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Cooking and baking require folks to be precise and practice as much as possible to get recipes right. Any baker will tell you that even a tiny measurement error can turn the whole dessert or savory treat into something horrific-looking and tasting.

That’s probably where all these folks went wrong when they tried their hand at baking only to end up with an alien mess. Hopefully this one incident didn’t scare them away from the process, but you should learn from these hilarious mistakes and try your best to avoid a kitchen disaster.

#1

My Boyfriends Attempt At Making Me Cupcakes For My Birthday (Posted With Permission)

A major baking fail featuring completely burnt donuts in a donut pan on the stovetop.

wyze-litten Report

Upstaged75
Community Member
2 hours ago

Oh boy! 😂

RELATED:
    #2

    An Attempt Of Banana Bread

    An unusual baking fail result with cake batter expanded upwards inside an open appliance.

    opetaja Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    That looks like an atom b.omb cloud. 😂

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    #3

    Tried To Make A Unicorn Cake…

    A decorated monster cake with candy eyes and sprinkles representing a funny baking fail.

    Think_Impression9011 Report

    tom (bat/man)
    Community Member
    54 minutes ago

    yes, you tried

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    There's a lot of joy in cooking something from just a few ingredients, and to find out how many people enjoy the process, Instacart surveyed more than 1,000 Americans. They found that nearly 62% of folks feel confident in their abilities, while 14% struggle a bit.

    Even if they really like cooking or baking, 20% find it difficult because they don't have enough time, 19% feel exhausted after work, and 7% don’t feel skillful enough. Still, many young folks have taken up this hobby and truly love making new dishes, no matter how they turn out.

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    #4

    And This Is Why I Don’t Bake. My Cursed Hedgehog For My BF’s Birthday Last Year

    A hilarious baking fail hedgehog cake decorated with pretzels, gummy eyes, and candy mouth.

    starpiece Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    This is actually one of the least offensive cursed hedgehog cakes I've ever seen.

    #5

    My Sasquatch Cake

    A funny baking fail featuring a brown Bigfoot shaped cake decorated with candy teeth and eyes.

    Piercedbunny Report

    tom (bat/man)
    Community Member
    53 minutes ago (edited)

    oh yummy, a t u r d with teeth

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    #6

    Aurora Pie Fail

    Unbaked blueberry pie decorated with pie crust cutouts, showing a creative bakingfail project.

    CantaloupeClassic687 Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    How is this a fail?

    Baking isn’t specific to any one generation; anyone can make something delicious if they have the interest and time. Research by CivicScience finds that among aspiring bakers, 18-24-year-olds make up the majority, as they seem to be getting into this hobby the most right now.

    Compared with people who enjoy cakes a lot, folks between 20 and 30 make up 44.9% of consumers, and those 51 and above make up 20.6% of the group. Therefore, it seems like young people are getting into baking a lot more, but regardless of age, everybody likes cakes, desserts, and sweet treats, even if they don’t make them themselves. 

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    #7

    Tried To Make My Blackberry Blondies, Made A Slab Of Ground Beef With Suspicious Sauce

    Flat purple cake sheet covered in runny white glaze representing a baking fail

    SugarVibes Report

    #8

    I Told My Family I Would Make Rolls For Thanksgiving And Practiced Tonight

    Raw dough shapes arranged on parchment paper showing a funny baking fail attempt.

    TheQueenIsHere55 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Those are some thick looking rolls. 😂

    #9

    Bless Him, My Husband Loved This Abomination

    Homemade birthday cake with messy beige frosting and four candles, a humorous baking fail.

    haveabunderfulday Report

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    No matter how the baked goods on this list look, making something from scratch brings a different level of joy and satisfaction. According to blogger Andre Begin, one reason he loves baking is that it’s relaxing and has taught him to become more patient over time.

    Putting together the ingredients, waiting for the dough to rise, creating a glaze, and other steps all help him focus and enter a state of flow. Whether the dish is a flop or not, it motivates him to approach the next batch with more confidence and more experience.

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    #10

    The Last Birthday Cake I Made Myself

    Funny chocolate cake shaped like an animal with stick spikes illustrating a baking fail

    Piercedbunny Report

    #11

    So We Tried…

    Green frosted christmas tree cookie stacked messy beside a reference photo baking fail

    NellaJade98 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Try harder next time. Following the instructions might help.

    #12

    I Thought I Could Use A Leftover Sheet Of Puff Pastry As A Tart Shell. In My Hubris, I Did Not Google It. It’s The Ugliest Thing I’ve Ever Made

    Overcooked unevenly browned pie crust on a rack showing a baking fail.

    climbing_headstones Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    That's disturbing.

    The blogger Andre also mentioned that baking is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and figure out things you can apply to your day-to-day life. It also helps folks develop a sense of intuition, for example, knowing how much flour to put, when to take the dish out of the oven, or what to do to fix a bad batch.

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    Even though it is just a hobby, bakers know it lets them experiment with many ingredients and flavors in a way that’s almost scientific. That’s why so many folks slow down and take in the process when making a baked good, since it requires attention and precise measurements.

    #13

    Guess Who Forgot The Flour In Their Cookies

    Completely melted burnt cookies spread over a baking sheet in a major baking fail.

    Secret_Equipment_299 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Quite a few people on this list! 😂

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    #14

    This “Strawberry Cow” Tres Leches Cake My Ex Made For Me A Couple Years Ago

    Messy layered birthday cake with melting pink icing showing a funny baking fail.

    moumou122 Report

    #15

    Never Give Up! (Macarons)

    Unbaked macarons on a baking sheet illustrating a baking fail.

    Choi_Yena_Duck_Face Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Eh, baking isn't for everyone. 🤷‍♀️

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    A wonderful experience many bakers share is how certain treats or desserts can take them right back to the past. Maybe it's because they're trying a family recipe or something a loved one used to make; either way, the nostalgic effect is often quite strong.

    This hobby is also quite social, as many folks bake with friends and family. This lets them enjoy quality time with others and learn more about them in the process. After all, each person has their own unique touch that they add to their baked good, and learning about it is a joy in itself.

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    #16

    Second Attempt At Macarons

    Cracked cookies on a paper plate drawn with sad faces as a funny bakingfail.

    ol0516 Report

    #17

    Mom Tried To Make Buttercream While Drunk And Unsupervised

    Kitchen counter messy with batter splatters around a stand mixer from a baking fail.

    pass-me-a-beer Report

    Potato Vic
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    This is sad......

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    #18

    My Nieces Unicorn Cake My Mom Made

    A funny bakingfail of a pink piggy cake decorated with candies and a birthday candle on a white plate.

    jewelsme10 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Does your mom dislike her? 😂 It looks like an evil pink snowman.

    Every professional baker knows that, beyond the joy of pursuing the skill, there’s also an undercurrent of friendly competition that is quite enjoyable. Just like the Great British Bake-off, even amateurs enjoy comparing their dishes to what their friends and loved ones made, just to see who’s got the most skill. 

    Sometimes this can also be the best way to promote learning, with several amateur bakers trying their hand at a sweet treat and figuring things out on the go. Even if everyone’s baked goods turn out a little messy, there are still enough sweet treats to go around for the crowd.

    #19

    I Put Whey Too Much Protein, My Cake Turned To A Chicken

    A funny baking fail displaying a dark brown, dense loaf of bread served on a black tray.

    balcetto Report

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    #20

    My Mom Tried To Make Me A Spirited Away Cake

    Small white cake with black soot sprite decorations as a cute baking fail

    No_Fortune_5341 Report

    #21

    My Sister Forgot The Dry Ingredients

    A baking fail with melted cookie dough spreading all over a baking sheet inside the oven.

    commiephag Report

    Many of the folks on this list might have tried their best at baking just to end up with a goopy mess. Regardless, they seem to have a positive attitude about it, and that has a lot to do with the creative aspect of this hobby. According to Northern Healthcare, people often find joy in making and innovating with this skill.

    By experimenting with new flavors, learning different recipes, and putting their own spin on a dish, they might feel a sense of accomplishment and joy. That’s because creativity has been shown to lower cortisol levels and provide an outlet for folks to cope with difficult emotions.

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    #22

    I Dont Even Want To Try To Explain What Went Wrong W These Cookies Me N My GF Made

    Messy tray of burnt baked goods with melted chocolate chips showing a baking fail.

    enby_pidgon Report

    #23

    Dad's Birthday Today And I Messed Up His Cake Because I Forgot To Grease The Pan. Still Edible But He Won't Give It The Time Of Day

    Lumpy chocolate cake unevenly covered in dark chocolate frosting, a funny baking fail.

    boredboi2 Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    He doesn't deserve your lovely cake ♥️

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    #24

    This Was Supposed To Be A Dino Cake

    Cute baking fail frog cake with light green icing, candy eyes, and sprinkles.

    No-Amount-6137 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Looks like a Suriname toad! 🐸

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    Most people might think of baking as a simple way to make something tasty, but many don’t realize it can boost mood and mental well-being. One interesting thing some bakers do is take their anger and frustration out on the dough, which helps them feel better.

    Just engaging in the activity and entering a flow state can help take your mind off difficulties and make you feel better about yourself and your life. Just a few minutes of this hobby a day can reduce stress, improve sleep, and lower blood pressure, which is good for the immune system too.

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    #25

    Black Bean Brownies Turned Out Somehow Both Burnt Amd Raw??

    Overcooked, dark chocolate brownies in a square glass dish representing a baking fail.

    Guy_with_no_ideas Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    What did you expect? Brownies do NOT work with beans in them. 😖

    #26

    The Lid Was, In Fact, Not Oven Safe

    A baking fail with a melted red plastic lid inside a hot oven covering a casserole.

    CatIsGreat Report

    Potato Vic
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    🤦‍♀️

    #27

    What Did I Do Wrong??

    Flat, overcooked chocolate chip cookies merged together on a baking sheet, showing a baking fail.

    Whole-Owl8375 Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Forgot the flour?

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    All these baking fails should remind you that progress happens only when you accept failure. That’s exactly what the folks on this list are doing: messing up and trying again until they can make a delicious dish. You should also keep doing your best, and try your hand at baking or any other hobby that suits your tastes.

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    We’d love to know if you’ve ever cooked or made anything that didn’t turn out quite like you expected. Do share your stories in the comments below.

    #28

    Make Sure To Feed The Floor Too Sometimes

    Dropped cake and broken dish splattered on wooden kitchen floor as baking fail

    No-Sun-6425 Report

    #29

    Goal Was Cookies, Outcome Was Bread

    Overly bubbled pastries on baking tray in oven showcasing baking fail

    Corndoginheels Report

    #30

    That One Time I Put Half The Amount Of Flour In By Accident. And Then To Realize It Wasn’t Flour But Pancake Mix

    Flat burnt cookies merged together on silicon mat illustrating baking fail

    hokeypokeyloki Report

    #31

    Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Wrinkled sunk cake inside heart shaped pan showing baking fail

    Cowgomuwu Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    That ain't what it looks like. 😂

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    #32

    Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes

    Single chocolate cupcake with thick brown frosting representing an unfortunate baking fail.

    GingerPrincesa Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Oh come on now. Someone HAD to have iced it like dog-doo on purpose. 😂

    #33

    Would Anyone Like A Cookie??

    One huge merged chocolate chip cookie covering half the baking sheet in this funny r/bakingfail photo.

    Stressed-ndepressed Report

    #34

    Tried Making Gluten Free Petit-Fours For A Post-Apocalyptic Fallout Themed Party

    Messy chocolate brownies covered in light blue glaze resting on a wire rack, a classic r/bakingfail moment.

    overfilledcreampuff Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Definitely looks like fallout of some sort.

    #35

    The Icing Went Wrong So I Turned The Cake Into A Worm

    A funny baking fail featuring a chocolate covered loaf cake with a crude face drawn in frosting.

    milenoopy Report

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    #36

    Perfect Shark Cookies

    A creative baking fail featuring cookies topped with light blue frosting and candy eyes.

    Werecattt Report

    #37

    ..... They Are The Size Of Cakes

    Misshapen cinnamon rolls baked together on parchment paper in a bakingfail moment.

    tiny-catgirl Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Perfect size!

    #38

    Perfect Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies

    Expectation vs reality comparison of thumbprint cookies melting into a sheet as a bakingfail.

    Status_Spot_3889 Report

    #39

    Delivery Guy Made It One Block

    A major baking fail showing a multi-tiered white frosted cake smashed inside a car.

    FrigThisMrLahey Report

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    #40

    Since Everyone's Posting Their Birthday Fails, I Thought I'd Share The Lex Luthor Cupcakes My Daughter Asked For Her Last Birthday

    Tray of funny decorated cupcakes showing a baking fail attempt at monster faces.

    ZodFrankNFurter Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Who??

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    #41

    Left My Dough To Rise For An Hour— Accidentally Cooked It Instead

    Close up of overmixed lumpy dough in a bowl illustrating a common baking fail.

    Avockie27 Report

    #42

    Thought I Had Memorized The Recipe, Apparently I Had Not

    Baking fail where cookies melted together into one burnt layer on a baking sheet.

    Coffee_cupsss Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Made a mess! 😂

    #43

    The Flesh Muffins

    Plate of pale berry muffins showing a baking fail.

    WormSoup13 Report

    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    These should have stayed in the oven a little longer, that is all.

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    #44

    You Would Think A Cookbook Would Test The Submitted Recipes Before They Publish Them…

    Runny pie filling separate from the meringue top, showing a baking fail

    overcomethestorm Report

    #45

    Ugly Blueberry Muffins

    A bakingfail muffin tin filled with blueberry muffins coated in tan powder after baking.

    Ok-General-5119 Report

    #46

    My Wife Made Breadsticks

    A baking fail showing pale, misshapen dough logs lined up on parchment paper.

    SpicyBanditSauce Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    I don't think that's what those are. 😂

    #47

    Cheesecake Cracked So Hard It Greeted Me

    A cracked baked cheesecake inside a round springform pan as a classic baking fail.

    PuzzleheadedAd3060 Report

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    #48

    I Made Blueberry Muffins, Hold The Blueberries

    Pan of muffins on a stove near frozen blueberries showing a baking fail

    Available_Link_9832 Report

    #49

    Followed A Pinterest Recipe It Didn’t Come Out Spongy Is This Edible Or Did I Miserably Fail?

    A close-up of a dense, unbaked-looking blueberry cake interior showing a baking fail.

    lizzet-gutierrez Report

    #50

    Apparently One Was 8 Years Out Of Date-

    Two cake pans inside an oven, one overflowing into a baking fail mess.

    Late-Camera5616 Report

    Potato Vic
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    🤢

    #51

    Accidentally Made Butter, Instead Of Whip Cream?

    Curdled liquid batter in a mixer bowl demonstrating a common baking fail.

    Idk_what-im_doin Report

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    #52

    Looks Like A Fail, But Super Tasty If Incredibly Dense And Rich. Modified Hello Dollies AKA Magic Cookie Bars

    Burned liquid in glass baking dish demonstrating baking fail on stovetop

    OriginalTacoMoney Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Nope those got both burned in hell fire and then left out for months to mold....

    #53

    I Tried Making Cookies From Scratch Tonight

    Flat, over-expanded cookie sheet bake presenting a hilarious baking fail.

    SwiftyNugget2001 Report

    #54

    What Happened Here? They Were In The Same Oven With Same Ingredients. The Top One Doesn’t Looks Normal

    Two square baking pans side-by-side comparing a dark cakey brownie with a shiny crinkle-top brownie, demonstrating r/bakingfail.

    Big_Description2320 Report

    Rathoren
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Apparently glass vs metal pan and rack height

    #55

    What The Heck Happened Here?!

    Thin and spread out chocolate chip cookies melted into flat, lace-like puddings on a baking tray, a total r/bakingfail.

    interp21 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    So many people forgot the dry ingredients!

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    #56

    Oh, Are We Doing Cursed Birthday Cakes?

    A homemade birthday cake covered in berry jam and lit candles as a funny baking fail.

    TheFriendliestSloot Report

    #57

    Dad’s Birthday Cake

    Roughly frosted cake with blue and pink icing as a baking fail.

    sourskittles98 Report

    #58

    Decided To Make Macarons At 12am…

    Thick grey frostings swirled in a bowl as a baking fail.

    moonstarmeadow Report

    #59

    What Did I Forget?

    Brownie tray with peanut butter cookies mixed in as a baking fail.

    PublicGap3894 Report

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    #60

    What Happened To My Chocolate Chips?

    Old chocolate chips with bloom and white spots stored in a plastic bag during a bakingfail.

    doobiedenver Report

    Door Door
    Community Member
    55 minutes ago

    Sugar bloom?

    #61

    Tried To Make My Mom A Birthday Cake With Raspberries In-Between The Layers

    Unevenly frosted homemade cake with purple and teal icing on a platter, showing a bakingfail.

    Tiled_Deepslate Report

    #62

    My Sad Bday Cake Which I Attempted To Make For Mysef

    A messy colorful birthday cake on a red plate, demonstrating a funny bakingfail.

    0chronomatrix Report

    #63

    My First Time Making Cinnamon Rolls

    Unrolled dough covered in brown cinnamon sugar, an intermediate step in a baking fail recipe

    Seraphim99 Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Or cinnamon flats. 😂

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    #64

    Blender Too Weak How To Salvage Nutella

    Crumbled dark brown mixture in a white bowl, resulting from a baking fail

    objectiveimmorality Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Looks like it's already been digested. 😖

    #65

    Somehow My Mom Completely Ruined Her Peanut Butter Cookies

    Overly spread cookies fused into one large sheet on parchment paper, a clear baking fail

    kdm01 Report

    Door Door
    Community Member
    53 minutes ago

    Break them up and put then on top of ice cream😋

    #66

    White Chocolate & Caramel Cookies

    Flattish cookies spread thin on parchment paper and a plate, a classic baking fail

    Envyra Report

    #67

    Uh...something Happened To My Cake Pop

    A close-up of cake pops coated in white frosting as an example of a bakingfail.

    overfilledcreampuff Report

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    #68

    Merengue With Stevia

    An amusing baking fail showing pale, irregular meringue-like swirls scattered on parchment paper.

    sailorsalvador Report

    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Difficult to get it right with sugar replacements unless the recipe is for the particular product.

    #69

    Time For A New Cake Tin

    A major baking fail with liquid cake batter spilled over a stovetop, oven door, and floor.

    Brilliant_Run_2106 Report

    Door Door
    Community Member
    51 minutes ago

    That looks like a springform baking tin.

    #70

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    A baking fail featuring overbaked, flat, lace-like burnt cookies spread out on baking paper.

    cheeriosmanager Report

    Door Door
    Community Member
    51 minutes ago

    Put them on ice cream

    #71

    Note To Self: Think Sprinkles Are Not Meant For The Oven

    Unbaked snowman and festive shape sugar cookies arranged on a baking sheet, showcasing a funny r/bakingfail.

    beanfox101 Report

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    #72

    What Have I Done!?

    Raw peanut butter cookie dough balls stamped with a fork before baking fail.

    YuhMothaWasAHamsta Report

    Door Door
    Community Member
    50 minutes ago

    Forget to bake them?