Baking is pastime we can do year-round, from holiday cookies to summer pies and everything in between. And if you’re working your way up towards Martha Stewart-status, you know you need an arsenal in your kitchen to get these recipes done right. It doesn’t matter if you have just a plain counter or a gooseneck kitchen faucet, baking is accessible to everyone. Here are a few baking essentials to make sure your kitchen is stocked with to ensure your baking plans turn out delicious. Here is a free cooking guide by StoneFryingPans to continue your cooking journey.
Stand Mixer
Your life can get very busy, and multitasking is one key way to help maintain your sanity through it all. Don’t waste time using a hand mixer; instead upgrade to a stand mixer so that you can mix up your cookie dough or whip up some royal icing while you prep the rest of the recipe. The KitchenAid stand mixer is a sturdy workhouse that is well-designed and works as great as it looks sitting on your countertop. This is especially helpful for time-consuming tasks like whipping egg whites or cream.
Sturdy Baking Trays
All baking sheets are not created equal. Invest in a few commercial-grade baking sheets in the half-sheet size. These sturdy trays will heat evenly and warp less, so they’ll age well and surely remain a staple in your kitchen for years to come. Get at least two or three so that you can rotate them through the oven, baking a few batches of cookies at once in order to save time when baking.
Parchment Paper
No one wants to spend their time scrubbing a baked on sugary mess off of a baking sheet. While baking mats can help alleviate this issue, they still require scrubbing too. Save yourself the time and frustration by topping every baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper before sliding on your sweet treats. It makes for an easy cleanup and nothing sticks to the non-stick surface. You can reuse a single sheet for multiple batches of cookies too.
Making cookies, pie crust or something else that requires rolling out dough? Roll it between two pieces of parchment. You won’t have to worry about the dough sticking to your rolling pin or countertop and you won’t be left cleaning up a flour mess off of the countertop.
Inexpensive Trays
Part of the reason that you spend all of that time baking is to share the fruits of your labor. Bringing cookies on one of your favorite platters or plates can make for awkward moments asking for your dish back, so instead, plate the treats on something that the host is meant to keep. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, you could find some trays, platters or plates at your local thrift store or you can get a stack of disposable ones from the dollar store or a bakery supply shop. Make sure that you are prepared to share during any season by keeping a stack of gifting trays on hand, as well as some cellophane wrapping and ribbon to create a polished presentation.
Above all, aim to spend less time slaving away and more time taking smart shortcuts wherever possible. Armed with a quality stand mixer, commercial-grade baking sheets, parchment paper and a cache of bargain trays and plates for gifting treats, you’ll be well-prepared to make your favorite baked goods and easily share them with your friends and family.