Baked goods are delicious but daunting, especially to those without experience. With precise measurements, techniques, and wordy recipes, baking can seem intimidating. It’s easy to mess up one thing or miss a single step and alter the outcome beyond desire. Don’t worry, this guide is here to explain basic skills, words, techniques, and even provide some recipe recommendations to get you started!
Since I can remember, I’ve loved baking and decorating. Some of my earliest memories are from when I was around 10 years old. I remember baking and then decorating a cake just for fun. About two years ago, I got back into it, and I’ve been taking it a bit more seriously. Whenever it was a family member’s birthday or a holiday, I naturally wanted to get a gift, and what better gift to give than a baked good? So from then on, I began looking into recipes to try. As I made more, I learned more. New techniques, how ingredients work together, and how they mix and change flavors or outcomes. I’ve taught myself what I know, and now I can share that with others.
Certain equipment is necessary for success, so before you begin, you should make sure to have measuring cups for accuracy. Mixers aren’t always required, but certainly helpful when creaming butter and sugar or even whipping up some icing. However, a simple whisk can do the job with just a bit more work. Some other materials to make everything that much easier are parchment paper or silicone baking mats, a digital food scale, cookie scoop and rubber spatula.
Basic ingredients to keep for baking are things like eggs, butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, as well as baking powder and baking soda. For success when tackling recipes, it’s best to try and understand how these ingredients work together, what mixes and doesn’t, etc. Look out for specific instructions such as keeping butter room temp or cold, because it isn’t a suggestion but an important step in the process of seamlessly combining ingredients. If it’s calling for room temperature and you use butter straight from the fridge, you may end up with clumpy frosting or a dense cake, for example.
On the other side of ingredients, another thing that is by all means not required but a good tip If you’re looking to level up the flavor of your baked goods, is quality. When buying ingredients, it’s easy to grab whatever you see first, but if you can, it’s worth considering a higher quality of things like butter (Kerrygold), chocolate (Ghirardelli), vanilla (opt for a paste instead of extract) or special salt (Maldon sea salt) for topping.
Some common techniques to look out for when reading recipes are, firstly, creaming butter and sugar. This is, to put simply, when you mix butter and sugar. It’s ideally done with a mixer or even a rubber spatula, until it becomes lighter in color and fluffy. Spooning and leveling, which is when you spoon flour into a measuring cup and level it off instead of just dipping the cup in, to avoid overmeasuring flour. Folding, which is when you use a rubber spatula to “fold” batter over itself, gently lifting it from one side of the bowl back into the middle. Kneading is what develops gluten, typically for bread and pastry making. A dust of flour on your surface, folding the dough, then pushing it out with the heel of your hand and folding it back in on repeat.
Some simple tips for better baking can be weighing your ingredients, avoiding over or under mixing, and reading recipes carefully. If you have access, use a digital scale. It’s much easier and more accurate than measuring cups. Obviously, everyone knows to read the recipe, but many neglect to fully read through it before beginning, which can lead to easy mistakes along the way. Make sure to read it from beginning to end and look out for any tips included for a better and smoother baking process.
Some easy-to-follow and delicious recipes to start with are https://marisabakes.com/2023/01/23/peanut-butter-cookies/
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/funfetti-layer-cake/
https://bromabakery.com/brioche-dinner-rolls/
https://mymessykitchenn.com/soft-frosted-sugar-cookies/
https://bromabakery.com/double-chocolate-chip-cookies/
People often say “baking is a science,” and it’s important to remember that while it is, it’s also an art. So feel free to experiment and try new things. Don’t overcomplicate, underestimate or hurry. This guide is now here for all of your baking worries.
