Why would a cake separate from the sides?

1. Overbeating the batter: Overbeating the batter incorporates too much air, which can cause the cake to separate from the sides as it bakes.

2. Incorrect measuring of ingredients: Incorrectly measuring the ingredients, especially the flour, can affect the cake's structure and lead to separation.

3. Using too much baking powder or baking soda: Excessive leavening agents can cause the cake to rise too quickly, leading to separation.

4. Opening the oven door during baking: Opening the oven door during baking can cause the cake to cool down and stop rising, which can lead to separation.

5. Using an unlined pan: Lack of greasing or lining the baking pan can cause the cake to stick to the sides, leading to separation.

6. Insufficient oven temperature: Baking the cake at a lower temperature than recommended can result in uneven cooking and cause the cake to separate.

7. Incorrect oven rack placement: Placing the cake too close to the oven's heating element can cause the cake to overcook on the edges and separate from the sides.

8. Unbalanced recipe: A recipe that is not properly balanced in terms of ingredients (e.g., too much liquid or too little fat) can contribute to separation.

9. Uneven batter: Unevenly mixed batter, especially if there are pockets of dry ingredients, can lead to separation as the cake bakes.

10. Old or expired leavening agents: Old or expired baking powder or baking soda may not work effectively, resulting in poor cake rise and separation.