THE BASICS OF BAKING
By Simbooker on the 19th June 2019
Files & Tags: recipes, index, desserts, baking tips and guidelines
I've made some delicious desserts; sweets, cakes, puddings and breads over the years. But I have a confession to make. I am not an expert in baking. But I do love desserts and I feel compelled to share what I have learned about baking over the years.
I'm a cook who bakes occasionally, I am not a baker who cooks. With my failures and successes in baking I want to give people tips and useful basic guidelines-these are essential things I've learned along the way.
Which can also serve as helpful reminders.
I will begin this guide with a list of the basic essential ingredients.
Which can also serve as helpful reminders.
I will begin this guide with a list of the basic essential ingredients.
BASIC LIST OF INGREDIENTS
Leaveners
. Baking Powder
A mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar is essential as a raising agent
. Baking Soda
Contains a raising agent called sodium bicarbonate
.Yeast
Essential for bread making
. Icing Sugar or Confection Sugar
To sprinkle on top of cakes, puddings, breads etc for that final photo finish. Also an essential ingredient for making frosting and buttercream
. Sugar
A cake or pudding without sugar is a cake without flavor. Sugar is an essential ingredient in cakes, pudding, custards etc. There are many different types of sugar. Caster Sugar is the recommended sugar for making cakes and puddings.
. Vanilla
The essential flavouring for desserts; cakes, pudding, set creams, custards etc
DAIRY
. Butter
A universal ingredient essential for baking cakes, a must have ingredient
. Eggs
An extremely important ingredient especially for making cakes
. Milk
Another essential ingredient for a number of baking and dessert items
. Cream
Indispensable in baking to add texture, richness, flavor to a variety of desserts, also used to make whipped cream
Flour
The most important ingredient for baking. I use 3 main types of flour, each suited to the needs and requirements of a recipe.
Bread Flour
I use this for making pizza dough, breads and breaded dumplings
Sponge or Cake Flour
For lighter fluffier cakes and puddings
All Purpose
For general baking
Self Raising Flour
Self raising flour contains a raising agent, I use it if I want an extra lift and rise in my baking
Fruits, Jams, Syrups
Added essential flavourings for your baking, also for pouring on pancakes, crepes and other baked goods. Fruits are also great for that final photo finish and presentation, it can bring a dessert to life.
. Baking Powder
A mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar is essential as a raising agent
. Baking Soda
Contains a raising agent called sodium bicarbonate
.Yeast
Essential for bread making
. Icing Sugar or Confection Sugar
To sprinkle on top of cakes, puddings, breads etc for that final photo finish. Also an essential ingredient for making frosting and buttercream
. Sugar
A cake or pudding without sugar is a cake without flavor. Sugar is an essential ingredient in cakes, pudding, custards etc. There are many different types of sugar. Caster Sugar is the recommended sugar for making cakes and puddings.
. Vanilla
The essential flavouring for desserts; cakes, pudding, set creams, custards etc
DAIRY
. Butter
A universal ingredient essential for baking cakes, a must have ingredient
. Eggs
An extremely important ingredient especially for making cakes
. Milk
Another essential ingredient for a number of baking and dessert items
. Cream
Indispensable in baking to add texture, richness, flavor to a variety of desserts, also used to make whipped cream
Flour
The most important ingredient for baking. I use 3 main types of flour, each suited to the needs and requirements of a recipe.
Bread Flour
I use this for making pizza dough, breads and breaded dumplings
Sponge or Cake Flour
For lighter fluffier cakes and puddings
All Purpose
For general baking
Self Raising Flour
Self raising flour contains a raising agent, I use it if I want an extra lift and rise in my baking
Fruits, Jams, Syrups
Added essential flavourings for your baking, also for pouring on pancakes, crepes and other baked goods. Fruits are also great for that final photo finish and presentation, it can bring a dessert to life.
Essential Baking Utensils & Tools
#Note this is my no means a complete list, but rather the basic and fundamental essentials
1, Measuring Cups, Spoons, Jugs
2. Baking Tins
It's useful to have at least 1 springform pan, a loaf tin, a pie dish, and 2 Victoria Sand-which pans, skillet or oven proof pans are also essential
2. Baking Tins
It's useful to have at least 1 springform pan, a loaf tin, a pie dish, and 2 Victoria Sand-which pans, skillet or oven proof pans are also essential
3. A half sheet pan
4. Baking Paper & Greaseproof paper
5. A hand mixer or standing mixer
6. Mixing Bowls
You will need to have at least 2 large mixing bowls
7. A whisk
8. A wooden spoon
9. A rolling pin
4. Baking Paper & Greaseproof paper
5. A hand mixer or standing mixer
6. Mixing Bowls
You will need to have at least 2 large mixing bowls
7. A whisk
8. A wooden spoon
9. A rolling pin
5 Essential tips for baking
1. Never open the oven in the middle of baking a cake, a pudding, or bread-only do so if the recipe requires you to. If you open the oven in the middle of baking a cake you might end up with a flat unevenly baked cake-sunk in the middle.
2. Always leave the cake to cool uncovered on the counter before slicing or assembling. Covering a cake when cooling can slow down the cooling process and create steam.
3. If your cake is burnt around the edges slice the burnt bits off-who wants to eat burnt cake?!
4. Use room temperature eggs and unsalted butter.
5. For baking most cakes fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and try to refrain from over-mixing.
Learning from my own mistakes
1. I've learned that a runny or loose cake batter is unlikely to result in success. A thicker cake batter cooks more evenly and bakes more successfully. If the cake batter is too thin I have found that it will be uncooked on the inside!
1. Never open the oven in the middle of baking a cake, a pudding, or bread-only do so if the recipe requires you to. If you open the oven in the middle of baking a cake you might end up with a flat unevenly baked cake-sunk in the middle.
2. Always leave the cake to cool uncovered on the counter before slicing or assembling. Covering a cake when cooling can slow down the cooling process and create steam.
3. If your cake is burnt around the edges slice the burnt bits off-who wants to eat burnt cake?!
4. Use room temperature eggs and unsalted butter.
5. For baking most cakes fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and try to refrain from over-mixing.
Learning from my own mistakes
1. I've learned that a runny or loose cake batter is unlikely to result in success. A thicker cake batter cooks more evenly and bakes more successfully. If the cake batter is too thin I have found that it will be uncooked on the inside!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES
1. Anna Olson
If you want to know everything there is to know about baking watch Anna Olson. She is professionally trained and her recipes are easy to follow. You can learn a lot from her. Subscribe to Oh Yum Anna Olson
2. Sally's Baking Addiction
Visit Sally's baking website, if you're interested in baking you won't be disappointed-beautiful photos, helpful tutorials and useful tips. You can also follow her on youtube.
3. The Joy of Baking
The Joy of Baking is a popular youtube channel. Although I find many of the videos a little bit lengthy I really think it's a great channel with a wide range of baking recipes to choose from.
If you want to know everything there is to know about baking watch Anna Olson. She is professionally trained and her recipes are easy to follow. You can learn a lot from her. Subscribe to Oh Yum Anna Olson
2. Sally's Baking Addiction
Visit Sally's baking website, if you're interested in baking you won't be disappointed-beautiful photos, helpful tutorials and useful tips. You can also follow her on youtube.
3. The Joy of Baking
The Joy of Baking is a popular youtube channel. Although I find many of the videos a little bit lengthy I really think it's a great channel with a wide range of baking recipes to choose from.