"Cake Factory" from Tefal: What is the mini baking machine good for?
7.12.2018
Translation: machine translated
The appliance promises: "Successful creative baking at any time! ". I'm very creative in the kitchen, but I can't bake at all. Thanks to the "5 automatic programmes", the appliance is also supposed to be suitable for beginners and children. What's behind the marketing blah-blah?
Baking is not my thing. I don't like doing it and I'm not very good at it. My baked goods either have the wrong consistency, they burn or are underbaked. There is one thing I do know how to do: the "cinnamon crinkle" is a big hit at parties. Now I'm sitting here and I'm supposed to test this Playmobil-like baking machine. In 2018, nothing works without an app. It promises to guide me step by step through the baking process. Tefal supplies three different baking moulds: Muffin moulds, moulds for small cakes and a small tray. Orange cakes with chocolate chips, apple cake and chocolate cakes with a liquid centre are particularly popular recipes, the app tells me.
Baking in mini format
In the app, I can specify how many batches I want to bake and can add all the ingredients to a shopping list. By default, the app plans two baking rounds. This confirms my first assumption. The "Cake Factory" is far too small to produce a decent amount of baked goods. It is not a factory, as the name suggests. It's not even a factory. It can make six cakes or muffins at a time. Forget the "Cake Factory" for baking desserts for the New Year's aperitif or the family Christmas party. Here's the big problem with the appliance: you're less flexible than your aunt, who always arrives ten minutes early for the party and always gives away her homemade, not-so-good bitter almond and grape jam to the family.
So many functions
The "Cake Factory" has five automatic functions. This is designed to make your work easier, because all you need to do is set Lavacake and then the baking time. There is also a "manual" function. This allows you to set the temperature. That's it. No convection, no top or bottom heat. According to Tefal, the programmes are designed in such a way that they automatically adjust the temperature perfectly. For a normal cake, the Tefal heats up to 180 degrees until the dough has risen and then goes down to 160 so that the cake gets a nice crust. The only problem is that the Cake Factory doesn't tell you what's happening. You have to trust it blindly. Literally, because you can't look inside the Playmobil egg either. But let me try it out with orange and chocolate cake.
First, the app tells me to put butter in a bowl, place it in the "Cake Factory" and activate the chocolate melting programme for four minutes. This softened the butter, but didn't melt it at all. Eyes closed and through. So I divide the far too thick batter between the appropriate baking tins and let the factory do its thing.
The cakes are a little pale, but perfectly edible. Now it's the apple pie's turn. I skip the step of melting the butter and do it in the pan. That way I can at least see that the butter has melted. Otherwise, the cake batter is simple, but the baking time of 40 minutes is rather long. I'm largely satisfied with the result.
Now it's the turn of the lava cakes with a melted centre. The chocolate and butter have to be melted at the same time. I do this in the cake tin in the appliance itself so that I can also make this version. And lo and behold, it works... At least the result in the moulds doesn't look too bad.
Have I discovered the Holy Grail of Cake Factory recipes? The pièce de résistance? Is this device a "one trick pony" that can only make chocolate cakes with a molten centre, but does so to perfection? The short answer is: No.
The long answer is: the cakes are not all good. Some have a runny centre, others are softer. In terms of flavour, they are perfectly edible. But it's the same problem as with a normal oven: there's no such thing as a consistent result. And unfortunately, as a baking amateur, it doesn't make me a master confectioner.
Promises a lot, delivers little and does nothing
The "Cake Factory" wants to be a jack-of-all-trades, and it fails. It doesn't make baking any easier: you need bowls, have to use a whisk and weigh up the ingredients. One recipe even calls for a Bunsen burner! This is too complicated for beginners. If you have baking experience, you are not flexible enough. You can't bake any better with this appliance. Or make larger quantities. It's just another kitchen appliance that will disappear into your cupboard or cellar. The automatic programmes are certainly useful, but nothing that your oven can't do. I can imagine parents enjoying the "Cake Factory" because you can use it to bake with your children in the living room or at the dining table, away from the dangers of the kitchen. Or maybe you live in a small flat, don't have an oven and love baking. Then the "Cake Factory" could be worthwhile.
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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