7 Common Baking Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
New to baking? Avoid these 7 common baking mistakes and learn how to fix them with easy, beginner-friendly tips from your baking bestie!
Okay, baking besties… I want to get a little honest today: baking is basically edible science. A little too much flour, a cold stick of butter, or forgetting to preheat the oven can take your dreamy dessert from fluffy perfection to total flop.
But the good news? Most baking mistakes are super easy to fix once you know what’s going wrong. And that’s where your Baking Bestie (hi, it’s me!) comes in.
Whether you’re brand new to baking or you’ve been whipping up cookies for years, these are the most common baking mistakes I see — and exactly how to fix them.
How to Fix Some of the Most Common Baking Mistakes
Not Measuring Your Flour Properly
I know, I know — it seems harmless to just scoop your measuring cup right into the bag of flour. But this one little move can totally ruin your dessert.
When you scoop directly from the bag, you’re packing way too much flour into your cup, making your cakes dense and your cookies dry.
How to Fix It:
Use the spoon and level method! Lightly spoon the flour into your measuring cup, then level it off with the back of a butter knife. It’s a small change, but it makes a huge difference.
✨ Want a full guide on this? Check out my post: You’re Probably Measuring Your Flour Wrong
Using Cold Ingredients When the Recipe Calls for Room Temperature
Room-temp butter and eggs aren’t just for fun — they help everything mix evenly and give you the best texture.
Cold butter won’t cream properly with sugar, and cold eggs can cause batter to split.
How to Fix It:
Take your ingredients out about 30 minutes before baking. In a rush? Cut your butter into cubes and microwave it in 5-second bursts. Submerge eggs in warm water for 5 minutes.
✨ The only time to use cold butter? In pies and crumbles, of course! Check out my recipe post: Mixed Berry Crumble
Not Preheating Your Oven
I know you’re eager to get those cookies baking, but putting them into a cold oven throws off the whole texture and bake time.
How to Fix It:
Always preheat your oven while you’re mixing your ingredients. If you want to take it to the next level: don’t just trust the oven beep — use an oven thermometer to check when it’s actually at temp.
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Overmixing Your Batter or Dough
This is one of those sneaky mistakes you don’t realize you’re making. Overmixing develops too much gluten in your dough, which makes cookies tough and cakes rubbery.
How to Fix It:
Once your flour is combined, stop mixing. It’s okay if a few streaks remain — they’ll disappear as the batter settles.
Not Toasting Nuts Before Adding Them
If you’ve ever had a cookie recipe call for pecans or walnuts and tossed them in raw, you’re missing out on SO much flavor.
How to Fix It:
Toast your nuts! It only takes a few minutes in a dry pan or the oven, and it makes them richer, nuttier, and more aromatic.
✨ Pro Tip: I toast my pecans in butter for my Butter Pecan Cookies… in BUTTER — absolute game-changer.
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Opening the Oven Door Too Often
We all love to peek, but opening the oven too often lets heat escape and can cause cakes to sink or cookies to bake unevenly.
How to Fix It:
Use your oven light and only check when you’re close to the recommended baking time.
Skipping a Recipe’s Steps or Subbing Random Ingredients
I get it — you’re out of brown sugar and tempted to swap it for white sugar, or skip softening the butter because you’re short on time. But baking is one of those things where small changes really affect the final product.
How to Fix It:
Follow the recipe exactly the first time you make it. Once you nail it, you can experiment later. And if you need reliable, beginner-friendly recipes to start with, grab my free ebook The Sweet Six. It’s packed with recipes I’ve tested so many times, so you can bake with total confidence.
We’ve all made baking mistakes — I promise you’re not alone. I’ve done every single one of these (more than once!). But with a few easy fixes, your desserts will be fluffier, chewier, and way more delicious.
And remember — even if your cookies turn out a little wonky, there’s always next time. That’s part of the fun of baking!
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