Cake Baking - why do mine rise in the middle so much?

[TheGoddessBlossom]

Can anyone suggest how I can stop mine coming out so pointed? The mixture seems flat enough when I put them in the oven. Should I smooth them flat all the through? Can you get rid of air bubbles that might cause this in any particular way? All tips welcomed as want to make a cake this week that needs to be sliced into three layers and it won't work if too pointy..

Thanks,

Bloss

Pointed cakes normally mean that the oven is too hot. The outside of the cake cooks quickly and flat and all the rising happens in the middle (cos the edges can't rise anymore because they are cooked already).
Try turning your oven down a bit.

Brill Millarkie thanks - it's a new oven so might be a bit too efficient. Will try that.

My cakes were always like this and someone suggested getting an oven thermomoeter - they are only about £5 in Debenhams or Lakeland - and it showed that my oven was going alot higher than the dial stated.

Now my cakes are perfect as I know what the temp is in the oven

excellent will get one. Thankyou.

Defintely because oven too hot

confirm oven too hot

Put a baking tray at the top of the oven when you put your cake in, helps to distribute the heat evenly.

Works for me.

I have always had this problem and tried everything to solve it but nothing made any difference. Then my stepmum bought me Bake Even Strips and they are AMAZING! They cool the outside of the tin so it all cooks more evenly and the centre stays level.

You can make your own out of wet paper towel and foil apparently - google Bake Even Strips and various instructions come up.

The other thing I do is to bake larger cakes (over a 6 egg mix) in 2 tins, as I find the larger ones are much more prone to over rising, I guess because it takes so long for the middle to cook.

try putting your cake in the middle of the oven rather than top or bottom. Use the main oven and don't put in anything else to cook while the cake is baking. Get to know your oven as some ovens are hotter/cooler than others despite being on at the same gas mark