Chapter 14 — Food & Cooking

Why did my cake sink in the middle?

Common causes: opened oven too early, oven runs hot (front-loading with heat = raising too fast, then collapse), overleavened, or underbaked. Use an oven thermometer; don't peek before 3/4 of the bake time.

Follow-up questions

Toothpick clean but cake sunk?

Underbaked despite crumb sticking — check center temperature (95–100°C for most cakes).

High altitude adjustments?

Reduce leavening, increase liquid slightly, raise oven temp 15°C. Look up altitude-specific recipes above 900m.

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