Egg whites whisked until it’s a soft cloud is a fantastic leavener. It's what makes cakes rise (You may also use chemical leaveners such as baking soda and baking powder). It’s a tricky process: It takes time and patience and a lot of work ...

One of the biggest baking let-downs that could ever happen to a home baker is this: slicing into a cake that you put so much effort into, then finding out that it’s turned into a heavy, dense, and soggy mess. Under-baking your ...