Are you always on the lookout for ways to improve your game in the kitchen? Then you’ll definitely want to check out these smart, potentially life-changing baking hacks!

1. Keep Cookies Moist

Store cookies with a slice of bread or an apple wedge to keep them nice and soft.

2. Soften Brown Sugar

Try out this tried and true method for softening brown sugar. All you need is a cup of water and a microwave and your hard cube of sugar will be back to its original, soft state.

3. Make Healthier Cake

Use avocado instead of butter in your baked good recipes to make them a bit healthier. Check out some other baking substitutions to save you money and calories here.

4. Ripen Bananas Quickly

Need to make banana bread but don’t have bananas that are quite ripe enough? Then just put them in the oven for 40 minutes at 300 degrees. They’ll turn brown and get extra soft and sweet (perfect for banana bread).

5. Stop Splattering Cake Batter

Place a paper plate on your whisks to prevent splatter messes once and for all.

6. Save Your Cake by Cutting it Correctly

This is the correct way to cut your cake. You won’t do it any other way from now on.

7. Make Your Own Icing Bag

Create your own pastry bag or icing bag out of a simple Ziploc bag. Just snip off a corner!

8. Freeze Cookie Dough

Freeze cookie dough in ice cube trays for easy “emergency” snacks on future days.

Find more baking hacks over at Buzzfeed.