How to Get a Moist Cake

Moistness and richness are two qualities highly valued in baked goods.

There's no better way to get compliments on your baking skills than to be able to create the perfect moist cake. A good moist cake provides a soft, fresh texture and melt-in-your-mouth quality. There's no single path to a perfectly moist cake, as every recipe is different. However, there are a few tips you can use to improve your chances of coming out with a delicious moist cake every time.

Things You'll Need

• Cake mix
• Oil
• Eggs
• Butter
• Milk
• Applesauce
• Pudding
• Oven thermometer
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Increase the ratio of wet ingredients to dry. Wet ingredients, such as oil and milk, all contribute to the moistness of a cake, and if they're not present in sufficient quantities your cake will come out dry and crumbly. You can also cut down on egg whites, which dry the cake out. It's important to keep the flour and other dry ingredients present in enough quantity that they will allow the cake to set up and rise, so don't alter the ratios too radically.

2. Increase the ratio of sugar and fats to other ingredients. Sugar and fat are what give cakes their richness and make a cake moist. For example, if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar for every 1 1/2 cup of flour, use 1 1/3 cups sugar instead. Again, don't alter the ratios to the point where the cake cannot set up and rise.

3. Add in extra moistening agents to your recipe, or substitute them for other ingredients. Applesauce is a popular substitute for eggs that will result in lower fat and moister cake. Pudding is another additional ingredient that can be added into a recipe and 1 tbsp. of vinegar added to dry cake mix can result in a surprisingly moist and soft cake.

4. Monitor the baking process carefully and avoid over-baking. Have an accurate oven thermometer that you can check regularly to make sure the cake isn't being dried out at too high a temperature. Check the cake regularly to avoid over-baking and remove it from the oven as soon as it is sufficiently firm.

5. Cover the cake in plastic wrap immediately after removing it from the oven in order to avoid drying the cake out through air exposure. Store the cake in the refrigerator until you're ready to ice or serve it.

Tips & Warnings

• If, despite your best efforts, your cake still comes out dry and crumbly, serve it with soft ice cream to mitigate the dryness.

References

• Baking Bites: How to Make a Moist Cake
• HGTV: How to Make a Moist Cake
• Fine Cooking; "For Great Cakes, Get the Ratios Right"; Shirley Corriher