Expert: Elyse Grau - 11/15/2009

Question
Hello
I have been baking for years and just started a baking business. I am doing reasonably well and the business is building. However, I am having alot of difficulty with my marble loaf recipe. I hope you can help me, I've pretty much tried everything. I got this recipe from an old cookbook that just tells you to mix everything together at once. I have been mixing the butter and sugar first, then adding the sour cream and eggs (mixed together) at then the flour. When the cake is ready, the top is very hard, broken into pieces and separate from the rest of the cake. I am at a loss. I had to increase the recipe somewhat to make the cake larger for my customers. It's baked in a 9x5 pan.. I have included the recipe and the increase. THANKS SO MUCH!
 

I usually have the oven at 350 and lowered the rack in the oven so it's not that close to the roof of the oven but still to know avail. I also mix it as much as the recipe calls for..which is 2 minutes after the ingredients are combined.

ORIGINAL RECIPE                                                   

I CUP OF SUGAR                                 
                               
1 1/4 CUP OF SUGAR                       
3/4 BUTTER
1 1/2 CUP FLOUR
1/2 CUP SOUR CREAM
2 EGGS  
1/4 CUP OF COCOA
1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA
1/2 TEASPOON OF BAKING POWDER
1/4 TEASPOON OF BAKING SODA

INCREASE
13 OZ SUGAR
15 OZ CUP FLOUR
5 OZ CUP SOUR CREAM
2 EGGS  
3 OZ CUP OF COCOA
1  TEASPOON OF VANILLA LITTLE MORE THAN THAT
1/2 TEASPOON OF BAKING POWDER LITTLE MORE THAN THAT
1/4 TEASPOON OF BAKING SODA LITTLE MORE THAN THAT  

Answer
It's possible that you are beating the dough too much when you add the flour. Why don't you try folding the flour in, or slowing down the mixer when you add it. I don't know if alternating the sour cream/flour additions would make a difference, but that is another thought.

Elyse