It’s easy to go to the local bakery and pick out a pre-made cake for a birthday, but it just doesn’t have the sentimental value of a homemade cake. If you want to learn to make delicious, attractive cakes at home, these smart baking tips will help.

1. Pick the right pan. Use a shiny aluminum cake pan for best results, as they reflect the heat away from the cake itself while still browning the outer edges. If you must use a glass pan, reduce the temperature by 25 degrees.
2. Grease the pan properly. While cooking spray works just fine for cookies or brownies, it’s often not enough for a cake. Go with shortening and a bit of flour instead.
3. Cool the cake after baking. Rather than cutting right into your wonderful smelling cake after you remove it from the oven, wait about 10 to 15 minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack to avoid burning kitchen counters.
4. Remove it carefully from the pan. To remove the cake without tearing it, place a clean towel on a wire rack. Turn the cake pan upside down and let the cake fall gently onto the towel from a close distance.
5. Decorate with care. Frost the entire cake, then outline your design gently with a toothpick before committing to colorful icing.

Cake Baking Tips [Betty Crocker]
How to Make a Cake [Wilton]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Jun Seita