⚙ Folding: How to Do It and How Long It Takes

Folding takes 1 min most of the time.

Fold in the flour only until there are no pockets of dry flour: overmixing develops gluten, and the cake comes out dense.

Sift the flour and baking powder, combine, add to the wet mixture along with the coconut and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains · 1 min · Soft Coconut Cake
Add the nuts and dates and Fold gently · 1 min · Date Syrup and Date Cake
Sift the flour and baking powder, combine with the salt, add to the wet mixture and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains · 1 min · One-Bowl Lemon Cake in a Rose Pan
Sift the buckwheat flour, flour, cocoa and baking powder over the top, add the salt and Fold gently, just until the batter is smooth · 1 min · Buckwheat and Dark Chocolate Cake
Sift the flour, carob powder, baking powder and baking soda, combine, add to the wet mixture and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains · 1 min · Carob and Almond Cake
Chop the walnuts, add to the batter and Fold gently · 3 min · Chocolate Nut Cake

Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
Fold the flour in gently and don't beat after it goes in: too much mixing develops gluten, and the brownies come out cakey instead of dense.
Fold, don't stir: a vigorous motion knocks the air out of the egg whites, and the mousse comes out dense.
Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there are no streaks: vigorous mixing knocks the air out of the foam. Add whipped mixtures in stages: a quarter first, to lighten the mixture.
Fold, don't stir: a wide motion from the bottom up keeps the air in the whipped cream, and the cake comes out light and airy.