Measure with care.
Use the measurements and method in your recipe. A digital scale helps make ingredient quantities consistent, especially for flour. When a recipe uses cups, follow its guidance for filling and levelling them.
Respect ingredient temperature.
Room-temperature butter behaves differently from melted or chilled butter. Follow the temperature instructions in your recipe instead of treating them as optional. They influence mixing, texture and how the bake rises.
Get to know your oven.
Preheat fully and use the rack position specified in the recipe. An oven thermometer can help you check the temperature. Avoid opening the door repeatedly, and start checking for doneness at the time suggested by your recipe.
Make space for cooling.
Cooling is part of the process. Follow the recipe’s instructions for when to remove the bake from the tin, cut it or add a topping. Give cakes time to cool before frosting so the finished layers stay clean and stable.