Take the Bake a Cake Challenge!

What can we use if we can't find all-purpose flour, baking powder, butter, or eggs listed in the materials?

If you can't find 2 cups all-purpose flour, use 2 cups self-rising flour and omit the 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt from the dry ingredients, swap 1/2 cup vegetable oil or margarine for the 1/2 cup softened butter, and replace the 2 eggs with 1/2 cup applesauce.

My cake turned out dense or lumpy—what step should I check and how can I fix it?

Make sure you thoroughly stir the dry ingredients until mixed evenly and then gently mix the wet into the dry until the batter is smooth and lump-free, ensure the oven was fully preheated to 350°F before baking for 25–30 minutes, and avoid overmixing which can make a dense cake.

How can we adapt the Bake a Cake Challenge for different ages?

For ages 3–5 have them help gather materials and stir the wet ingredients, ages 6–9 can measure the flour and sugar and help mix and grease or line the pan, and ages 10+ can measure, mix the batter, smooth it in the pan, and decorate after an adult preheats the oven and handles baking and removing the cake with oven mitts.

How can we make the finished cake more special or personalized?

After the cake cools on the rack, try splitting it to add a jam or cream layer, tint or pipe the frosting when you spread it, add sprinkles or themed toppers for decoration, and then share a photo of your finished cake on DIY.org.