Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A
How Long to Bake a Cake at 180 Degrees Celsius?
Hi i want to bake a 12″ x 12″ victoria sponge. Various recipes say to bake this size of cake at 160, 180 or 200 degrees. Would 160 degrees Celsius be too low for this size of cake to rise? I think 200 degrees would be to high.
CakeFlix Guidance
There is no single baking time for a cake at 180°C. The recipe, tin size, batter depth and oven setting all affect how long it takes. In this CakeFlix discussion, Barbara reported successfully baking her 12-inch square Victoria sponge at 180°C in a conventional oven for 50 minutes. That is a helpful example, rather than a timing to use for every cake.
How long to bake a cake at 180 degrees
Start with a tested recipe that matches your tin dimensions and the depth of cake you want. Shallow sandwich layers generally bake faster than one deep cake, even when they use the same total quantity of mixture.
Madeitwithlove suggested approximately 45–50 minutes at 160°C fan for the cake being discussed. She also explained that she uses shallow sandwich tins, so these timings should not be applied automatically to a deep 12-inch cake.
What temperature should you use in a fan oven?
A common conversion is 180°C conventional to 160°C fan, but follow your recipe and oven handbook. If your recipe already gives a fan temperature, there is no need to reduce it again.
Madeitwithlove found that her old and new ovens needed different settings. An oven thermometer and a record of successful bakes can help you understand your own oven. Read our fan oven versus conventional oven guide for more detail.
Can you bake a cake at 160°C?
Yes, when that temperature suits the recipe and oven setting. 160°C fan is different from 160°C conventional, so always check which one the recipe means. A lower conventional temperature may require longer baking; it does not automatically prevent a cake from rising.
Is 200°C too hot for a sponge cake?
For many standard Victoria sponge recipes, 200°C conventional is higher than the recommended setting. Increasing the heat to hurry a large cake can brown the outside before the centre is ready. Use 200°C only when your tested recipe specifies it.
How do you know your cake is ready?
Towards the expected finish, check that the centre is set and gently springs back. A skewer should come out clean or with a few crumbs, rather than wet batter. If necessary, continue baking and check again after five minutes.
For more help, explore our cake baking tutorials and King Arthur Baking’s cake-baking guide.
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 i want to bake a 12″ x 12″ victoria sponge. Various recipes say to bake this size of cake at 160, 180 or 200 degrees. Would 160 degrees Celsius be too low for this size of cake to rise? I think 200 degrees would be to high.
CakeFlix Guidance
There is no single baking time for a cake at 180°C. The recipe, tin size, batter depth and oven setting all affect how long it takes. In this CakeFlix discussion, Barbara reported successfully baking her 12-inch square Victoria sponge at 180°C in a conventional oven for 50 minutes. That is a helpful example, rather than a timing to use for every cake.
How long to bake a cake at 180 degrees
Start with a tested recipe that matches your tin dimensions and the depth of cake you want. Shallow sandwich layers generally bake faster than one deep cake, even when they use the same total quantity of mixture.
Madeitwithlove suggested approximately 45–50 minutes at 160°C fan for the cake being discussed. She also explained that she uses shallow sandwich tins, so these timings should not be applied automatically to a deep 12-inch cake.
What temperature should you use in a fan oven?
A common conversion is 180°C conventional to 160°C fan, but follow your recipe and oven handbook. If your recipe already gives a fan temperature, there is no need to reduce it again.
Madeitwithlove found that her old and new ovens needed different settings. An oven thermometer and a record of successful bakes can help you understand your own oven. Read our fan oven versus conventional oven guide for more detail.
Can you bake a cake at 160°C?
Yes, when that temperature suits the recipe and oven setting. 160°C fan is different from 160°C conventional, so always check which one the recipe means. A lower conventional temperature may require longer baking; it does not automatically prevent a cake from rising.
Is 200°C too hot for a sponge cake?
For many standard Victoria sponge recipes, 200°C conventional is higher than the recommended setting. Increasing the heat to hurry a large cake can brown the outside before the centre is ready. Use 200°C only when your tested recipe specifies it.
How do you know your cake is ready?
Towards the expected finish, check that the centre is set and gently springs back. A skewer should come out clean or with a few crumbs, rather than wet batter. If necessary, continue baking and check again after five minutes.
For more help, explore our cake baking tutorials and King Arthur Baking’s cake-baking guide.
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 Barbara
It depends on how deep the recipe bakes and whether it is for a fan oven or non-fan oven. I normally stick to the given temperature and keep an eye and nose on the bake. I bake at 160c fan oven for approx 45 -50 minutes for that size. Obviously, all ovens vary so it is essential to babysit the cake until done.
Yes, that would be 160 c fan which is what I have. I’m still experimenting with temperatures with my new oven. My old oven would have baked at 140c fan or 160c non fan. I bake in sandwich tins. Since they are shallow, the baking time is less. Glad your cake turned out fine. Thank you for your fed back. ?
