Why did my tray of brownies sink in the middle while baking?

[Coach Beth]

Ok - I'm not a natural domestic goddess (this is an understatement!). But in an effort to make a plate of gooey, moist, yummy brownies that I can be proud to plonk on the PTA cake sale table (as opposed to sneak on the table without anyone seeing!), I have been experimenting with different receipes with my son (who have been inspired by the Junior Bakeoff series on CBBC). I have found the perfect brownie receipe (in the Moosewood Cookbook (American) if you'd like to try it) which ensures brownies are properly gooey and moist! The first time I made it, it was perfect! But last weekend, it sunk significantly in the middle! Any ideas why? I think maybe I put in too much vegetable oil (this receipe we don't use butter) Or could it be something to do with the oven?

[awilliams123]

That's the whole mystery of baking...sometimes they come out perfect and other times they don't. I for one, having followed the same recipe exactly, have countless times come up with what you could actually say are completely different items...

Sorry couldn't help, but I did want to say that it's really sweet that you bake with your son! I can't wait to do that one day myself (mine is not even a year old yet).

[Coach Beth]

Yes, he loves to bake!!!!

Have googled this question and it looks like the oven temp might have been too high. I also might have put the tray to high in the oven.

I guess I'll try again this weekend and see what comes out of the oven - perfect brownie or sunken brownie! Whatever happens, there will be more gooey brownies to make and consume!!

[Saffron]

Yes, I also thought the problem might be oven temp. Get a thermometer to check your oven. Brownies need an exact and very consistent temp. And don't open the oven while baking. If you absolutely must open the even to check, let at least 3/4 of your total baking time have passed before you do so.

Otherwise, what are you using for levening? Double check that everything is within its 'use by' date, and let the mixture come to room temp before placing in the oven.

If your brownies fell in the middle and didn't look as nice as you wanted, try icing them with mascarpone to even-up the surface, then dust with cinnamon, cocoa powder, confectioners sugar. xx

[Coach Beth]

Ahhhh... now it's making sense! I did open the oven door to check them and also because I use an American receipe ( I am from North America myself)they didn't have the translation to the gas mark and I hadn't checked it again on google & assumed my memory from last time was correct. So I checked them half way through and realising they weren't baking well, I just bunged the temp up to what it should be! It sounds silly but it didn't occur to me it would matter but now you point out about the need for a consistent and even temp it's no wonder they sunk!!! They still were tasty though!

Thanks for the advice!! And in case anyone wonders the secret to gooey moist brownies is 1/4 cup golden syrup and 1/4 cup aPplesauce.

[fidgetsdad]

Fidgetsmum here...

Cakes etc often sink in the middle when the mixture has been overmixed. Something about the proportion of incorporated air.

[Saffron]

Haven't tried this personally, but it looks helpful. It's an online calculator for converting from conventional to convection (fan) oven:

http://convection-calculator.com/

Ah but you still have to do the conversion from F to C... see here: http://onlineconversion.com/

Or more specifically here... http://onlineconversion.com/cooking.htm

[nylonmeals]

Ohhh, I just read about this over the weekend (and I will try and hunt for the link) but their solution was to bang the tray before baking and apparently the air bubbles go to the surface and then it won't sink.

[Coach Beth]

Well, I made a fairly successful batch of brownies for tomorrows Goose Green PTA cake sale - thanks to all the advice I received here on the forum! I made sure that we didn't put in too much baking powder, I banged the tray (and sure enough, some air bubbles came to the surface) and I resisted the temptation to open the oven door before time. There was alittle sinking in the middle but not much! They are very, very moist and very gooey! (I think my boy got carried away when measuring out the applesauce!). YUM!