How to check when a cake is done
Use the recipe’s timing to decide when to look, then check the center, surface and crumbs.
Read the end of the recipe before the cake goes into the oven. A butter cake might call for a skewer that comes out clean, while a brownie may be ready with moist crumbs attached. A molten-center dessert is meant to behave differently again. Those instructions tell you which evidence matters for this bake.
Start checking near the early end of the stated baking time. Look through the oven window first if possible. If the middle is clearly moving while the edges are firm, allow the cake to keep baking before opening the door. For a plain butter cake, the center should generally look set when it is time to test.
Insert a thin skewer into the middle and inspect it in good light. A glossy smear of raw batter needs more time. If you hit chocolate or a piece of fruit, check a nearby plain spot. Follow the recipe’s resting time before taking the finished cake out of its pan.
