Why won't my cakes rise?

[nellyjelly]

I am new to baking and have tried 2 cakes which tasted nice but which failed to rise much. Any ideas?

What have you been making?
If sponge cake, what flour? what fat. How long are you beating for, and by hand or electric whisk?
Are you adding any baking powder?
Are you opening the door too soon?
Are you putting in a tin which is too big (ie getting a pancake?)

I bet it still tasted lovely tho

Which cakes? Post the recipe here and we can try and trouble shoot.

Are you preheating your oven properly? It needs to have for right up to temperature before you put the cake in at all. Are you using self raising flour/ baking powder etc?

Definitely post the recipe if these wont help

Thanks. Cake tin size may be an issue actually. Have twice made a cho cake. If can link it/find it will do. It is an easy recipe. SR flour, eggs, cocoa, sugar and butter. All mixed up. Have no electric mixer though.

I may try another recipe

If the SR flour is old then the raising agents may be less effective.

Have eggs room temp when you start, otherwise the oven is warming up the eggs first, when they coukd be raising the cake.

If you are mixing by hand, you will be getting a lot less air into the mix too.

Yes think an electric mixer is on the cards.