Reverse Creaming Method
In this cake video tutorial, I'm going to demonstrate the Reverse Creaming Method of Mixing.
Several of our popular cake recipes in the Recipes section refer to this method of mixing, (including our Classic Chocolate Cake from Scratch, Orange Dreamsicle Cake, and White Almond Sour Cream Cake to name a few) which results in a slightly denser, more velvety texture with a wonderful melt-in-your-mouth quality.
I learned of this method from The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum and it has become very popular with bakers over the years. For those who are used to the conventional method of mixing, this order of mixing may seem a bit odd, but once you get used to the method, it goes very quickly (and has great results)!
Today I am making our White Almond Sour Cream Cake, which is one of our FAVORITES! (If you aren't a fan of almond, you can leave it out for an equally delicious vanilla cake!) For the recipe, Click Here!!
Notes About the Reverse Creaming Method:
The recipes in our Cake Recipes Section that use this mixing method are written up with the detailed instructions that we used in the video (re: the order, mixing times, etc.)
As we mention in the video, when adding butter to the dry ingredients, you want the mixture to be well coated with butter, but you want to stop mixing while the mixture is still crumbly. If you mix for too long, it becomes a big clump that will eventually result in a cake that doesn't rise as it should.
When adding your butter, it should be just soft enough to leave a slight impression when touched, but it should still feel chilled. If your butter becomes too soft, you can refrigerate it for a few minutes.
If you have any questions about the Conventional method of mixing, you can find our tutorial HERE!
To do this reverse method in yur recipes, is it only possible to do this with a stand up mixer? Can I use a hand held one, being that's the only one I have for now? Just wodering, coz I really would like to make these cakes here in yur cake school. Thank You
Hi Wayne, Yes, you can use a hand mixer, you will just need to mix a bit longer.
Ty soo much for the quick response. I really do appreciate it. Now let me get started on these cakes. Lol Ty again!!!
I really want to try this but I don't own an electric mixer or beaters. Can I get the same result with a wisk and wooden spoon?
Hi Sophie, I have never tried but I think it could be done. Mixing the butter into the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse sand might take a bit of whisking. I hope all goes well. If you give it a try, l would like to know your thoughts on the recipe.
Hi
Great tutorial. I have made this recipe before but now I am going to do the White Cake new version. My question is can I double this recipe?
Thank You!!
Hi Debbie, yes, you can double this recipe.
I have a recipe i’ve Used for years. Can the reverse method be applied to a standard recipe.
Hi Frances, The reverse creaming method does best in high ratio cakes. That is a cake recipe where the weight of the sugar is equal to or greater than the weight of the flour. Do you use a scale to weight your ingredients? If you do it will be easy to determine if your favorite recipe will do well using reverse creaming. If you don't have a scale, just check some of our recipes to see the weights of flour and sugar, hopefully some will be similar to the flour and sugar in your recipe. If you do use the reverse method, I suggest rewriting your recipe into that form and counting the ingredients to make sure nothing is left out. Hope all goes well
Hi, Where is the video? When I click on the picture it just enlarges the pic. How do I view the video? Thanks!
Hi Gloria- Your computer may not be getting along with that first video--I've just added the video in a different format lower down on the page (embedded from YouTube)- Let me know if you continue to have trouble!
I found this tutorial to be very helpful, usually I’m not very successful with homemade cake. They are always too dry and flavorless. This method was easy and the step by step instruction made for a successful result.