Do your dreams consist of discovering the perfect beginner’s guide to baking? Well, look no further.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying before that “cooking is an art, and baking is a science.”
If you haven’t, what that means is that baking requires exact measurements, and all the ingredients need to react to each other in a certain way. With cooking, you can mess around a lot more and your mistakes are much easier to “fix”.
Mind you, there are always exceptions to the rule. I do know quite a few people who don’t measure anything, just throw it all in a bowl, and somehow, they create a masterpiece. But hey, the more you practice, maybe you can even get to that point too?
Don’t let that get you down, though! Even the pros have bad days and bad batches too. It’s always a learning experience, even if it doesn’t work out. The kitchen can seem quite intimidating especially if you’re new to the craft.
I feel like there are a lot more resources out there, especially with the internet being a huge hit. When I first started baking, I could find a plethora of recipes, but not a lot of “how-to guides”. While there are definitely more thorough materials out there, I just want to point you in the right direction and give you a solid foundation.
The Kitchen Wizards will help you get started! Read on to find out some quick tips and tools that you will need.
Let’s Get Baked and Bake!
Canuck Kitchen’s Beginner’s Guide to Baking
1. Start off Easy
If you’ve never done this before, it’s completely ok to start off with box mixes and shortcut recipes. Everyone learns at their own pace.
2. Make the Most of Search Engines and Key Words
I know this may seem like common sense to some, but I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me become a better cook and baker. As an added bonus, some of these basic recipes can be used as a great base and starting point.
Once you’ve gained more confidence, you can add or omit ingredients to your heart’s desire. I find that over time, you start to get more familiar with what flavours mesh well together and which don’t.
Not sure what I mean or looking for ideas? Some items to type in are: beginner recipes, simple recipes, easy recipes, and basic recipes. You can also be more specific: simple chocolate cake recipe, simple sugar cookie recipe, basic apple pie recipe.
You can also check out recipes with minimal ingredients. These are awesome if you’re on a budget or just don’t have the right stuff in your cupboards.
3. Don’t Wear Anything Nice and Embrace the Mess
Now is not the time to bust out your old prom dress. From personal experience, I’m a neat freak. But no matter how hard I try, I always make a HUGE mess when doing anything in the kitchen. I had nice dark grey countertops, but nope, they’re white now.
Don’t ruin your nice outfits. Wear something you don’t give a shit about. You will be covered in different substances, and your kitchen will be a different colour. Your Keep in mind though, cleaning is so much more fun when you’re indulging in freshly baked cookies. Am I right?
4. Use the Proper Measuring Tools
Unless you are one of those mythical creatures who just goes by eye, I highly suggest you invest in some measuring utensils.
Liquids such as vanilla extract, milk, etc., would need liquid measuring cups and spoons. These are best measured at eye level.
Anything that’s a dry ingredient (sugar, baking soda, salt) or a semi-liquid (sour cream) will need dry measuring cups and spoons.
5. Prep Everything Before You Start
This step is serious business. Prep everything before you start firing up the oven! I can’t stress this enough. That way, you’re not running around almost setting your house on fire. Melt your butter, measure out your sugar, get your chocolate chips ready, etc. It’s much easier to just grab and go.
6. Sift All of Your Dry Ingredients
I won’t lie; originally, I always skipped this step. Once you sift, you never go back. It seriously improves the texture and the final product. 10/10 would recommend!
7. The Fresher, the Better!
Always make sure your eggs, milk, fruit, etc. are fresh and lookin sharp! This will make a world of a difference in the overall taste, texture, and appearance. Your tastebuds will thank you.
Also, if you can afford it, I highly suggest buying quality ingredients. Use real vanilla instead of the artificial one. It’ll take your baking to a whole different level. If you can’t swing it right now, though, don’t worry about it. Times are tough, and your end result will still be delicious!
8. Read Your Recipe Over and Over Again Like It’s the Best Novel You’ve Ever Read
Get familiar with what you’re doing and what you need. When you’re prepared and can anticipate the next steps, the process is more of a breeze, and you’re less likely to make mistakes.
9. Time It!
Again, I know it seems like common sense, but I’m embarrassed to admit how many times I’ve forgotten to set a timer. I’m sure I’m not alone… hopefully. Save your reputation… and those precious cookies.
10. I’ve Said It Before, and I’ll Say It Again, Shit Happens.
Sometimes, you make a mistake and it still turns out, but other times it doesn’t go so well. It happens to the best of us, so please don’t beat yourself up over it. Just learn what you can and move on. Remember, it could always be worse.
Tools of the Trade – Beginner’s Guide to Baking
I would absolutely love to make a list and go into detail about all the wonderful tools and gadgets that are out there. The truth is, it’s really a never-ending story. There’s always new stuff coming out. As much as I’d love to cover it all, that would be an entire website in itself. I do, however, have 2 tidbits of advice when it comes to choosing and buying tools.
- Find out which area of baking you’d like to specialize in. If you’re only making cakes and cookies, then you don’t really need to buy pie plates. Also, there’s stuff out there that’s fun to have, but you don’t necessarily need it. (A cookie scoop, for example).
- Your other option would be to just buy as you go. Say you’re making a cake, for example. Then we know (other than the ingredients) that you need a cake pan, a rubber spatula, a mixer, an offset spatula for frosting, and any other décor that we are using for the cake. But wait! What kind of cake pan do we need? Do we want a square cake? What about a Bundt cake? The possibilities are truly endless!
There are a few tools that are pretty general for all areas of baking. I have these tools listed as a splurge or save type format to ease your shopping experience. I tend to avoid plastic and prefer silicon tools, but it’s a personal choice. Get some cute colours that match your kitchen! I’d also love to hear about your favourite gadgets!
I hope you enjoyed this beginner’s guide to baking. Please let me know if I missed anything!
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