Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A
How Long to Bake a 10 Inch Cake: Round and Square
i want to bake Mrs Jones sponge cake in 2x 10inch square tins instead of 2x10inch round ones. How long and at what temperature would I have to bake them for? Is there a chart I can refer to for baking times for different size cakes?
CakeFlix Guidance
How long to bake a 10 inch cake depends on the recipe, batter depth, tin shape and your oven. In the original CakeFlix discussion, contributor Madeitwithlove reported approximately 40 minutes for a 10 inch round sponge, 2 inches deep, at 140°C fan. She suggested around 55 minutes for a comparable square cake, checking until cooked. Her conventional oven equivalent was 160°C.
These are useful starting points from one baker’s experience, rather than guaranteed timings for every sponge.
How long to bake a 10 inch square cake
A 10 inch square tin holds more mixture than a 10 inch round tin at the same batter depth. If you scale the recipe to maintain that depth, the square cake may need longer.
Madeitwithlove suggested approximately 55 minutes at 140°C fan or 160°C conventional. Start checking about five minutes before the expected finish. If the centre is still wet, continue baking and check at five-minute intervals.
If you spread the same quantity of mixture into a larger tin instead, the batter will be shallower and may cook sooner. Tin size alone cannot determine the baking time.
What temperature should you bake a sponge cake at?
Follow your recipe’s temperature first. Many Victoria sponge recipes use 180°C conventional or 160°C fan. Madeitwithlove explained that her lower settings suited her own oven, which baked fiercely.
A higher temperature can shorten the cooking time, but don’t automatically subtract ten minutes. The recipe, cake depth and oven performance all affect the result. An oven thermometer can help you check whether your oven matches its dial.
How do you know your cake is done?
Look for a set centre that gently springs back when touched. A skewer inserted into the middle of a typical sponge should come out clean or with a few crumbs, without wet batter. Colour and aroma are helpful clues, but shouldn’t replace checking the centre.
Avoid opening the oven early while the sponge is still rising. Once baked, note the recipe, tin dimensions, temperature and actual cooking time. Your own record will be more useful next time than a general chart.
For more recipes and demonstrations, explore our cake baking tutorials. You can also read King Arthur Baking’s guide to baking pans to understand how your
choice of tin affects a bake.
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Diploma – Certified Learning
i want to bake Mrs Jones sponge cake in 2x 10inch square tins instead of 2x10inch round ones. How long and at what temperature would I have to bake them for? Is there a chart I can refer to for baking times for different size cakes?
CakeFlix Guidance
How long to bake a 10 inch cake depends on the recipe, batter depth, tin shape and your oven. In the original CakeFlix discussion, contributor Madeitwithlove reported approximately 40 minutes for a 10 inch round sponge, 2 inches deep, at 140°C fan. She suggested around 55 minutes for a comparable square cake, checking until cooked. Her conventional oven equivalent was 160°C.
These are useful starting points from one baker’s experience, rather than guaranteed timings for every sponge.
How long to bake a 10 inch square cake
A 10 inch square tin holds more mixture than a 10 inch round tin at the same batter depth. If you scale the recipe to maintain that depth, the square cake may need longer.
Madeitwithlove suggested approximately 55 minutes at 140°C fan or 160°C conventional. Start checking about five minutes before the expected finish. If the centre is still wet, continue baking and check at five-minute intervals.
If you spread the same quantity of mixture into a larger tin instead, the batter will be shallower and may cook sooner. Tin size alone cannot determine the baking time.
What temperature should you bake a sponge cake at?
Follow your recipe’s temperature first. Many Victoria sponge recipes use 180°C conventional or 160°C fan. Madeitwithlove explained that her lower settings suited her own oven, which baked fiercely.
A higher temperature can shorten the cooking time, but don’t automatically subtract ten minutes. The recipe, cake depth and oven performance all affect the result. An oven thermometer can help you check whether your oven matches its dial.
How do you know your cake is done?
Look for a set centre that gently springs back when touched. A skewer inserted into the middle of a typical sponge should come out clean or with a few crumbs, without wet batter. Colour and aroma are helpful clues, but shouldn’t replace checking the centre.
Avoid opening the oven early while the sponge is still rising. Once baked, note the recipe, tin dimensions, temperature and actual cooking time. Your own record will be more useful next time than a general chart.
For more recipes and demonstrations, explore our cake baking tutorials. You can also read King Arthur Baking’s guide to baking pans to understand how your
choice of tin affects a bake.
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Diploma – Certified Learning
Hi tom and hen123
I was going to ask the same question because I usually only bake Paul’s chocolate cake but have been asked to bake a 8 inch round vanilla sponge so I’m going to bake mrs jones recipe and I’m not sure how long to bake it for.
Hi Tomandhen123
Every oven runs differently and since recipe times and temperatures are only as a guide you would need to keep an eye and nose on your baking. I bake 10″ round 2″ deep sponge cakes for 40 minutes or until done at 140c fan oven. Square tins hold more mixture so I would probably bake for 55 mins or until done on the same temperature. For a non fan oven that would be 160c. You can try these times, however just keep an eye on the cake and jot your own done time so you know for next time. I check the cake approx 5 minutes before time up, sometimes it’s already done, other times I have to bake on and check at 5 minute intervals until done.
I must point out that a lot of Victoria sponge recipes say to bake at 180c or 160c fan. The above temperature I’ve given is the most efficient for my oven and may not suit yours. Baking at a higher temperature will reduce the bake time by approximately 10 minutes, again depending on your own oven.
Nigel-Mellon
For the 8″ deep cake, in my oven, I would normally bake that for 55 -60 minutes at 140c fan or 160c non fan. A two layer Victoria sponge would take approximate 30 -35 minutes on the same temp. My oven tends to be quite fierce hence the lower baking temps.
Hi is there any link for cake baking time for different cakes
