Imagine pulling a perfectly golden loaf of banana bread from the oven, or slicing into a moist, tender chocolate cake—only to discover it’s not baked through. Few kitchen mishaps are as heartbreaking as realizing your baked goods are undercooked in the center.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution: using accurate baked goods doneness temperatures to ensure delicious results every time.
Yes, baked goods have specific doneness temperatures, just like meat and poultry. While your grandmother might have relied on intuition and experience, today’s bakers have the advantage of digital thermometers for foolproof baking results.
Ready to elevate your baking game? Here’s your essential guide to baked goods doneness temperatures for breads, cakes, cookies, and more! And if you’re looking for a great digital thermometer, I use and highly recommend Thermapen.
What’s Inside:
- Why baking temperatures matter
- Doneness temps for yeast breads
- Quick bread temperatures
- Perfect cake temperatures
- Cookie doneness temperatures
- Custards and cheesecakes
- Handy baking temperature chart
Baking Temperatures: Quality Meets Safety
Checking temperatures isn’t just about preventing doughy disasters—it’s also about food safety. While many of us have enjoyed raw cookie dough without issue, it’s important to note that both raw eggs and uncooked flour carry potential health risks, including salmonella and E. coli. Baking goods to recommended internal temperatures ensures safety and perfection in every bite.
Yeast Bread Doneness: 180–210°F
Forget the vague “tap-the-bottom” method. Use a digital thermometer for accuracy every time:
- Rich Breads (Challah, Brioche, Sandwich Bread): 180–190°F (82–88°C)
- Lean Breads (Sourdough, Baguettes, Rye): 190–210°F (88–99°C)
Check baked goods doneness temperatures after initial oven spring (about 20 minutes in) with an instant-read or leave-in probe thermometer for consistent perfection.
Quick Bread & Muffin Temperatures: 200–205°F
Zucchini bread, banana bread, muffins, and cornbread fall into the quick bread category, relying on chemical leaveners like baking powder or soda:
Pull from the oven at 200–205°F (93–96°C) to avoid soggy centers and achieve a fluffy, tender crumb every time.
Cakes & Cupcakes: 200–210°F
Stop poking cakes with toothpicks—use your thermometer instead! Most cakes, including vanilla, chocolate, and angel food cake, reach ideal doneness at 200–210°F (93–99°C). For special cakes:
- Molten Lava Cake: 160°F (71°C) ensures a food-safe yet deliciously gooey center.
- Pound Cake: 210°F (99°C) due to its high fat and sugar content.
Perfect Cookie Temperatures: 180°F
No more guessing when chocolate chip cookies are done. Perfectly chewy, crisp-edge cookies come out of the oven at exactly 180°F (82°C).
Custard & Cheesecake Perfection
Custards and cheesecakes have their own unique doneness signals, which can be tricky visually:
- Custards (Crème Brûlée, Flan, Pumpkin Pie): 170–175°F (77–79°C). They will be slightly jiggly but firm up as they cool.
- Quiche & Bread Pudding: 160°F (71°C), ensuring egg dishes are safely cooked without curdling.
- Cheesecake: 150°F (66°C). Removing cheesecake at this gentle temperature prevents cracks and ensures creamy perfection.
Quick Reference Baking Temperature Chart
Download this handy chart for printing or keep as digital file for your baking reference.
| BAKED GOODS | IDEAL TEMPERATURE |
|---|---|
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 180°F (82°C) |
| Rich-dough Yeast Breads (Brioche, Challah, Dinner Rolls, Sandwich Bread, etc.) | 180–190°F (82–88°C) |
| Lean-dough Yeast Breads (Baguette, Sourdough, Rye Bread, etc) | 190–210°F (88–99°C) |
| Quick Breads, Muffins, Cornbread | 200–205°F (93–96°C) |
| Cake, Cupcakes, Angel Food Cake | 200–210°F (93–99°C) |
| Molten (Lava) Cake | 160°F (71°C) |
| Pound Cake | 210°F (99°C) |
| Crème Brûlée, Flan, Pumpkin Pie | 170–175°F (77–79°C) |
| Bread Pudding, Quiche | 160°F (71°C) |
| Cheesecake | 150°F (66°C) |
No more guessing or disappointments—using a thermometer makes every bake a success story. Ready to bake smarter? Get your thermometer out and let the perfect baking begin!