How to Tell When Chocolate Cake is Done Baking & What to Do With Under/Overbaked Cakes

Cheesecake (yield: 1 9-in cheesecake)
1 1/2 lb (680g) cream cheese
1 1/3 c (264g) sugar
4 eggs
3/4 c (171g) heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
1. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix until smooth before adding the next.
3. Finish with the heavy cream, vanilla, and any other flavorings
4. Pour into a 9-in cake pan that has been prepared with your choice of crust.
5. Bake at 300F in hot water bath. Start checking for doneness after around 1 hour though it may take longer.
6. Let cool in the fridge overnight before removing from the pan and slicing

[@DylMil]

And if the cheesecake is overbaked, don't worry. You can crumble it up and use it as the crust for your next cheese-cheesecake-cake

[@Kurdati]

And to know if it's undercooked you just have to...

[@lovinq._.b4k3r18]

@@Kurdati crumble it up and use it for your next cheese-cheesecake-cheesecake

[@sendoh7x]

@@Kurdati spread it on your toast 😉

[@mistrsportak9940]

​@@sendoh7xAnd when the toast is overbaked, you can just...

[@PooBoi_YT]

@@mistrsportak9940 crumble it up and you can use it as the crust for your next cheese-cheese-cheesecake-cake-cake

[@seganaleqa]

You are seriously so underrated. As a mainly visual learner, I truly appreciate the fact that you take the time to do things multiple ways, so we can see exactly what goes wrong. Please keep up the great work, I can definitely see you hitting the 1 million subscriber mark one day.

[@Gameplay_clips]

Nes

[@nef36]

I die inside every time someone calls themselves a visual learner

[@seganaleqa]

@@nef36 Rest in peace then. ✌️

[@nef36]

@@seganaleqa Visual learners don't exist. Everyone is a "Visual Learner". "You're just a visual learner" is a lie your teachers/parents/whoever told you to excuse their sh*tty teaching skills/ Edit: so apparently I was never crazy for constantly putting asterisks in all of my swe*r words

[@madamii]

​@@nef36 But what if they're a visual learner tho??

[@Ethan-yd4gn]

The man hit us with a double whammy. Im gonna have to start baking at this rate...

[@FrankP-sy6th]

It's rewarding

[@Oubaida]

Don't translate... भवतः हृदयस्य धड़कनं कतिपयेषु घण्टेषु स्थगयिष्यति, अस्य शापस्य मुक्तिं प्राप्तुं एकमात्रं मार्गं मम चैनलस्य सदस्यतां कुर्वन्तु..............

[@illford6921]

@@Oubaida i cant

[@noodle-bug]

Something that I think is funny is that he didn’t use the crust that he made for the cheesecakes that he showed💀

[@udontevenwannaknowbruv]

@@Oubaida ok i won’t.

[@antidave]

I love a little overbaked cheesecake 😭 gives it such a good texture

[@yourfavoritetransgender]

Fr, I know you're not supposed to but sometimes I purposely overbake them a little cause I honestly love overbaked cheesecake 😅

[@jacobs1047]

​@@yourfavoritetransgender try Basque cheesecake !

[@yourfavoritetransgender]

@@jacobs1047 ty will definitely try anything relate to cheesecake lol

[@jahitrotter4734]

Bro people are out here baking cheesecake? I’ve only made it using the fridge

[@DJMcFlinty]

​@@jahitrotter4734huh? You just use milk and wait 3 months?

[@Presssent]

The transition from crumble to crust to cheesecake 🥲

[@hellohowareyou8396]

Ikr

[@athena6832]

I was worried he was going to suggest cake🤢pops but he wouldn't do that to us 🤗💖

[@wizardryteacher_]

น้ำตาล

[@callmesummon]

@@athena6832 cake pops actually taste pretty good if you make them right, I’ve had them a couple times before

[@pendomn5914]

Came here to say this. Some of the best segues I've seen in a while

[@sunnyspot9]

my mother always taught me the toothpick had to be completely clean, so no wonder i’ve been struggling with moist cakes!!

[@strawbxrrypanic_]

my mom uses forks for this instead of toothpicks, and she also taught me the fork or toothpick had to be clean but if my cake is dry, she complains?? 😭

[@PhaythGaming]

@@strawbxrrypanic_but if you say HER cake is dry…😂

[@strawbxrrypanic_]

@@PhaythGaming then I will rapidly turn into dust!

[@PhaythGaming]

@@strawbxrrypanic_ now you’re dry.

[@carrie00]

Love this interaction

[@phalanx3214]

I love the idea that one failed thing can give rise to something that else. It makes it feel much better after over or under baking something.

[@madelinedunning]

I love the Great British Baking Show audio 😂

[@iam7959]

Yesss😂😂

[@5095smf]

That's what I was about to say ahahha 😂

[@TEHbirls]

Frrr

[@xolio1993]

You didn’t only show me how to get the perfect chocolate cake, u showed me how to save the overbaked one AND the underbaked one which lead onto teaching me how to get the perfect cheesecake. You’re amazing Benjamin, I hope you know that!!❤❤

[@hemishshah6666]

It's a loop

[@blueismylove3128]

I would just pour a gache and/or fruit in the center 🤤🤤, instead of having to buy ingredients for a whole different dessert.

[@billyyank5807]

Tooth pick.

[@johnford9070]

Relax bro

[@metallsnubben]

But what do you make after you mess up the cheesecake too? This could get fractal real quick haha

[@TheOfficialPegicorns]

REACTING SO PEOPLE SEE YOU. You are so underrated and just make wonderful content. I love it so much

[@eliza6971]

Seriously, this is the perfect combination of basic information, in depth information and production value

[@ko-Daegu]

@@eliza6971 and most importantly what to do if it Went wrong Which’s me every single cooking tutorial

[@El_Andru]

Was he the first to do this format? Ive seen others copy this cookie tray marker thing. I just want to make sure.

[@besty2893]

Honestly the under bake chocolate cake 🍰 looks fire 🔥🔥🔥!!!

[@JENNlLEE]

Yesssssss 🙌

[@player55redcrafter8]

This man's awesome. Never let a creation that didn't do well go to waste. Instead, use that as a tool for a better one. This is what this man basically did. No waste

[@andrewptrm6170]

The guy literally served us three shorts instead of one 👏👏👏

[@lyn_321]

1.8k and no comments

[@existentialGrassGrazer11111]

Damn the fact that he found clever ways to reuse over or under baked cakes is incredible. 🙏💯

[@ihihithere8854]

you could also make cake pops!

[@dinomanz8]

Bro has flawless transitions, I need him for my essays 😭😭

[@KateEmily2409]

Honestly I've always struggled the most with chocolate cake and knowing when to remove it from the oven, this is helpful!

[@Mandy_Moo]

I'm obsessed with your videos, I love watching The Great British baking show and this is like the educational part quickly condensed.

[@kuobah]

I thought it was called great british bake off?

[@elainasynranelt]

@@kuobah Not in america! copyright is amazing.

[@sfr2107]

This is gonna save me soo many future headaches

[@ADUMBMAN]

Headcakes

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

Look at this man teaching us how not to be wasteful. I'll never bake a cake in my life, but I still appreciate it.

[@TheEMC99]

I'm addicted to buttermilk and it always gives me a beautiful cake. I've been a home baker for over 20 years though and don't make the rookie mistakes I used to make anyway.

[@LadyJGeek]

Thanks for the tip on the a few crumbs v. a completely dry toothpick! Makes so much sense! We effectively use the same technique when cooking meats, and bread, so it makes total sense that cake continues "baking" outside the oven. I feel kinda dumb for not figuring this out on my own 🤣💖

[@SilverOnTheCloud]

My grandmother once made cupcakes with chocolate chips in them but every time she tested with a toothpick it came out wet so back into the oven it went. Turns out she had been hitting a melted chocolate chip each time and the cupcakes were so over baked she had to throw the entire batch out.

[@milifilou]

This one is honestly why I clicked on this short. What are you supposed to do when chips are involved? Make a separate batch without chips to get to know your oven?

[@c3m3t4ry81unts.]

Anyone would’ve figured that out in a second. She a tard?

[@psychott6]

​@zeniatharoun7005genius

[@barneyboyle6933]

My aunt was once tasked with making the desserts for an entire wedding and she accidentally used salt instead of sugar

[@bunabun-zv6ge]

@@barneyboyle6933oh nooooooo that’s horrible

[@DreJr]

I like overbaked. I only found your channel today, but in two videos (shorts at that) I've actually learned stuff. Thank you 🙏🏾

[@RF_N]

that transition to the cheesecake tutorial was immaculate, absolutely seamless

[@baisale36]

Omg this makes so much sense! My grandma only takes out the cakes when it’s completely clean and they come out dry af ( I stopped eating them cause I literally choke every bite 💀) I will definitely learn from her mistakes 😂

[@Xenakeyblademaster]

If you ever run into a situation where you have a dry cake (like I have with my mother, ugh) honestly, having some ice cream and letting it soak in the ice cream as it melts does wonders. Personally recommend pairing chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream.

[@baisale36]

@@Xenakeyblademaster good to know, thanks!

[@hannahbanana5891]

The under cooked one looks good ngl 😋 like its got its own sauce

[@fasminakasim9297]

That's actually the easiest way to make lava cakes or those self saucing pudding cakes

[@vibrantgleam]

Ikr, but then the risk of samonella..

[@randomroughneck1030]

Expected only to learn how to understand chocolate cakes, got an entire course on how to make cakes, save cakes and how to not over/under bake cakes! All in just 1 minute, amazing!

[@theraven2663]

I love how it started with learning how to make perfectly baked chocolate cakes to perfect cheesecake like a 2 in 1 lesson.

[@bugdestroyer1258]

This guy is an actual genius when it comes to baking. Like, he just made a sub video about cheesecake inside of a video about cake

[@SmashedPancakes3939]

I was always told not to take it out until the toothpick came out 100% clean! Thank you! This’ll step up my baking game.

[@SkyBlackNinja]

Nothing is more moist than a good homemade chocolate cake. Left one in the fridge for a few days while adding fondant to it, couldn't even tell it was a few days old when you sliced into it.

[@morganshifflett4994]

That's the best part because the rawness of it makes it taste better.

[@MrCrimsoneyedprince]

Best cooking tips I've seen in a video! I just realized I've been overbaking things and this video helps

[@KatySueWho]

I don’t know how your videos have so few views! *I’d never have learned all of this info w/out paying for schooling.* You’re sharing your knowledge _for free_ in these succinct Goldilocks styled mini lessons! I’m just filled with gratitude.

[@seriouslyreally5413]

I love your channel! Learning from a professional baker about the why's is something you never learn from the Home Ec teacher in the cooking class you had to take in school, the aunt or Mom that pasted on "this is how my mom taught me" with no understanding of the food science. Cooking techniques are available every where but baking secrets are not. How to get the best results and how to trouble shoot them when you don't. Thanks for filling a much needed niche👍

[@dillyt1994sf]

I've seen multiple shorts/tiktoks showing underbaked vs just right vs overbaked, but until today none of them have shown how to reuse your mistakes to make new food! Thank you for making this video as someone who is afraid of baking in case I mess up now I know what to do if I do mess up!

[@diegoskitchenlab6824]

Fantastic video! Although I would recommend that for larger cakes (8" or more) like I usually make, that you test the cake at a point in between the center and the edge rather the the very center because especially with larger cakes there is always just a small bit of undercooked batter at the very top of the center which isn't a good sample for the rest of the cake and by the time that little bit is perfect, the majority of the cake is over baked. Anyways, It doesn't really matter that a small bit at the top of the center is underbaked, because you end up trimming that away when you level the cake.

[@merlion6613]

The fact your background music is the same one as British Bake Off says everything we need to know 😋

[@jjalessandro1234]

The great thing about this creator is that he explains all of the possible scenarios in all of his videos. Verygood

[@bjonu]

Love the fact that you showed how to save/re-use the other 2 cakes!!!

[@the.masked.melody]

Amazing tips✨

[@benjaminthebaker]

Thank you! I’m glad they help

[@the.masked.melody]

@@benjaminthebaker they do...a lot ☺️

[@carolyntalbot947]

This is legitimately one of the most helpful baking tutorials I've seen. Kudos, subbed!👍

[@Bluhm0702]

I'll probably never bake anything but this is one of the nicest baking tips channel in the world, immediate subscription

[@EdenGomez-no4yg]

I love that you showed how to save not properly baked cakes!! Thank you

[@queenmadison2743]

So I’ve been lied to. The cake instructions tell you wait til the toothpick is completely clean

[@IronicHavoc]

You do want it to be completely clean by the time it's fully done cooking. The tricky part is the carryover cooking that happens outside the oven.

[@YouKnowMeDuh]

I wonder if that's one of those instances where the directions tell you to overcook. That's how it is for meats that come with instructions because they are making sure no one gets sick from underdone meats so they dont get sued. A lot of "perfectly" cooked food items are slightly underdone. Safe for most people to eat, but if you have health issues, not so much.

[@yipperdeyip]

​@@YouKnowMeDuh Instructions are always made for the lowest common denominator

[@Gary_Harlow]

​@@YouKnowMeDuhthe difference is that cake batter, and definatly sligthly undercooked cake, isn't dangerous lol

[@bellenesatan]

​@@Gary_HarlowIt's deadly if you're a brand not trying to get sued. They err on absolute safety, I suppose.

[@Ladycrafty6]

Love this! Chocolate cake is the most difficult to tell when done to perfection!! ❤

[@serenavenus4233]

My guy I appreciate so much cause baking is the hardest form of cooking 🥲🥹✨💗

[@jep9092]

I came back because I knew you'd be able to help with my German chocoate cake. Literally the best cooking channel on YT

[@jep9092]

Uhg * sigh * Nevermind. I filled one cake tin too much and even though I poked it and the toothpick came out with just a few crumbs, one cake was still underdone and collapsed. I'm putting it back into the oven for a few minutes so I can still layer

[@georgesheng5500]

You have to be the most informative baker on the platform

[@qwertyuiop_99999]

i love these vids sm, we thought we were just getting ways to tell when chocolate cake is baked right, and we ended up getting not only that, but ways to utilize the cake AND how to tell if cheesecake is baked right. props to you! these videos are really helpful.

[@one_smol_duck]

Omg, I always thought it had to be completely clean. This makes so much more sense thank you

[@That1Kid567]

The fact this man only has 11k subs is nuts keep up the fantastic content

[@onceyouwheeinyoucantwheeout]

He now has over 100k subs! Definitely on the rise!

[@BAJA568]

Chocolate cake lore

[@kirah3219]

I love that the British bake off music is playing in the background

[@lisahinton9682]

You're such a good teacher, Benjamin.

[@BLACKBIRDsqueaks]

Lol I thought we might see what to do with overcooked cheesecake next and it just keeps going 😂😂😂

[@gohabs8918]

So did I lol. Where's part 2?

[@feeeyniac]

I love underbake so much, it have squishy moisture on the outside, but have a stretchy slomy texture in the inside

[@YoutubePizzer]

I appreciate the complete guide for reusing failed resilts

[@MegaDoom101]

I was about to be a troll and ask “but how fix overcooked cake” and was super happy to see somebody knew how. Have my like for your technical skill.

[@marshmallowcat4983]

Underbaked is literally like a fondant, I'd devour that cake

[@nonaide]

Is the espresso necessary?

[@lyrics_m_sic]

Espresso is bitter and helps bring out the chocolate flavour. It's not necessary, but it helps

[@nonaide]

@@lyrics_m_sic oh that's interesting! thanks for the info

[@maxrichards5925]

Man that cheese cake tip is extremely resourseful!

[@hanvinh8783]

This guy is so good that he even know exactly every step to make every wrong cake :3

[@GlobaL0ve]

Me over here realizing I've been eating everything overcooked and curdled and thinking it was fine 💀

[@imasocialbutterflful]

Please... This is so underrated. As a person who is learning how to bake a bake, this video is chef's kiss. Thank you! Now, does anyone have any good chocolate cake recipes? (Not that I would not make this one. dear goodness, if I could find the ingredients I would!)

[@chawndel8279]

This is so helpful, thank you! Instructions always say the toothpick should come out clean, but the results are always dry and terrible. But, guessing when to pull it out underbaked hasn't turned out well either. I'll give this a try!

[@Brownie_3]

The Waffle House has found its new host

[@masonbob3800]

The Waffle House has found it’s new host.

[@boomyanimations4714]

The Waffle House has found its new host

[@samuelpounds1475]

*ALRIGHT I GET IT!*

[@matthewrivera5770]

The Waffle House has found it’s new host

[@LatifPanda1]

The waffle house has found it's new host

[@boomyanimations4714]

The Waffle House has found its new host

[@a.person501]

Love that you gave solutions to reduce waste. I love your channel.

[@Sweet-TREATz-55515]

This is true … I’ll vouch for Him. I’m a home baker 👩‍🍳 and I have Been privi to learn this from experience…❤❤❤

[@genericsidecharacter8915]

Dang 3 tutorials in one you are the GOAT!!!

[@plutoh9958]

We have a new contender to Ann Reardon😂 so good to see normal, real, not over hyped baking advice

[@needstherapy649]

I was taught that the toothpick needs to be completely clean. It make a lot more sense now. I slept though I was a horrible baker but now I see I was taught wrong. Thank you very much.

[@josephanton3770]

Wow!, Came here to know when my chocolate cake was either baked or over baked and ended up knowing how to tell the same for cheesecake, thanks!

[@moib5678]

Thank you for the toothpick test footage and not just saying it, Benjamin... You helped me gain confidence today. In this one short you let us know so much, gained a subscriber! 😊😊

[@dewniper]

The underbaked cake looks the tastiest to me!

[@NiacinWaterTaffy]

What a jam-packed short. Kudos.

[@jaym0ney_]

Dude your channel is actually the best I have never gained more info in the span of 30 seconds as I do when I watch your shorts

[@Honeybee-ym5vi]

I use cake strips around my cake pans now. What a difference! You soak them in water. I pin mine with office "paper clamps." Everything bakes great with even rising--no more rising on the outside with a depression in the middle (brownies or flourless chocolate cake) or mound in the middle. All even.

[@milantehrandubai]

I really love this channel! Creative, exhaustive, and clear.

[@deez-rm8rp]

Brilliant way to flow the ideas from one to another, great tips, Thanks Ben!

[@adam-vm3zj]

I love it how simple yet informative the video is!

[@jillianwilkie3789]

love the alternative ideas for under baked and over baked!

[@stardiamond1794]

By the time we got to cheesecake tips I was clapping 👏 a master at work

[@endergamer7466]

It is not cooking,it is art!

[@star-yy]

Great tips I'll probably forget and never have the energy to try and find again! 😃😭

[@DredgenFenrir]

Crumbs on the toothpick always meant to me "5 more minutes should do." and I never let it finish baking outside the oven. I'll keep this in mind next time. Thanks for the tip!

[@DivOkims]

I love that you made a transition from chocolate cake to cheesecake. That got me hype and so don't know why😂❤

[@iamcommenttopcomment]

10000/10 plot twist, line delivery, sound effects, moral of the story, social trascendence

[@TheKeyboardJester]

dude i'd want to eat all of these regardless if its under or over baked. It still looks delicious

[@Blade_88]

This is genius on multiple levels

[@firaelle6962]

This is the firs short that I've seen from you where you actually showed how to save failed attempts 👍

[@angelicafigueroa0221]

The British bake off theme makes me so happy

[@catpoke9557]

The best part of the video was how to use an undercooked cake, thank you!!

[@ttt0904]

This was the best short I’ve ever seen

[@dayschange2]

Thank you for including the toothpick part! I was always told the cake was only reasdy when came out clean

[@simplyjen3548]

I like how you combined these videos. That's very creative and helpful, thanks

[@RadioDisk-fz3jj]

I need 200 days!!!. Like this the most cosy minecraft video I have ever seen

[@thebooknerd5223]

I love the great British baking show music in the background

[@christydurham5464]

Good to know. My Mom taught me the toothpick test. Thanks for this video. So helpful.