Confessions of a Baker: 5 Mistakes I Wish I Hadn't Made

Did your first cake turn out flatter than a pancake? Welcome to the club! After ruining more desserts than I care to admit, here are the mistakes we ALL make (and how to avoid them).

1. The cardinal sin: Not reading the entire recipe. Discovering halfway through that the butter needs to be softened or that the dough must be refrigerated for 2 hours is frustrating. Solution: Read EVERYTHING before you start. Yes, EVERYTHING.

2. Measuring “by eye”. If you've been scooping flour straight from the bag with your cup, you've probably been using more than necessary. Solution: Use spoons to fill the cup and level it off with a knife.

3. Mixing like you're an industrial mixer. Mixing your dough vigorously makes it dense, tough and chewy. Solution: Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Your cake is not bread dough!

4. Opening the oven every 5 minutes. I know curiosity kicks in, but every time you open the oven, the temperature drops and your cake suffers. Solution: Use the oven light and resist the temptation.

5. Impatience at the end. Cutting a cake too soon can cause it to crumble; taking cookies out too early breaks them. Solution: Take a deep breath and wait. Your patience will be rewarded.