Most Common Baking Mistakes

     We all know that baking can be sometimes difficult. There are plenty of reasons why an amazing cake can become a big disappointment. Inspired by my own mistakes and some online research, it's clear that baking mistakes happen. A fun baking project can easily turn into a big frustration.
     When it comes to cooking you can be creative. With a pinch of this or a dash of that, you can cook something super delicious. But when it comes to baking, we should remember that it's a science and even the smallest mistake can result in a fail. Luckily, the most common baking mistakes can be easily avoided by following some guidelines.


         You don't follow the recipe

     I am sure that many of you are familiar with this one (I for one, surely am). We often see a great recipe, and we already see the changes we want to make with it. In baking ingredients are not just for the flavor, they are necessary for the chemistry of the recipe. Unless you're a professional baker, don't be tempted to substitute one ingredient for another. 
   
    Let's take for example butter and oil. They're both fats, but they don't work exactly the same; as oil makes a cake denser and moister than butter. Trying to substitute one with another will never work.
    If your recipe calls for sugar, use sugar. If your recipe calls for bread flour, use bread flour. There are so many recipes out there that you will definitely find the one that suits you. 
     Don't forget to read ahead of baking the recipe. This will help you know what ingredients and equipment you will need.

          You don't use room temperature ingredients

     If your recipe doesn't call otherwise, you should always use room temperature ingredients. As I said before, baking is a science. Let's take butter as an example. If the butter is too cold, it will not cream properly. This means that your resulted baked good will not be creamy and fluffy enough.
     Speaking of butter, there are some easy tips to soften it, if you forgot to take it out from the fridge. Check out this article, and learn how to soften butter quickly.

          Your ingredients are out of date

     Always make sure that that your ingredients are not out of date. For example, if you use expired baking powder or baking soda, your cake will definitely not rise as it should.
     Don't forget to also check your flour, oil, milk and even eggs. If you need some tips on how to test eggs for freshness, I have an article that will help you. Just click right here.


          You are not measuring your ingredients accurately

     I know I talk a lot about the ingredients, but that's because they're very important for any kind of recipe. And there are some small mistakes you can do to ruin your baked good.
      While adding a few more strawberries to your cake will not affect it in a negative way, you must be careful when measuring the main ingredients (flour, sugar, liquids, baking soda, baking powder). 
     When you are not precise in measuring the ingredients, the result can be a disaster. You can negatively impact your cake's consistency and density. Remember that precise measurement is the right way to successful baking.
     A little extra tip that I have learned over the years: before you start, prepare ahead all your ingredients. It will be easier if you have all the ingredients you need already measured.

        You don't preheat your oven

     Even if your recipe doesn't call for this, you should always preheat your oven. Your recipe calls for a given time at a certain temperature. If you don't preheat your oven, your baked good will spend more time in the oven at different temperatures. This will prevent your baked good from browning or rising properly. Please remember to always preheat your oven!

          You're opening your oven door too soon

     I know that what's in the oven smells delicious and you are anxious to see if it's done or not. But it's not a good idea to keep opening the oven door. Each time you open that door, the temperature from the oven goes down. When this happens, it prevents your cake from rising, and it slows down the baking process.
     So just be patient, and let your cake bake at least 3/4 of the time given before opening the oven door.

         You don't let your cake cool

     This might seem the hardest thing to do: to let that delicious baked good cool. But it's a very important step, that you shouldn't ignore. The final texture and volume of your cake will be at it's best when it's cooled. 
     I recommend using a wire rack. This allows air to circulate and will prevent a soggy bottom. If you try to cut a warm cake, your risk to tear it apart, making it crumble.
     It's also important to let a cake completely cool before decorating it. If you put buttercream on a warm cake, it will definitely melt.
           While experienced bakers certainly don't encounter these baking mistakes, for those of us (me included) who are home bakers, these tips are very welcomed.
     Now that you know some of the most common baking mistakes, and how to avoid them, it will be easier for you to try out that amazing recipe you saved on your Pinterest board. What you have to do next is keep practicing!
    Remember to share these tips with your loved ones!
    Happy Baking!