with you my “elevation” discovery, so this has been the week of baking cake 1-?  Each one I baked was getting lighter, so I knew I was on the right track.

As promised I have updated the recipe in my e-book, and also posted the new one here.

I was so excited as I watched it rise.  Having 2 inch high pans, it is not hard to tell that the edges are already at the 1 1/2 mark on the sides.

I even measured them, to make sure.  The best part of all, was the taste test.  The texture was moist but light, which was exactly what I was after.

I also baked it 39 minutes. * With the addition of the mayo and oil combo, you can bake it a bit more without drying out your cake.

Now it is ready for some strawberries, and whipped cream to be added later tonight.  Yum!!

You can upload the recipe at the end of this post.

One more thing- this time I mixed my eggs, sugar, mayo,oil, and liquids first, letting them set while I got the rest of the ingredients ready.  The longer the Splenda or any other sugar substitute has to dissolve before you stir it into your dry ingredients, the better.

**I suggest that you try this single layer version.  DO NOT DOUBLE THIS RECIPE.  Bake in small batches for additional layers.  I find that if I double the recipe, it does not rise as well.  Why?  I haven’t a clue.  So… if you like the cake, and want a double layer, just get the second one ready to put together while the first one is baking.

Just so you know-you can dink around with the baking powder a bit, as your elevation will make a difference.  If you need to experiment, try adding or subtracting be 1/8 tsps.  The same goes for the Guar Gum.  Nothing is written in stone here.  Less is better.

J’s Basic Yellow Cake

This single layer version is about 7 carbs per 1/12 the of the cake.  I you add fruit, then you need to add those carbs , too.  Even if doubled, this cake with whipped cream frosting, still is less than the average piece of bread.  I works for me.  🙂

Waste Not! Want Not!

In today’s world as everything is getting so expensive, those of us who want to “follow our passion,” need to find ways to cut cost where we can.  Eating low carb is not cheap!

As I was baking my Cinnamon Chocolate cake this morning, I noticed that I have started to use more wax paper instead of parchment.  I also found myself using the two pieces of wax paper to line my pans to sift my dry ingredients on.  After sifting my flour onto one piece, I place the sifter on the other and pour my measured flour into it.   Having the measured flour in the sifter, I add the other dry ingredients except the sugar.  The next step is to sift all the ingredients together, then place them in a mixing bowl.

Now the two pieces of waxed paper are free to be used to line my pans, and my counter is clean.  🙂

I know it is a little thing, but sometimes all the “little” things add up to a big bill.

Two more things-

1) I also noticed this morning that I always use extra large eggs.  Having done this for years I didn’t even think about it when I wrote my recipes.  I will add this note to the recipe e-book  “baking tips.”

I do apologize for the oversight.

2)  With the info about leavening agent I posted, I add another 1/2 tsp of baking powder to the recipe.  My previous layers have turned out just fine, but we will see what happens.

I just took them out of the oven.  They  both are slightly over 1 1/2 inches high, so don’t be afraid to add a bit more.  I have updated the recipes in my e-book, and included the egg info as well.

J

PS- I am filling this cake with bananas and whipped cream.  Yummm!

I know – a few more carbs, but who’s counting?

The Perfect Layer

As you know, as one who is always striving for perfection, I tried the alterations mentioned in the last post when making my Cinnamon Chocolate cake.  I have updated the changes in my e-book (just click on the tab above) so you can try it too.

The cake layer you see in the picture is in a 8 by 2 inch round pan.  I used wax paper in the bottom, and surrounded the pan with my towel on the sides, baking it at 345 degrees for 30 minutes.   I also mix the Splenda in with the liquid ingredients to further insure that it was dissolved.  You can see that the cake  raised beautifully, and there is no mountain in the middle.  I seriously don’t think that I can do any better than this.  At least for me, it is time to stop dink’n around.

The depth of the layers are about 1 1/2 inches, making a perfectly acceptable cake for a great presentation.  Look’s is everything, you know!  🙂

I hope you with try the recipe.

Both cakes, the yellow (pineapple version) and the chocolate have gotten rave reviews from my family.  No one can believe that they are low carb.

By the way, I think I will add a bit of cinnamon to my chocolate whipped cream frosting when I put it together this afternoon.

Happy Baking!

I added 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to the whipped cream frosting, and sprinkled a bit more on the top.  Yum…….!

This recipe would work just fine in 9 inch pans, although it would be slightly less in thickness- but it’s the taste that counts.

I also think that next time I might try adding some mint extract in the cake and icing, as chocolate and mint go so…. good together.

J

What a Temp Change can Do

Last post I share the “towel wrap” trick.  I also told you that I baked the cake at 340 degrees for about 40 minutes.  This time I tried baking the same recipe (single layer) at 345 degrees, for 30 minutes- the difference was very evident, cracks.

However, these are definitely crack you can live with, as they are not more than a 16th of an inch deep.

I did not grease or flour the sides of the pan, as I have found that the recipes I make with Splenda and lots of eggs raise better just using a parchment insert.   Since this pan is 2 inches in depth, you can see that the cake rose nicely.

Here is a side view of the layer.  It baked very even.  You can also see that the few drops of yellow food coloring took care of the “oat flour” color quite nicely.  They’ll never know!  🙂

J

PS-Today I have made a peach filling, and will combine it with the Citrus whipped cream frosting.  Yummmmmm!!!!!  I can’t wait to get into it.

Here is the one layer version to practice with.

One layer version of Pineapple Cake