FOOD NEWS
Telltale Signs That Cake Batter Is Overmixed Vs Undermixed
By Missy Boylan
When making a cake batter, overmixing or undermixing can unbalance your ingredients, impacting the final structure and texture of the cake. Not all recipes include guidance about how long to mix the batter, but if you know what warning signs to look for, you can achieve the ideal consistency every time.
A good rule of thumb is to mix ingredients until just combined; the combined batter for spongy cake mixes should look satiny and form peaks, while an undermixed cake batter may have visible flour streaks and a chunky appearance. On the other hand, an overmixed batter will likely become runny and slack in appearance.
For cakes featuring whipped egg foam, forming "stiff peaks" is the usual standard, and when overmixed, the egg whites may break and take on a cottage cheese consistency. Remember that different batters have different mixing points: things like pancakes and muffins should be mixed until just combined, while baked goods like cookies can handle more thorough mixing.