The temperature of your ingredients in baking affects texture, shape and taste. Understanding which basic baking ingredients should be at which temperature – and why – can change you from a nervous baker to a confident one who whips up cookies on a whim. Read on…you may want to preheat your oven before you start. Baking ingredient temperature cheat sheet Butter: Room temperature for cakes and cookies. Butter should be at room temperature for most cake and cookie recipes