How Do You Know How Long To Bake A Cake For?

“It’s someone’s birthday somewhere” – I almost feel like this should be a life motto! Whenever there’s a bit of free time in my schedule I like to fill it with a bit of baking and more specifically cake baking. I love cakes, from your easy vanilla tray bake to the more experimental hummingbird and Brooklyn blackout cakes that take that bit longer to perfect.

A lot of the time keen first-time bakers are unsure as to what kitchenware and baking equipment they need in order to make a start. To keep it simple I say there’s three different categories of equipment they’ll need; first things first it’s measuring, you need a good set of kitchen scales, a set of measuring cups and/or a jug for liquid ingredients. The next group is mixing, a necessity is a sturdy mixing bowl, wooden spoon and a whisk (electric if possible!), you may want to invest in a strainer/sieve for some recipes too. Finally, it’s equipment for forming, you’ll need a tray (what type depends on the type of cake your baking) a timer and perhaps a thermometer in order to achieve the most optimal finish. Simple right?

From the equipment needed at the start of the recipe to the baking at the end… Knowing how long to cook your cake for can often be difficult. Follow the guide below to help you decipher how long your cake will need, but remember it can depend on your oven type so keep an eye on it!