Essential Cheat Sheet Charts Every Baker Needs in Their Kitchen

Running a kitchen efficiently means having quick access to critical information. Whether you're a professional baker or an enthusiastic home baker, having cheat sheets for measurements, conversions, mixing, bake times, and cake coverage saves time, reduces errors, and keeps your workflow smooth. Below, I’ll outline the must-have cheat sheets for every baker and what they should include. *These are simply general suggestions, please adjust to your preference.  Remember baking is an art, not a science.

Kitchen of a Bakery Cake Shop

1. Measurement Conversion Chart

This chart is a lifesaver when switching between different measuring systems or halving/doubling recipes.
What to Include:

  • Cups to Ounces to Grams: E.g., 1 cup of flour = 120g or 4.25 oz.
  • Teaspoons to Tablespoons: 3 tsp = 1 tbsp.
  • Liquid Conversions: 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml.
  • Weight Conversion for Common Ingredients: Flour, sugar, butter, cocoa powder, etc.
Ingredient 1 Cup 1 Tablespoon 1 Teaspoon
Flour (All-Purpose) 120 g (4.25 oz) 7.5 g 2.5 g
Granulated Sugar 200 g (7 oz) 12.5 g 4.2 g
Butter 227 g (8 oz) 14.2 g 4.7 g

2. Mixing Ratios for Common Recipes

Knowing the right ratios helps prevent baking mishaps.

Basic Mixing Ratios:

  • Cake Batter: 1 part flour, 1 part sugar, 1 part butter, 1 part eggs (by weight).
  • Pie Dough: 3 parts flour, 2 parts fat, 1 part water (by weight).
  • Simple Syrup: 1 part water, 1 part sugar.
  • Buttercream: 1 part butter, 2 parts powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk per cup of sugar.

Pro Tip: Include visual ratios for quick reference. For example, a dough chart showing how much flour to fat in a pie crust.


3. Cake Bake Times and Temperatures by Size and Shape

This cheat sheet is invaluable for achieving even bakes across different cake sizes and pans.

Pan Size Baking Temperature Bake Time
6-inch round (2-inch deep) 325°F (163°C) 25–30 minutes
8-inch round (2-inch deep) 350°F (175°C) 30–35 minutes
9x13-inch rectangle 350°F (175°C) 35–40 minutes
Cupcakes (standard) 350°F (175°C) 15–20 minutes

4. Fondant Coverage Chart

How much fondant do you need for different cake sizes? This chart ensures you always have enough.

Cake Size (Round) Fondant Needed
6-inch (2 layers) 1.5 pounds (24 oz)
8-inch (2 layers) 2 pounds (32 oz)
10-inch (2 layers) 3 pounds (48 oz)
12-inch (2 layers) 4.5 pounds (72 oz)

Pro Tip: Include square and tiered cake sizes for flexibility.


5. Buttercream Coverage Chart

Knowing how much buttercream you’ll need for crumb-coating, filling, and final coating is a game-changer.

Cake Size Buttercream Needed
6-inch (2 layers) 2 cups
8-inch (2 layers) 3 cups
10-inch (2 layers) 4.5 cups
12-inch (2 layers) 6 cups

Pro Tip: Use separate estimates for crumb coating vs. thick decorative layers.


6. Piping Tip Guide

Decorating cakes and cupcakes is faster when you know which piping tip creates the desired effect.

Tip Number Use
1M Large swirls, rosettes
2D Drop flowers, ruffles
#104 Petals, ruffles
#352 Leaves
#3 Writing, small dots

7. Basic Recipes Cheat Sheet

Sometimes you just need the basics at your fingertips.

Vanilla Cake Recipe (2 Layers):

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk

Simple Buttercream:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tbsp milk

8. Ingredient Substitution Chart

For those "oh no, I’m out of eggs" moments.

Ingredient Substitute
1 cup buttermilk 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
1 egg ¼ cup applesauce, or 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water
1 cup sugar 1 cup honey or ¾ cup maple syrup

9. Pan Volume Equivalents

Quickly adapt recipes for different pan sizes.

Pan Type Volume (Cups)
8-inch round 6 cups
9-inch round 8 cups
9x13-inch rectangle 14 cups
Bundt pan 10–12 cups

10. Temperature and Doneness Chart

Ensure perfect bakes every time.

Type of Bake Internal Temperature
Cakes 200–210°F (93–99°C)
Cupcakes 200–210°F (93–99°C)
Bread (Yeast) 190–210°F (88–99°C)
Cheesecake 150–160°F (65–71°C)

Having these cheat sheets readily accessible in your kitchen (laminated and on the wall is ideal) will save you countless headaches and streamline your baking process. No more asking google or Alexa anymore.  Whether you're scaling up for a big event, troubleshooting an ingredient shortage, or simply trying to bake efficiently, these charts are a baker’s best friend!  

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