When it comes to making cakes from scratch, or even just making pancakes, your dry ingredients matter. Often, a recipe will call for sifting certain items through a sifter or a fine-mesh sieve. Everything from flour and cocoa powder to confectioners’ sugar and pancake mix can be sifted to get rid of large clumps. And getting rid of those large clumps will ensure you have a smooth batter or frosting.
Want to make measuring and sifting dry ingredients easier? Use this clever TikTok baking hack. It turns out your balloon whisk is a helpful two-in-one tool!
What Is the Flour Whisk Hack?
TikTok user @SheSunday blew people away by sharing this on TikTok. First, she grabs a whisk, dips it into pancake mix and taps it into a bowl. For the pancake mix, it makes perfect sense as it gets rid of large clumps at the same time as scooping it out of the canister or bag. And for pancakes, it’s pretty easy to eyeball it when it comes to finding the right consistency.
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But what if you need exact measurements? This TikTok baking hack works for ingredients like flour, cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar, too!
Use a whisk to pick up the dry ingredient you’re measuring and transfer it into a measuring cup or a bowl on a kitchen scale. This will help you skip the need for a sifter altogether, which is especially handy if you don’t have one in your kitchen.
Learn more about how to measure ingredients by weight.
Does It Really Work?
Not all viewers are convinced. A number of comments point out that you could simply use a spoon and a measuring cup. But using either of those items doesn’t help to rid dry ingredients of large clumps! Using the right type of whisk, a balloon whisk, you can sift dry ingredients while keeping the baking mess to a minimum.
Plus, once dry ingredients are measured and added to a bowl, you can use the whisk again for a quick stir to be sure everything is aerated without having to dirty additional utensils.
The downside here is the potential for inaccurate measurements, which is why the whisk needs to be doubled up with another tool. Using this hack to do a quick sift of dry ingredients before transferring them to a bowl on a scale is genius. That way, you can sift and measure your ingredients in one fell swoop.
Easy Cakes to Bake from Scratch
My husband loved his Mamaw’s strawberry birthday cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
This easy birthday cake recipe is moist and fluffy with lots of sprinkles and a whipped vanilla buttercream. It’s almost impossible not to feel happy when you see the fun pop of rainbow confetti! —Courtney Rich, Highland, Utah
When my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota
Lemon pie filling lends a splash of citrus flavor to a convenient cake mix, and a rich cream cheese frosting gives it sweetness. My family likes this cake cold, so I cut it into squares and freeze it before serving. —Alyce Dubisar, North Bend, Oregon
My family loves this lemon ice cream cake anytime. The sweet cream of coconut and tart lemon juice make a delicious combo, and the streusel adds a nice crunch. —Janet Gill, Canton, Ohio
When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I’m bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don’t have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
For this easy birthday cake recipe, I took a store-bought angel food cake and turned it into this special dessert with a lovely lime cream frosting topped with toasted coconut. It went over big! —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
If you need to learn how to make chocolate cake from scratch, this easy homemade chocolate cake recipe is a perfect place to start. It appeared on a can of Hershey’s cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it, and I’ve been making it ever since. —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
A drizzling of rich chocolate glaze lends an elegant touch and will keep guests wanting more. With only 3g of fat per slice, this easy birthday cake is a treat you’ll want to see year after year! —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York
This moist coconut cake is definitely one of my most-requested desserts. Use different cake mixes and pudding flavors for variety. —Gail Cayce, Wautoma, Wisconsin
This margarita cake is perfect on a warm day. You’ll be surprised at how closely it tastes like the real thing. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
My husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
That classic spring treat—strawberry shortcake—takes on a wonderful new twist with this strawberry poke cake recipe. Strawberry gelatin and strawberries liven up each pretty slice of this lovely layered cake that’s made from a convenient boxed mix. —Mary Jo Griggs, West Bend, Wisconsin
This lovely cake features ladyfingers, a creamy filling and a crushed pineapple topping. It’s a special treat for my large family. —Barbara Joyner, Franklin, Virginia
A cross between a cake and a cobbler, this dessert is a hit whenever I make it to share at a potluck. My family insists I make an extra batch to leave at home. A neighbor shared the recipe over 30 years ago. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
We named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
This moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for family get-togethers. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
I use cherry gelatin to give a boxed cake mix an eye-appealing marbled effect. It’s so festive-looking. Top it with whatever fruit you like! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
I prepare this colorful and easy birthday cake recipe quite often in the summer when fresh rhubarb is abundant. People actually line up for a piece. —Bonnie Krogman, Thompson Falls, Montana
This is one of my favorite easy birthday cake recipes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
This cake mixes up quickly and bakes while we enjoy our dinner. My son, David, loves to help decorate it. —Coleen Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
I serve this cherry cake for get-togethers because it’s so easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
I love cooking with my cast-iron skillet, whether it’s to make a main dish or dessert. This upside-down cake is quick and easy. —Linda Persall, Cullman, Alabama
I add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
Talk about a dessert that pops. Sometimes, I make this easy birthday cake even more eye-catching by coloring the whipped cream, too. Use whatever sherbet flavor combination you like. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
This sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just “dumping it all in” and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Jazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping (or this whipped topping substitute), the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert. —Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota
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