Why is simple syrup used on cakes?

Even if you bake your cake for the right amount of time and use all the correct ingredients, there’s no guarantee that it will turn out perfectly moist. As Better Homes & Gardens notes, a dry cake can often be caused by something as seemingly minor as overmixing the batter or using a dark cake pan, which retains more heat. Even perfectly wet cakes will ultimately dry out due to air exposure. Fortunately, there is a method to avoid this, and it is used by many expert bakers.

Brushing your cakes with simple syrup, according to Southern Living, is the greatest method to keep cakes moist. When decorating and constructing a cake, apply a little coating of syrup to all surfaces and edges using a pastry brush. The syrup should naturally soak into the crumb, providing moisture to compensate for any that evaporated.

How does simple syrup change your cake?

Brushing on simple syrup is a quick technique to assure a moist crumb, but it will make little difference to the rest of your cake. According to I Am Baker shares, you won’t have to worry about simply syrup overpowering your cake’s pre-existing flavors. This is due to the fact that simple syrup is manufactured from a one-to-one ratio of two ingredients: hot water and granulated sugar. Just the amount of sweetness will be modified when the mixture is cooled and added to the cake. Also, since you’re just brushing it on the tops and sides, it shouldn’t be much sweeter, and you won’t need to change the sugar quantity in your original recipe.

If you do want to use it to enhance the flavor of your cakes, Little Figgy suggests that you can always add an extract like vanilla, or get creative with a fruit one like banana or lemon. But be careful not to overdo it with the syrup, or your cake will rapidly go from moist to soggy.