Adding Jam May Actually Benefit Your Dried Out Cake

Baking a cake can be a delightful process for some. From the sieving of flour and folding of batter to watching it rise in the oven and anticipation of feasting on a fluffy and delicious treat. Unfortunately, a few common baking mistakes like failure to measure ingredients correctly, overmixing the batter, or accidentally overbaking the confection can lead to a dry, crumbly disaster. Thankfully, there's an easy way to salvage your cake by adding a wet ingredient to restore moisture that involves using jam. 

A fruit spread is both sweet and moist, so it will not only revive a dry dessert but also add flavor. It also happens to be one of Jacques Pépin's favorite ways to dress up a simple pound cake. If you want to try this method, simply use homemade jam or purchase a jar from the store and apply it to your baked good to revive it. Whether it's dried out from the oven or hardened due to freezing or sitting in the refrigerator for several days, this technique will work equally well. 

The first step is to thin out the jam by adding a little bit of boiling water to it so it's spreadable. You can also heat it in the microwave for half a minute to achieve the same effect. Next, slice up the dried-out cake lengthwise into layers to expose the interior. Starting with the bottom layer, apply the jelly on top of the exposed cake surface and spread it evenly using a pastry brush or a spatula. 

Alternatively, you can put the thinned jam in a squeeze bottle and drizzle it on the cake for easier control. Avoid applying too much of the runny fruit spread or your baked good may end up soggy or even fall apart. Go on to stack the next layer and repeat this process one at a time until you finish assembling the dessert.

For faster absorption, you could also poke holes in the cake using a skewer or toothpick before you start smearing the jam on top. Once it's assembled, you can finish by coating it with frosting or leaving it as is. And voila! Your once-dried-out confection is now back to life, so you can enjoy every last bite.