Baking isn’t only a hobby but a therapy session when feeling stressed or worn out. With all the millions of recipes and delicious pastries you can bake, it can sometimes be hard to pick just one - however, there are always a few things you need to do before engaging in your bake-off. That said, here are some basics of baking that will make the entire process much easier and hassle-free.
1- Have the recipe in front of you
Cherry Cheesecake
A lot of people see a pastry and decide they’re going to make it then and there; no recipe, no measurements, no nothing. It’s only some flour, water, eggs, milk, and a few other things you can figure out on your own, right? Wrong!
Recipes are there for a reason and will ensure your end product will look and taste exactly how you want it to. The measurements are also critical, with each ingredient working perfectly together in harmony to bring about a thing of art. So, get yourself a lovely recipe before doing anything concrete; a homemade cherry cheesecake is always a winner, and give it a read-through before starting.
2- Grab and measure the ingredients beforehand
Making meringue
Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels
Something that makes the whole baking process much more manageable is getting the ingredients out on your counter and measuring everything according to the recipe before starting. One of the most frustrating things in the world is getting halfway through your dish, only to realize you ran out of one of the ingredients a week ago. Doing all your prep work beforehand will also ensure a much more relaxed baking session, and you’ll only have to add the ingredients one at a time as instructed.
3- Don’t skip a step
Churros
The recipe was written as it is for a reason! Sometimes, especially when it feels like a specific step won’t really make a difference, one skips it and hopes for the best. When it comes to cooking, you can get creative, but baking is more of a science.
When things turn out funky, most of the time, it’s due to something not happening as it should’ve while following the recipe. Also, following the instructions listed one by one isn’t just about the baking itself, but it’s one of the reasons why baking, in general, is so calming. While following the recipe, you don’t have to think about anything else other than the next step and carry them out methodically - don’t skip a step, embrace them!
4- Leave the oven
White birthday cake with pink candles
After popping your little bundle of doughy goodness in the oven, one cannot help but get excited and want to open it every five minutes - but don’t! Every time you open the oven, it loses its temperature, thereby not baking its contents consistently. So instead, watch a quick episode of your favorite show or take a hot bath while you wait and allow the sweet scents of whatever you’re baking to permeate the air around you.
By following the above steps, you’ll take your baking experience to the next level! And, before you know it, you’ll be an expert that can roll out anything sweet without breaking a sweat.
This is a sponsored article. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post are based on my personal point of view.