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Would you bake more often if you had to stir less? Then prepare to do a whole lot of baking because we just found a way to bake more and stir less! Stirring takes up most of the time and energy when it comes to mixing the batter evenly; very few amateur bakers have stand mixers in their kitchen and have to resort to manual stirring even when it comes to big batches since hand blenders can’t exactly be used for mixing batter evenly.
But what if you mixed cake batter like you mix spices or condiments? That’s right, we mean in a blender! You can easily make the cake batter in a blender and still make sure your batter is even and smooth. Separating dry and wet ingredients is the key hack to this; blend the dry ingredients like cocoa powder, baking powder, flour, salt, biscuits or other dry items. Reserve the butter, milk, cream, eggs, caramel, ganache, honey etc for a separate batch of blending.
You can then mix in the two mixes to blend one cake batter; you can set the mixer on low speed and start mixing in several, brief cycles to monitor the consistency and avoid over-mixing. Gradually increase the speed to medium or high, depending on the power of your blender, and blend until the batter is smooth and well combined. This is a great way to get a smooth, lump-free batter without air pockets, and without stirring too! Here are some other pointers that will help you mix cake batter in a blender.
Room Temperature Ingredients
Before starting, ensure that all your ingredients are at room temperature. This includes eggs, butter, milk, and any other dairy products. Room-temperature ingredients blend more easily and result in a smoother batter. If your butter is cold, you can microwave it in short intervals or let it sit at room temperature until softened.
Pulse Before Blending
Before starting the blender on a continuous setting, pulse the ingredients a few times. This initial pulsing helps distribute the ingredients evenly and prevents large air bubbles from forming in the batter. It also helps break down any lumps in the dry ingredients, ensuring a smoother consistency.
Use the Right Blender Speed
Use the appropriate speed setting on your blender to make the cake batter. Start at a low speed to begin mixing the ingredients, then gradually increase the speed as needed. Avoid using the highest speed setting, as this can cause the batter to become overmixed and result in a tough cake. Opt for a medium speed for most of the mixing process.
Scrape Down the Sides
Periodically stop the blender and use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the jar. This ensures that all the ingredients are incorporated evenly and prevents any pockets of unmixed batter from forming. Pay special attention to the bottom and corners of the blender jar, where ingredients can sometimes accumulate.
Avoid Overmixing
Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dense or tough cake. Once the ingredients are combined and the batter is smooth, stop blending. Overmixing can also result in the cake not rising properly during baking. It's better to have a few small lumps in the batter than to overmix and risk a dense texture.
Adjust Consistency as Needed
If the batter appears too thick or too thin, you can adjust the consistency by adding small amounts of liquid or dry ingredients. For example, if the batter is too thick, you can add a splash of milk to thin it out. Conversely, if the batter is too thin, you can add a tablespoon of flour to thicken it. Blend briefly after each addition until the desired consistency is reached.
