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When I bake a cake, it's always has that dip in the center, and sometimes the bottom is not fully cooked.

Annie - from Vallejo, CA

Underbaked cakes will dip in the center as they cool. 

Make sure the temperature in the oven is correct - as an oven gets older, thermostats can be off.  Check with an oven thermometer by placing the thermometer on a shelf in the center of the oven - centering it on  the shelf.  Allow it to sit in the heated oven 10 minutes before checking.  If it's incorrect, you can adjust the thermostate setting or call a repairman.

If you oven is correct, check the baked item with a cake tester or toothpick before removing from the oven.  Test in the center of the cake layer - the tester should come out of the cake dry or with just a few moist crumbs.


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The Public Television cake decorating show providing easy projects for special celebrations. Not intended to replace instructional classes.