Many home bakers have been told— by Food Network, by cookbooks, by their grandmothers — that the best way to check the doneness of a cake is by piercing the center with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. However, baker Mandy Merriman says that "if the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is most likely overbaked."
I first came across this warning from Merriman when reading through her new cookbook, "I'll Bring The Cake: Recipes for Every Season and Occasion," which was released on Wednesday. In the introduction to the book, Merriman, who is also known for her hit blog "Baking with Blondie," writes:
