The Foil Hack For Perfectly Baked Cakes Every Time

Your social media feed may be filled with enticing photos of beautifully finished cakes with impossibly level layers and drool-worthy finishes. To achieve these seemingly AI-produced results caressed with homemade touches, you may be wondering how to bake even, level, and lightly golden layers. The answer may just lie in a simple square of aluminum foil.

Once you've mixed your batter and poured it into individual tins, all that remains is to lightly lay a square of foil on top of the batter in the center of the pan. The air in the batter and the leavening agents cause the cake to rise as it hits the oven. As the cake batter reaches roughly 150 degrees Ferenheight, it starts to set from the outside edges in and continues towards the center as it remains in the oven. Draping a piece of foil (sprayed with non-stick spray to prevent sticking) gently presses down the center, helping the cake bake more evenly without doming. Some bakers also suggest poking a hole with a skewer in the center of the tin foil square to let air escape.

The aluminum foil hack is a simple, budget-friendly alternative to a cake leveler or baking strips, which — when dampened and wrapped around the pan — help maintain an even baking temperature. As a result, the foil gently presses down the cakes, making it easier to stack cooled layers and ice or decorate without stray crumbs ruining the finish. It also prevents the cake layers from overly browning in the oven and keeps even a single-layer cake from doming in the center.

To further ensure your cakes turn out evenly baked, make sure to stagger pans in the oven and rotate them during the baking process. You can also guard against the nightmare of stacked layers shifting or, sliding off by stabilizing your cake with straws. Other tips for ensuring bakery-worthy and consistent cake results include measuring dry ingredients with a kitchen scale and following your recipes closely. So, whether you're making a scratch-made or boxed cake mix, try adding a square of tin foil to each pan during your next bake for more level results.