10 Essential Tips and Tricks
Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a lovely time over the Christmas period, and are looking forward to all the exciting adventures 2017 will surely bring!
As we go into this new year, I thought I'd share with you 10 of the best tips and tricks in the world of baking, helping you to get your new year bakes off to the best start!
1) How to store baking products.
From baking powder to honey, it can sometimes be difficult to know what's best for your baking ingredients. After all, the last thing you want is for everything to go off before you even get round to using them. So from expiration dates, to storage and ways to test your yummy ingredients, check out How To: Simplify's definitive guide to what's what in your cupboards...and always remember, if in doubt, throw it out.
2) Baking substitutions.
We've all been there. Half way through your recipe and you run out of a key ingredient. Many bakers tend to go into a 5 second blind panic of thinking your bake is ruined. But now is the time to get creative...ransack your cupboards and find a new, exciting substitute, or even a more healthy one...or check out Your Cup Of Cake's guide!
3) Melting chocolate.
Check out Not Enough Cinnamon's step by step guide to perfectly melted chocolate, because nothing's worse than a burned chocolatey mess-it doesn't taste nice, and it's an absolute beast to clean. And lets face it, no one wants to waste perfectly scrummy chocolate.
4) Basic supplies.
From spoons and whisks, to baking trays and mixing bowls, where do you begin in creating the perfect collection of baking supplies? Not too sure? Luckily J.E.S Restaurant Equipment Blog has a really good guide on what to buy to start off your baking business!
5) Frosting your cake.
To get a perfect frosting finish on your cakes, the best thing to do is to apply a thin crumb coating of buttercream, leave it to set, and then apply the rest of your frosting.
6) Preparing your cake tin.
Okay, so I know greasing and lining a cake tin isn't rocket science, but how many times have you gone to remove your cake from the tin and it's got stuck? Trust me, I do it all the time. Next time you bake a cake, make sure you either use butter, oil or flour and a layer of parchment paper, just to be on the safe side. For an extremely simple yet effective guide on how to perfectly prepare your pan, check out Chattavore's website!
7) Types of sugar.
Sugar is a vital ingredients to so many bakers, but with so many types, it can be difficult to know when to use each type of sugar. What's the difference between light and dark brown sugar? When do you use caster sugar or granulated sugar? With so many questions, and little time to answer them, head over to My Baking Addiction to break down the differences and add a little sweetness to your life.
8) Types of flour.
Flour is incredibly hard to decipher sometimes...what's the actual difference between plain and self raising flour? When is it best to use wheat flour? When do you use corn flour? Lucky for you, Life Made Sweet has all the answers you need! So try something new in your recipes and step up your baking game in 2017.
9) Butter: salted or unsalted?
Personally, I would always go for unsalted butter, as it allows you the freedom to add salt if needed, and it will not effect the flavour of your bakes too much. But to be honest, if needs must, either butter should work just fine. Still not too sure? Dinner With Julie has all the answers to your butter and baking questions!
10) Cupcake tips.
Some may view cupcakes as one of those easy bakes to do with the kids, and yes they can be, but done right the humble cupcake can be turned into a magnificent dessert that will please the whole crowd. So find your favourite recipe that works well, choose the right liners, and although it may seem Somewhat Simple, keep an eye on them so they don't over bake!
I hope you all had a lovely time over the Christmas period, and are looking forward to all the exciting adventures 2017 will surely bring!
As we go into this new year, I thought I'd share with you 10 of the best tips and tricks in the world of baking, helping you to get your new year bakes off to the best start!
1) How to store baking products.
From baking powder to honey, it can sometimes be difficult to know what's best for your baking ingredients. After all, the last thing you want is for everything to go off before you even get round to using them. So from expiration dates, to storage and ways to test your yummy ingredients, check out How To: Simplify's definitive guide to what's what in your cupboards...and always remember, if in doubt, throw it out.
2) Baking substitutions.
We've all been there. Half way through your recipe and you run out of a key ingredient. Many bakers tend to go into a 5 second blind panic of thinking your bake is ruined. But now is the time to get creative...ransack your cupboards and find a new, exciting substitute, or even a more healthy one...or check out Your Cup Of Cake's guide!
3) Melting chocolate.
Check out Not Enough Cinnamon's step by step guide to perfectly melted chocolate, because nothing's worse than a burned chocolatey mess-it doesn't taste nice, and it's an absolute beast to clean. And lets face it, no one wants to waste perfectly scrummy chocolate.
4) Basic supplies.
From spoons and whisks, to baking trays and mixing bowls, where do you begin in creating the perfect collection of baking supplies? Not too sure? Luckily J.E.S Restaurant Equipment Blog has a really good guide on what to buy to start off your baking business!
5) Frosting your cake.
To get a perfect frosting finish on your cakes, the best thing to do is to apply a thin crumb coating of buttercream, leave it to set, and then apply the rest of your frosting.
6) Preparing your cake tin.
Okay, so I know greasing and lining a cake tin isn't rocket science, but how many times have you gone to remove your cake from the tin and it's got stuck? Trust me, I do it all the time. Next time you bake a cake, make sure you either use butter, oil or flour and a layer of parchment paper, just to be on the safe side. For an extremely simple yet effective guide on how to perfectly prepare your pan, check out Chattavore's website!
7) Types of sugar.
Sugar is a vital ingredients to so many bakers, but with so many types, it can be difficult to know when to use each type of sugar. What's the difference between light and dark brown sugar? When do you use caster sugar or granulated sugar? With so many questions, and little time to answer them, head over to My Baking Addiction to break down the differences and add a little sweetness to your life.
8) Types of flour.
Flour is incredibly hard to decipher sometimes...what's the actual difference between plain and self raising flour? When is it best to use wheat flour? When do you use corn flour? Lucky for you, Life Made Sweet has all the answers you need! So try something new in your recipes and step up your baking game in 2017.
9) Butter: salted or unsalted?
Personally, I would always go for unsalted butter, as it allows you the freedom to add salt if needed, and it will not effect the flavour of your bakes too much. But to be honest, if needs must, either butter should work just fine. Still not too sure? Dinner With Julie has all the answers to your butter and baking questions!
10) Cupcake tips.
Some may view cupcakes as one of those easy bakes to do with the kids, and yes they can be, but done right the humble cupcake can be turned into a magnificent dessert that will please the whole crowd. So find your favourite recipe that works well, choose the right liners, and although it may seem Somewhat Simple, keep an eye on them so they don't over bake!
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