How To Check If Your Cake Is Done Without A Toothpick

Whether you are baking a cake from a box mix or you are making a cake from scratch, you want to make sure it's done the right way. This means ensuring you get the recipe right, you cook it thoroughly and properly, you put the frosting on it the correct way, and you wait long enough to cut into it. While following the recipe is a fairly straightforward step in the cake-making process, knowing when your cake is done may be harder to figure out.

There are ways to tell if your cake is approaching being done. According to King Arthur Baking Company, once your cake is nearly done, it will have a stronger smell. Additionally, you can peer into the oven and look at the sides. If they have pulled away from the pan a bit, your cake is done, or nearly done. Also, the top will start to turn golden brown.

Of course, the color of the cake is harder to tell with something like a chocolate cake. So, if you think your cake may be done but you aren't certain, you can test it by using the well-known method of inserting a toothpick or skewer into the center of the cake and if it comes out clean, that means the cake is done. But what happens when you don't have a toothpick to use? There are a few other ways to tell when your cake is done baking.

You can use a very sharp, thin knife to test your cake in the same way you'd use a toothpick, and if there is any batter showing on the blade, the cake is not yet done. Cuisine at Home suggests using a dried spaghetti noodle if you have one. If the pasta noodle comes out dry or only slightly wet, the cake is finished. Then there's the option of using a metal cake tester, like the ones sold on Amazon. You use it the same way you'd use a toothpick or skewer, but it can be washed and used over and over again.

There is another way to determine if a cake is done that doesn't involve stabbing through it. According to I Scream For Buttercream, you can gently press on the center of the cake with a few (clean) fingers and see if they leave indents. If they do, even if it's slight. your cake is not done. You should return it to the oven for at least five minutes, then you can check it again. If it springs back, however, it's finished baking. You can also use this same trick for cupcakes and even mug cakes, too.

But, you may be thinking — won't this burn my fingers? If you are sensitive to any type of heat, or you're afraid of burning your fingers, you can also use a small wooden spoon or a silicone spatula to press lightly onto the top of the cake. Again, if it springs back, it's cooked thoroughly. If it leaves an indent, it needs more time to cook.