Why does my walnut cake fall?

Why does my walnut cake fall? - Top view of yummy banana bread with walnuts served on plate with chocolate bars and spoon of sugar powder

The recipe uses 3 eggs for volume, separated, yolks and sugar whipped over hot water until triple in volume, whites whipped to stiff peaks. Ground walnuts, 2 tbsp breadcrumbs, 1/4 c butter are all folded in. baked at 350 for 40 minutes.

During baking it looks great, rises and is perfection. On cooling the center starts to fall, then the sides turn into the center.

How do you stop it falling? Am i overwhipping?



Best Answer

This "cake" is practically a souffle, and falls for the same reason a souffle does: it has nothing to keep it tall. It first rises because of the steam created during baking, but once the steam production is over, it deflates. Unlike real cakes, which include flour, there is nothing to create a persistent structure here.

There is nothing to prevent a souffle from falling when it has cooled, it is like expecting a punctured baloon to stay inflated. I would suggest using a different recipe. Alternatively, you can decide that you are OK with a moist, fudgy cake without much rise. To avoid a mishappen shape from first rising too much and then falling, whip the eggs less and combine them more thoroughly with the rest of the ingredients, while still keeping some air in.




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Quick Answer about "Why does my walnut cake fall?"

Too much leavening agent like baking soda or powder can cause a cake to rise too high too quickly. The gas from the leavening agents builds up and escapes before the cake bakes through in the center. This causes the center to collapse and makes your cake layers sink in the middle.

How do you keep walnuts from sinking in a cake?

Shake the bag well so that the flour lightly coats the nuts and carrots. Fold them into the batter last, before you put the cake in the oven. The flour helps suspend the nuts and carrots in the batter so they don't sink to the bottom.

How do I keep my cake from falling?

Cakes fall when they are cooked at a temperature which is too low, or too high. The oven should be preheated all the way before inserting the cake pan, and you may want to use an oven thermometer to ensure that the oven is at the proper temperature.



Why Does My Cake Fall Apart




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