Some people may shy away from recipes using a water bath or a bain marie because it sounds like an unnecessary hassle. I’ve been there.
A water bath is simply placing your baking in a large pan of hot water as it enters the oven.
Two perks of adding this simple step:
1. The steam from the hot water bath adds moisture to the oven. This is important for baking treats like cheesecake which tends to crack when the top is dried out and splits before the insides are done.
2. It gives a more even and slower heat source than the direct heat of your oven. The water distributes heat around the cake pan, protecting delicate foods by maintaining an even low-moisture heat.
This method leads to a beautiful smooth top for sponges. It prevents the cake from rapidly expanding which leads to the disappointing cracking of cake tops.
It’s recommended to fill the water bath up to halfway or two thirds of the cake pan, leaving enough room between the cake tin and the water bath pan for hot water to circulate.
While there are options to use aluminium foil to protect springform pans, I highly suggest using a normal cake pan for sponge cakes. I’ve had too many sad experiences of soggy cakes from leakage.
This is what happened when I got lazy and used a recipe that as was meant to utilise a water bath..
Try the cottony soft sponge, matcha cake or this chocolate sponge cake recipe which all yields a beautiful light and moist texture. I promise you once you try the water bath method, it’s not as daunting as it seems!
FAQs
The water distributes heat around the cake pan, protecting delicate foods by maintaining an even low-moisture heat. This method leads to a beautiful smooth top for sponges. It prevents the cake from rapidly expanding which leads to the disappointing cracking of cake tops.
What temperature do you bake a water bath cake? ›
Compared to the direct dry heat of your oven, heat is transferred to your baked goods more gently. The water surrounding your cake pan will never get hotter than 100°C no matter how hot the oven is, which helps in regulating the heat.
What is the water bath technique? ›
What is a water bath? A water bath is just a pan of hot water placed in the oven, into which you put the baking dish that contains the food you need to cook. The hot water helps keep the temperature surrounding the food more consistent.
What is the secret to a good sponge cake? ›
Go with room temperature ingredients
Make sure that the butter you use is not too cold. Using cold butter can make you over-mix since it takes a long time to thoroughly mix butter, sugar and eggs. You can end up with a cake that is too heavy. Avoid all that by simply using room temperature ingredients.
Why do you soak sponge cake? ›
A cake soak is liquid that is brushed directly onto each cake layer after baking but before frosting and filling. The liquid “soaks” into the cake, adding more moisture to prevent the cake from drying out and infusing additional flavor and/or sweetness. A variety of liquids can be used as a cake soak.
How to make a water bath science? ›
A water bath for qualitative analysis of cations is usually a 200 mL capacity beaker filled with distilled or deionized water up to about 150 mL mark and placed on a hot plate for heating. Ramp up the temperature control knob of the hot plate to a maximum in the beginning until the water starts boiling.
What are the principles of water bath? ›
Working principle of water bath: The sensor transfer water temperature to resistance value, amplified and compared by integrated amplifier, then output the control signal, efficiently control the average heating power of electric heating tube and maintain water in constant temperature.
What is the working procedure of water bath? ›
Proper use of water bath
- Assure a dry and clean environment.
- Reconnect the electricity.
- Assemble the water level to cover the heating element.
- In the water bath, set the thermostat to the desired temperature and wait for it to reach it.
- Insert samples carefully when heating.
By mixing them too fast, you'll destroy the air bubbles, which will result in your sponge cake flattening. Better mix them longer and it will end up just perfect. The egg yolks and egg whites should be mixed together. If you mix them separately, there is a high chance to overmix the egg whites.
What makes a sponge cake moist? ›
Eggs are the key to making your sponge cake fluffy and moist. You will want to beat your whole eggs with the sugar until the volume increases by three times. You will want to make sure you don't overbeat the eggs, as this will result in a flat cake.
- Use Fresh Ingredients:
- Properly Measure Ingredients:
- Room Temperature Ingredients:
- Creaming Method:
- Adequate Mixing Time:
- Sift Dry Ingredients:
- Use Cake Flour:
- Add an Extra Leavening Agent:
It can be a large roasting pan or a large cake pan (I use a 12 inch cake pan). Aluminum Foil: This is optional depending on the method you choose. I recommend to long, heavy duty foil. Slow Cooker Bags: These are optional depending on the method you choose, but can help prevent your water bath from leaking.
Why is my sponge cake wet in the middle? ›
When a cake is wet in the middle it is because the edges have cooked faster than the centre.
Can I use a steam oven instead of a water bath? ›
Steam baking, which adds steam into a hot oven, helps breads of all kinds rise completely as they bake. Steam capability is also great for baking more delicate items like custards. It can offer the same protection as a water bath without actually needing to use a water bath.
