Watch the Bake Time Carefully

Watching the baking time carefully is essential to maintaining the moisture of sponge cakes. Even a few minutes can overbake and dry out the cake. Get to know your oven, and if your oven bakes quickly, check the cakes a few minutes ahead of the recommended bake times. If the recipe offers a range for the baking time, always check the cake at the low end of the range. Remember that the cake will continue to set from the residual heat after it is pulled from the oven. If there is any doubt about the oven heating correctly, an inexpensive thermometer that hangs freely on a rack in the oven will show the temperature. Heating elements break or go out completely at times; should that be a concern, call for service.