Made scratch cake - it tasted very bitter

[debodun]

This is the recipe:

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease a 9 x 9" baking dish
Cream together the butter and sugar.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla.
Combine flour, baling powder and salt, then add to butter mixture.
Mix until smooth,
Pour into greased dish.
Bake 30 - 40 minutes.


What is wrong?

 

[Jules]

It all seems like the basic ingredients. Do you think you forgot to add the sugar. I done things like that. The other day I nearly forgot the eggs in the pancakes.

 

[Pepper]

Could any of the ingredients have gone bad?

 

[TinaM]

Too much baking powder can make food taste salty or bitter. Two tsp seems like a lot but I don’t bake from scratch much anymore so not sure. I only use 1/2 tsp in my almond flour bread.

 

[debodun]

Do you think you forgot to add the sugar.

No, I did add the sugar and had a difficult time blending it with the butter.

 

[debodun]

Could any of the ingredients have gone bad?

I couldn't tell, I keep everything in the fridge except the salt and vanilla. The butter is brand new I just bought last week.
The peanut butter and molasses cookies I made a few days ago also tasted bitter.

 

[Jules]

This is my recipe from the 70s.

½ C Shortening (butter is better)
1 C sugar (can be less ¾ C, ok)
2 eggs
¾ C, or more, milk
1 ¾ C flour
1 tbs baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together.
Add eggs.
Blend dry ingredients together. Add half to mix, then the liquid and then the rest of dry. Don’t overbeat.

Add vanilla.

Your recipe had less sugar, though not proportionately much less.

You had 2 tsp of vanilla. Does it smell/taste ok?

 

[Krystal]

The ingredients look ok. What kind of butter did you use? Did you use a good quality of real butter (stick), or did you use an off brand butter, lowfat butter, or a tub of margarine? 2 teaspoons of baking powder seems a little too much for those ingredients.

 

[Twostep]

Butter and eggs should be at room temperature. Too much baking powder if you ask me.
Is it possible that your taste is off? A cold or something?

 

[Kadee]

Oops

 

[CooCooforCoCoPuffs]

Butter and eggs should be at room temperature. Too much baking powder if you ask me.
Is it possible that your taste is off? A cold or something?

Was also thinking taster taste may be off for some reason. Bad flour is bitter too....

 

[Kadee]

Too much baking powder can make food taste salty or bitter. Two tsp seems like a lot but I don’t bake from scratch much anymore so not sure. I only use 1/2 tsp in my almond flour bread.

I have to agree with you @TinaM to much baking powder





@debodun

 

[Aunt Bea]

It could be the vanilla extract, is it real vanilla or artificial flavored.

 

[Jules]

My recipe uses a Tablespoon of baking powder. I’ve never had a bitter cake. Probably wouldn’t know because it’s covered with strawberries and whipped cream.

 

[debodun]

I don't have a cold. Cornbread I made also tasted bitter. I used the same flour and baking powder. It's funny, but the cake tasted okay in the center, but along the edges is where the bitterness always is, especially the corners.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I don't have a cold. Cornbread I made also tasted bitter. I used the same flour and baking powder. It's funny, but the cake tasted okay in the center, but along the edges is where the bitterness always is, especially the corners.

Maybe it’s your bakeware

 

[Aunt Bea]

I don't have a cold. Cornbread I made also tasted bitter. I used the same flour and baking powder. It's funny, but the cake tasted okay in the center, but along the edges is where the bitterness always is, especially the corners.

An aluminum baking pan might be the problem.

 

[debodun]

I always use glass.

 

[Twostep]

I don't have a cold. Cornbread I made also tasted bitter. I used the same flour and baking powder. It's funny, but the cake tasted okay in the center, but along the edges is where the bitterness always is, especially the corners.

Too hot plus your unbalanced ingredients? What else does taste off?

 

[Nathan]

Maybe your sense of taste is off, have someone else sample it.
Ever had a tick bite, that your know of?

 

[Aunt Bea]

I always use glass.

Do you use a cooking release spray to coat the pan?

 

[Redrose]

This is the recipe:

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease a 9 x 9" baking dish
Cream together the butter and sugar.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla.
Combine flour, baling powder and salt, then add to butter mixture.
Mix until smooth,
Pour into greased dish.
Bake 30 - 40 minutes.


What is wrong?

Too much baking powder for the amount of flour. 1.5 cup is aprox 240 g flour and you should use only 1/2 tsp baking powder. And eventually too much vanilla extract too. That can cause a bitter taste too

 

[debodun]

Do you use a cooking release spray to coat the pan?

Yes

 

[Aunt Bea]

Yes

Squirt some on your finger and see if that’s the taste you are experiencing.

 

[debodun]

No, it didn't have much of any flavor.