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Hi there
I’d like to make Jane Hornby’s vanilla cake, the recipe given is for a 20cm cake. Mine would be for a 10″ round cake so how do I know by what proportion the ingredients are increased and the extra cooking time it would need. Thanks. Gill65

Hello gill65

The conversion scaling chart is here:
http://www.cakeflix.com/blog/how-to-work-out-what-size-cake-tin-to-use
Both the ready reckoner and cakeometre are easy tools to use, use the one best suits you.
I bake this cake in a fan oven for approximately 2hrs 10 minutes. All ovens are different, I suggest checking the cake half way through baking then bake on until done. I find wooden skewers are more reliable when testing for doneness than metal ones. Rely more on your senses rather than timings which are only guidelines. I recommend pre heating the oven for a good long 20 minutes to ensure there are no cold spots.
When checking the cake for doneness keep the oven door ajar rather than wide open so not too much heat is lost. Close the door gently so not to cause a sudden draught in the oven. I also place two or three upturned metal flower nails in the cake pan before pouring in the batter. The nails act as heating cores and help to distribute the heat evenly through the batter which gives an even flat bake. Wilton now actually make heating cores nails, they’re inexpensive and work well.
Hope the info helps. Happy baking, it’s a lush cake!

Thanks very much. I found the ready reckoner and have worked out the ingredients and you’ve given me the cooking time so thanks for that. here goes!! Gill

I hope it turns out well for you. Please keep a close nose and eye on baking time as my timing may not be the same as yours. G’d luck. x