Cake Baking Help Needed !

[mikey4444]

I will admit to not being the most accomplished of cake bakers. I just don't get my practise these days anymore.

But I spent most of yesterday afternoon making a seed cake and a coconut cake, using the same basic Madeira recipe that my Mum passed on to me over 40 years ago.

175g Butter
175g castor sugar
225g Plain Flour
1.4 teaspoons of baking powder
3 eggs

For the coconut cake, 50g of desiccated coconut and 2 tablespoons of milk

1.5 to 1.75 hours at Gas mark 325f 160c

They should come out with a domed top, with slight cracks. But they tend to be rather dry, and no domed tops. They taste OK I suppose, but they are far from perfect. I have turned down the oven slightly, as I am unsure how accurate the control on my gas cooker is.

And suggestions how I can improve please !

[Patsy33]

Gas Mark 5/180° for about 25 mins.

[sapelesam]

Mikey, if you have doubts about the oven temp, you can pick up a cheap thermometer that you put in the oven. Mine cost £3.50 and I can read it through the glass. My electric oven was 10 degrees too hot at 180.

[mikey4444]

Thanks ....The stove is 10 years old this December, and I have always suspected that it was hotter than it should be. There is some play in the controlling knob, making it difficult to be very accurate.

I have just ordered a thermometer on ebay....£2:10 !

[Tilly2]

What seeds do you put in the seed cake, Mikey?

[mazie]

You need to use SR flour Mikey.

[mazie]

I would go with 350 for 40 minutes. Obviously once you've checked the oven temperature with the new gauge.

[mikey4444]

Carraway Seeds of course !

Waitrose used to sell Seed Cake but there isn't one nearby, so I don't know if they still do. But I like it, so I have make some, every now and then.

[Eleena]

Here's another 'old' recipe Mikey ..
http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec29.htm

[Tilly2]

I thought seed cake was what cows ate. Shows how much I know. :-)

[mikey4444]

Eleena....a dreaded American recipe, with their ruddy "cups" !....what the hell is a "pkg" of yeast ?

Intriguing though !

[mikey4444]

Tilly....I think that is Cattle Cake, although if my cakes continue not to rise sufficently .........!

[Eleena]

Package Mikey ... whatever that amounts to.

[mikey4444]

Eleena...I am still getting head around that beer !

[Eleena]

Where do you buy the caraway seed Mikey?

[mikey4444]

Anybody have any idea of what cracked wheat flour is, and what the difference between "sweet" sugar is and any other kind of sugar ?

[mikey4444]

Eleena....we have a good range of "ethnic" shops here in Swansea, but Schwartz do them in their range, so Tescos I would imagine.

[Tilly2]

I wouldn't like a cake with carraway seeds in it but I would eat your coconut cake.

[Eleena]

Ah right Mikey, sounds nice!

[mikey4444]

Tilly...Seed Cake is an acquired taste I suppose, and a little old fashioned nowadays....like bread pudding, Spotted Dick, and Semolina/Tapioca Pudding !

[Eleena]

I haven't ever tasted caraway seed Mikey, what is the flavour like?