The Butter Hack For The Perfect Crack In Loaf Cakes

Since we eat with our eyes first, baking a delicious loaf cake doesn't depend solely on a good recipe. Apart from being perfectly shaped and baked until golden, part of what makes a banana loaf or rhubarb pound cake especially photo-ready is its iconic center crack. To make all your cakes just as flawless as the next, always follow this one butter hack.

Although there are a plethora of reasons why cakes may crack, the fact is that loaves and pound cakes are especially prone to splitting as their dense batter cooks unevenly. With edges baking at a faster rate, the rest of the batter is forced up and outward, consequently creating a cracked appearance. That said, not all loaves produce the best part — this is where butter comes in. 

Once the cake batter has been poured into a loaf pan, add some softened butter to a piping bag and lay a single straight line of butter lengthwise down the center of the cake to create a clean split. For especially thick batters, using a spatula to first carve out a line will also help create a more exaggerated and even line. As the cake bakes and the butter melts, these modifications encourage the batter to split precisely down the middle, creating an impressive result.

Beyond that characteristic crack, baking the perfect loaf cake starts on the inside. Using room temperature ingredients and mixing until just combined will produce a wonderfully voluminous loaf, but maintaining a gorgeous interior is also important when ingredients like fruits, nuts, or chocolates are involved. To avoid having these add-ins sink to the bottom and make for a lackluster slice, dust them in a bit of flour and fold them into the batter right before pouring and baking. 

As for guaranteeing a good bake, it's vital to properly prep your loaf pan. Adequately greasing and flouring the right sized pan or lining it with parchment will prevent the cake from sticking and ruining. After the pan has been greased, the batter has been poured, and the butter hack has been employed, that doesn't mean that your job is done. Keep an eye on time and temperature. But, also pay attention to how the loaf is browning, making sure to rotate your pan to avoid uneven coloring. Once the uniformly golden, beautifully split loaf is pulled from the oven, all that's left to do is let it cool.