Why do cakes crack after baking? How can you prevent them from cracking when baking? And if they do crack, how can you fix it? Let’s ask a baking expert for some practical tips.

Repairing a Cracked Sponge Layer Cake

To make a sponge layer cake, you first create a naked cake, then cut it horizontally into two or more flat round slices. Then, layer the slices one on top of the other, sandwiching the filling.

Cracks are a possibility when baking a naked cake. Even if you bake a perfect naked cake, you can still accidentally crack it when you move the slices around after slicing. If the cracks are minor, you can cover them up by spreading heavy cream on the outside of the cake.

If the cake is cracked beyond repair, try transforming it into a traditional British dessert called a trifle. Simply tear the cracked cake slices by hand or cut them into small pieces with a knife. Mix them with heavy cream, yogurt, fruit, and other ingredients and place them in a glass.

How to prevent sponge layer cakes from cracking?

When stacking sponge cake slices, be gentle to avoid breaking them. Also, if a naked cake cracks after baking, it’s usually because the oven temperature is too high, causing the outside to cook before the inside.

To prevent overheating, buy an oven-safe thermometer to measure the actual temperature inside the oven.

Remedies for Cracked Cheesecake

If a cheesecake cracks while baking, spread a thin layer of whipped cream, jam, or sour cream on the top, or top it with a layer of chopped fresh fruit. This will easily cover the crack.

How to prevent cheesecake from cracking?

Cracking cheesecake can be caused by overheating the oven or by over-whipping the cheesecake. Over-whipping allows too much air to enter the cheesecake, causing it to expand while baking. Once it cools after baking, the expanded cake will shrink and crack.

Therefore, only beat the cheese batter until all ingredients are evenly combined; be sure not to overbeat. Also, make sure all chilled ingredients have returned to room temperature so that the batter can be easily mixed.

Remedies for Cracked Pound Cake

Actually, if a pound cake cracks after baking, there’s no need to fix it. This is because the dough is dense. Therefore, the outer layer cooks and expands first during baking, causing cracks. This is unavoidable.

How to Prevent Pound Cake from Cracking?

If cracking is unacceptable, it’s recommended to use a round chiffon cake pan. This provides more room for expansion than a rectangular pan, preventing large cracks on the surface.