EDC Carrot Cake disaster - help!

[fujicat707]

Just had a crack at making the Carrot Cake in the EDC.  I made a teeny weeny mistake right at start and left grated carrot in bowl rather than setting it aside then continued with recipe step for step as per EDC.  Mix seemed to be very wet.  Used 9" round high quality cake pan.  Cooked for 45-50 mins as per recipe at 175 degrees C. Even gave it 5 extra minutes to be sure.  Took it out thinking it should have cooked by then.  Unfortunately my cake was still raw in the middle.     As I am not an experienced cake baker - was my major mistake made when I left the carrot in the bowl right at the start? or did it really need much more time in the oven?  Hoping someone can point me in right direction!  cheers, Kathy

[CreamPuff63]

not sure what went wrong, but this is a REALLY GOOD Carrot Cake. Make sure your oven is at the required temperature before you put your cake in the oven. Watch through the glass before opening the oven door, and most importantly do not open oven door until 10 minutes before the cooking time is up (this is a safe time to check with your eyes first, and fingertips to see if the cake springs back when touched).

If its a family or friend cake (casual eating), I use a ring tin as this will cook evenly in the middle as well as on the outer.

[fujicat707]

Thanks for the info.  Have managed to salvage the outer four inches of the cake as a "cake"!   Next time will try the alternative recipe ... Darn, just paid $35 for my brand new 9" cake pan too!  Am guessing these larger cakes need more time in the oven.

[Cornish Cream]

The carrot cake in the Fast and Easy cookbook leaves the grated carrot in the bowl,then you just add the other ingredients.I love carrot cake but DH isn't that keen.Can PM you the recipe if you want to do a comparison Fujicat.

[fujicat707]

Yes, it would be good to have a comparison recipe (excuse my ignorance, but what does the abbreviation PM mean?) cheers, Kathy

[judydawn]

PM means personal message Kathy. It doesn't show up on the forum, you will access it through your personal message box. You should get a notification that you have received a pm.

[Cornish Cream]

Recipe sent Kathy.
Thanks Judy for explaining about what PM means.

[virginiaqda]

Thanks for the info.  Have managed to salvage the outer four inches of the cake as a "cake"!   Next time will try the alternative recipe ... Darn, just paid $35 for my brand new 9" cake pan too!  Am guessing these larger cakes need more time in the oven.

Add a glass of water in middle of cake pan to make it into a ring pan. Works everytime.

[judydawn]

Another great idea, an instant ring pan - free too

[andiesenji]

The best way to check the cake is to use an "instant read" digital thermometer.

The middle of the cake has to reach at least 210° F. or 99 degrees C.  for this type of cake (one with wet ingredients such as carrots, zucchini or a lot of fruit.

Cakes without these ingredients are done at 195° F.  or 90° C.  because they do not have to vaporize as much moisture. 

Oven temperatures can vary, even when calibrated regularly but checking the internal temp of the cake this way will guarantee you have no surprises. 

[Cuilidh]

That's great information to know, Andie.  Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.  To you this is perhaps common knowledge, but to many of us it's a whole unknown science.

How long does the cake have to be at the relevant temperature for it to cook correctly?

[Renlor]

I did the exact same thing!!! 

[fujicat707]

Thanks for the info.  Have managed to salvage the outer four inches of the cake as a "cake"!   Next time will try the alternative recipe ... Darn, just paid $35 for my brand new 9" cake pan too!  Am guessing these larger cakes need more time in the oven.

Add a glass of water in middle of cake pan to make it into a ring pan. Works everytime.

Cunning trick, Virginia! This means I can use the 9" pan with confidence for my next largish cake adventure!

[faffa_70]

Add a glass of water in middle of cake pan to make it into a ring pan. Works everytime.

just remember to grease the glass  been there and not done that! 

[cookie1]

Eek, I would have forgotten to grease the glass. I love my ring tin.