Plenty of people enjoy baking cakes. Not only does it make your whole home smell like a sweet bakery, but homemade cakes are simply delicious! But what if the recipe didn’t come with a temperature? No worries – you can almost always bake at 350F with success.
Hey, bakers! My name is Michelle, and I am a self-taught baker. One of the things I enjoy baking most is cakes, whether it’s for a birthday party, an anniversary, or just because my kids and I want cake.
Cakes can be a little tricky, no doubt about it. From the mixing and creaming to the baking and cooling, a lot can go wrong. But today, we’re going to focus solely on temperatures. Below, you will find what temperature to bake a cake and what can impact the temp.
Let’s talk about what temperature to bake a cake!
Contents
Cake Baking Temperature
The biggest factor when it comes to oven temperature is the type of cake. Most cakes will bake between 325F and 450F. For example, a biscuit roulade needs 450F while a pineapple cake goes down to 325F. But for your basic cake recipes, 350F is the golden number.
You should always follow the recipe from start to finish. If the recipe tells you to use 350F, then do it. Follow the rest of the recipe to a tee, too. The recipe was created, tried, and tested. If you skip or change any of the steps, you might end up with a #cakefail.
If, for some reason, your recipe does not have a temperature listed, you will almost always be successful with 350F. This tends to be the most common temperature for cakes. Just keep an eye on it. Your cake might need a few more or fewer minutes to reach perfection.
Size Matters
When it comes to cake baking temperatures, size does matter. The general “rule” in baking is this: the bigger the cake pan, the lower temperature you need to use.
So, if your recipe calls for a 9-inch round pan baked at 350F for 30 minutes, but all you have is a 14-inch pan, you will need to reduce the temperature to 325F and add twenty more minutes to the overall baking time.
I know this can be a little tricky to remember. That’s why I always stress the importance of following recipes. If the recipe calls for a certain size baking pan, it’s for a good reason. You might need to buy another cake pan – but it’s a great investment for future endeavors, right?
Oven Type
Another thing to consider is your oven type. Are you using a convection or conventional oven? If you’re using a convection oven, you will need to reduce the temperature by at least 25 degrees (although you may need to go up to 50 degrees depending on the cake). You will also need to turn the fan off.
Altitude
If you live in an area with a higher altitude, then you know how altitude affects baking. That said, it’s no secret why you need to change the temperature to suit your needs. The easiest thing to remember is elevations over 3,500 will need to increase the oven temperature by 25F.
Incorrect Oven Temperature
Just because your oven says it’s at 350F doesn’t mean it really is. Your oven could be lying to you. To make sure that your oven is showing an accurate temperature, consider purchasing an oven thermometer.
Oven thermometers are typically less than $10 and are a huge game-changer while baking. If you’re noticing that your baked goods keep coming out wrong, it may simply be because your oven temperature isn’t accurate. Use a third-party oven thermometer to fix it instantly.
FAQs
Alright, bakers! It’s pretty simple. Follow the recipe (including pan size, oven temperature, and ingredients). If your recipe doesn’t state the temp, you’re almost always safe at 350F. If you still have questions, then check out these frequently asked questions below.
How long should a cake bake at 350?
How long your cake needs to bake at 350F depends on the recipe. Some require more or less time. However, most cakes that bake at 350F will be done by the 40-minute mark. I would recommend checking your cake around the 30-minute mark and 5-minute intervals after that.
Can I bake a cake at 180 degrees?
If we are talking about 180C, then you’re all set. 180C is about equal to 350F. If you live in an area that uses Fahrenheit rather than Celsius, simply use 350F as you normally would when the recipe calls for 180C.
Can I bake a cake at 325 degrees?
Yes, you can bake a cake at 325F even if the recipe calls for 350F. It might take a little longer, and the top will be flatter than normal (instead of the infamous subtle dome shape typical for cakes).
How long do you bake a cake at 450?
Most cakes are not going to bake at a temperature this high. They simply won’t bake correctly, and you will likely end up with a cake that’s burnt on the outside and raw on the inside, amongst other problems. However, some cakes bake at 450F and are in the oven for less than ten minutes.
What is the right temperature and time for baking the cake?
While every cake is different, there is a “typical” temp and time that will work for the majority of cakes. I say 350F at 40 minutes is the goal. However, check your cake for 30 minutes and check every five minutes for doneness.
Final Words
Most cakes will bake anywhere between 325F and 450F, with 350F being the most common temperature. If you’re unsure what temp to use, I recommend setting your oven to 350F and checking after 30 minutes. Make sure your cake temp is correct with an oven thermometer!
What temperature do you use to bake a cake? Share your thoughts and cake recipes with us below!
About Michelle
Rasha
What about the temperature after baking cake how can I keep it moist without drying
Michelle
Hi Rasha,
I wrote an entire article dedicated to answering this question, which you can find here: https://bakinghow.com/keep-cakes-moist/.
Marguerite
My original question seems to have disappeared. What I would like to know is how to adjust the time and temp for a recipe calling for a 6cm deep 20cm round pan for 60-65 minutes at 160C or 140 fan-forced to 2, 3cm deep 20cm round pans.
Michelle
Because you’re using smaller pans, I’d recommend cutting down the temp to 140c and checking on them in 30-minute intervals.
Hope this helps!
MARGUERITE COOK
Hello again Michelle,
I’m sorry, I forgot to give you the recipe time and temp. It calls for 60-65 minutes at 160C 0r 140C fan-forced.
MARGUERITE COOK
Hi Michelle
My recipe calls for a 20cm, 6cm deep pan which I don’t have. I do have two 20cm, 3cm deep pans though. How should I adjust the temperature and cooking times to use them instead? It was destined to be a layer cake anyway. I hope you can help.
Marlena
Hello,
My comment did not show up, so I’m not sure if it went through. But I was hoping you could help me. I baked a pound cake (or loaf cake) at 350 F (the recipe said 340 F, so I misread it). It unfortunately was soggy in the middle. Despite me putting it back for 20 more minutes, the middle did not improve, but the sides got really brown, to the point where they were almost burning.
Did the temperature being 350 affect this situation? Because I did everything else right (I weighed out my ingredients, including the flour, with a food scale, I did not overmix the batter etc.).
Thanks!
Michelle
Hi Marlena,
That may have been the issue. Did you use the right size pan?
Marlena
Thank you Michelle for your reply. According to the recipe, it said to use a 9-inch or 10-inch loaf pan (or any size that is available to you). I used an 8.5 by 5 inch loaf pan. My pan was also made of glass (the accompanying video for the recipe used a metal pan).
Marlena
The video, however, did not specify that it had to be a metal pan.
Marlena
Hello!
Thank you for your article. I have a question. I am wondering if you can help me solve this issue. I baked a pound cake at 350 (the recipe said 340, but I misread it). I ended up with a cake that was still wet in the middle. And despite me putting it back for at least 20 more minutes, the middle showed no signs of improvement.
Do you think the temperature difference was the cause of this? Because I weighed out all my ingredients (including the flour), and I was very careful not to overmix the batter.
Thanks!
Marlena
I should also mention that the sides did continue to cook, and the extra 20 minutes ended up burning the outside on the sides slightly.
nooria
I got a recipe that says to put 875 gram of cake batter to 6 inch pan and bake in 130f . that looks a lot of cake batter to me. I am scared to do that . Does it sounds right to you guys. Any suggestion..
Michelle
Hi Nooria,
That sounds about right to me. Did you try it? Let me know!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Linda Enebrad
Does the color of the pan (dark vs light color) effect temp or time to bake cake?
Thanks
Michelle
Hi Linda,
Yes, it does. Dark pans bake faster than light ones. When using darker pans, reduce the temp by 25F and check on your cake about ten minutes before it’s “supposed” to be done. Let me know if this helps!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Joseph Lee
So, if your recipe calls for a 9-inch round pan baked at 350F for 30 minutes, but all you have as a 14-inch pan, you will need to reduce the temperature to 325F and add twenty more minutes to the overall baking time.
I find this advice surprising. I would have thought you could leave the temperature the same but cook for less time as the cake is less thick.
Michelle
Hi Joseph!
Yes, it seems odd, but if you leave the temperature the same, you’re likely going to end up with browned/burned spots and an uncooked center.
Hope this helps!
Favour
I baked my cake 150•c in a convection oven with fan on for 1 hr and 20mins. The cake came out burnt and not ready on the inside and yet i followed the recipe. What could have gone wrong?
Michelle
Hi Favour,
Sorry to hear about your dilemma. There could be a few issues. Your oven may be too hot (or displaying an incorrect temperature, rendering it too hot without your knowledge). You may also be filling the pan too high, or using the wrong type of pan for your cake batter.
Happy baking
Michelle