Flour
More often than not, in cakes, it's self-raising flour. You'll find plain flour in a recipe if it has baking powder, too.
Flour serves three purpouses:
Flour serves three purpouses:
- It's the main structure and bulk of the cake
- Source of gluten, which means the cake can rise and set.
- Makes a golden surface as it gelatinises
Fat
Fat comes in the form of butter, margarine or occasionally- oil. It's possible to have fatless cakes, such as swiss rolls, but they don't stay fresh for very long at all.
Fat has several functions:
Fat has several functions:
- Adds colour, and flavour. Which is why butter is nicer to use than margarine
- After it cools, fat sets, sealing air bubbles in the mix, meaning the cake is risen beautifully.
- Gives a rich, even texture.
- Increases the shelf life of cakes
Liquid
The liquid in a cake actually has very few functions. Normally it's milk, but is also sometimes water or syrup.
- Keeps it moist (duh!)
- Steam as it's heated pulls up the mixture, helping it to rise.
Eggs
It's possible to get eggless cakes, but they aren't very tasty or hugely nutritious.
Eggs serve a pretty big part in cake making, so you can see how an eggless cake would be not so nice..
Eggs serve a pretty big part in cake making, so you can see how an eggless cake would be not so nice..
- Eggs trap air into the mix in much the same way that fat does
- They set as they cool
- Emulsify the fat- this means they just help it to spread evenly through the mix
- Add colour, flavour and nutrition
Sugar
A cake without sugar would be a simple batter. Or a pancake.
Sugar is as important as flour, for these reasons:
Sugar is as important as flour, for these reasons:
- Sweetens (obviously...)
- Holds air in the mix
- Caramelises so the cake is golden, which is how you know if it's cooked!
Raising Agent
A cake without a raising agent would not be a cake. It would be a brick. People cry when they forget baking powder, it's very very very important! So important that there's a whole page on the different kinds.
For this simple reason:
Baking powder is Mary Berry's best friend. She has a thing about risen cakes...
For this simple reason:
- It aerates the mixture, which increases volume and makes a cake fluffy.
Baking powder is Mary Berry's best friend. She has a thing about risen cakes...