Why would you add boiling water to cake batter?

Boiling water is generally NOT added to cake batter. Boiling water can cause the gluten strands to overdevelop and the cake will become tough. Some other ingredients that may be added to cake batter include:

- Oil or melted butter

- Eggs

- Sugar

- Flour

- Leavening agents (such as baking powder or baking soda)

- Milk or other liquids

- Extracts or spices for flavoring