13 Baking Tips That Will Make Anyone LOOK Like A Skilled Baker
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I love to bake, but I will let you in on a little secret. I SUCK AT IT! You have to give me 10/10 for trying though, right?
I have been baking trying to bake for over 10 years. I have compiled 13 little tips and tricks I have used over this time period that even the most unskilled bakers like myself can use to at least look good in the kitchen.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is so valuable when baking because it tends to make pastries and bread fluffy, fuller, and tastier.
I used buttermilk when making pancakes and they are delicious. Did you know that you can make your own buttermilk for cheap?
Simply mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or plain vinegar with 1 cup of regular milk and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Gluten-Free Oat Flour
Most supermarkets have some gluten-free options, but many don’t have a wide range of options in the flour section.
If this is the case where you live, make your own. Gluten-free oat flour is really simple to make.
Just purchase gluten-free oats, place them in your blender, and blend until you have a fine powder.
This kind of flour is great for all kinds of recipes. My wife makes this flower on a regular basis.
Eggs
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Isn’t it frustrating when a recipe calls for room temperature eggs. Recipes call for room temperature eggs because they tend to whip better.
Don’t worry though, if you forget to lay your eggs out, cold eggs can easily be brought to room temperature by adding them to a bowl of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Don’t worry, it won’t cook them.
Makeshift Rolling Pin
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I personally don’t own a rolling pin. However, this has never affected my baking because a great way to save on space and to keep your drawers de-cluttered is to use an old wine bottle instead.
Be sure to peel off the label and clean the residue on the bottle before using it on your dough. If you cannot get the residue off the bottle place a piece of wax paper on your dough and roll.
Easy Home-Made Cake
If you have a party coming up or just want to impress your partner, it is possible to make a boxed cake taste like home-made cake.
This is probably my most favorite tip of this article because I love to bake and I like people to think that my cakes are home-made.
Simply add one more egg than the recipe calls for, use melted butter instead of oil, and use milk instead of water. If you’re feeling cheeky, use heavy whipping cream.
How To Avoid Flat Cakes
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When you bake do you ever produce flat cakes? I know I do. There is one simple piece of advice that I think we are all guilty of.
Do not open the oven door while baking. The cool air causes the center to sink, and that’s how your cakes turn up flat with tougher edges. Instead, use your oven’s light to check the cake.
How To Make The Perfect Cookie
Obviously, the perfect cookie is a matter of perspective. It honestly depends on what flavors you like.
There are two different tricks you can try to achieve the perfect cookie. The first is that you should use cool, room temperature butter.
A lot of recipes call for melted or soft water, but cool, room temperature butter is the best.
The second tip, often debated by many bakers, is to chill the dough for at least 24 hours. When I do this I find that my cookies do bake better.
How To Use Leftover Bread
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Do you ever find that you have pieces of bread that are just left over. If you are like me you probably just throw them away.
Stop doing that. Use your leftover bread to keep brownies or cookies that have recently been baked, nice and moist.
Did you know that you could use the same technique for brown sugar. Simply put a piece of bread in the container.
It will never go moldy and it keeps the brown sugar soft.
How To Make Brown Sugar Substitute
Since I have just talked about brown sugar, if you ever run out don’t want to go to the grocery store, you can make your own.
If you keep molasses on hand, simply mix 2 tablespoons of molasses with every cup of sugar and put it in a food processor and blend.
How To Ripen Bananas The Quick Way
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Do you ever go to bake some banana bread and find that your bananas are not quite ripe enough?
Don’t panic, you can ripen your bananas by simply using your oven. Place a sheet of wax paper on a baking tray and put the bananas on the baking tray. Bake in your oven at 350°F until the peel is black.
Your bananas should be nice and ripe.
How To Easily Pick Out Shells After Cracking Eggs
I can’t even remember the amount of times I have cracked an egg and had a bunch of tiny shell bits in my bowl.
It can be a major pain in the bum to pick them out, but did you know a little-known hack for making this so much easier is to just simply wet your fingers beforehand.
This makes picking the shells out so much easier.
How To Save Burned Cookies
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Obviously, unless you have seriously burnt the entire cookie all the way through, these can be saved with one simple kitchen tool.
If you find your cookies are burnt to a crisp on the bottom but the tops are still fine, scrape the bottom layer off with a cheese grater.
This little trick works well and I have used it several times over the past few years. They won’t even taste like they have been burned.
Cheaters Frosting
I have a love and hate relationship with frosting. I love to eat it, but I hate to make it. I personally have never tried this, but a few of my friends have. Just use a marshmallow.
Place a large marshmallow on top of your cupcakes when they have about five minutes left to bake.
You can even use colored or flavored ones as a bonus. The marshmallow will melt and do all of the frosting for you.
I hope you guys can take some or all of these little tricks and tips put them to good use in your kitchen.
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