Why prick a cake?

When baking a cake, it is important to check for doneness before removing it from the oven. One way to do this is to prick the cake with a toothpick or cake tester. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If there is still batter or wet crumbs on the toothpick, the cake needs to bake longer.

Here are some additional tips for checking if a cake is done:

- The cake should be golden brown on top.

- The sides of the cake should be pulling away from the pan.

- The cake should feel firm to the touch.

- A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean.

If you are using a bundt cake pan or other cake pan with a tube in the center, you can also use the following method to check for doneness:

- Insert a toothpick or cake tester into the cake through the tube.

- If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.

- If there is still batter or wet crumbs on the toothpick, the cake needs to bake longer.

It is important to check for doneness before removing the cake from the oven. If the cake is underbaked, it will be dense and gummy. If the cake is overbaked, it will be dry and crumbly.