Between putting life back together after a glorious Thanksgiving and Hailey being a little on the cranky side yesterday, I didn’t get around to making a recipe to feature this week. Instead, I went with my fall staple and threw a ton of veggies in a pot and let it simmer all day for a delicious, cozy bowl of soup.
The clouds and the cooler temperatures (and let’s be honest- the Christmas music I’ve been blaring since Thursday came to a close) has me itching to get into the kitchen to bake!
In honor of Christmas cookie season, I thought I’d feature my favorite baking tips!
1. Place wax paper under cake edges before frosting it. That way it can catch all the drips. Afterwards, slide out the wax paper pieces and you’ll have a beautifully iced cake on a spotless platter!
2. Pouring molasses for gingerbread cookies can be such a pain, but if you spray the measuring cup with cooking spray first, the molasses will slide out more easily (maybe with a little help from a spatula, too)
3. Does you kitchen look like a flour bomb went off in it when you’re finished adding flour to the mixer? If your mixer doesn’t have a collar, simply drape a towel around bowl and mixer while you pour in the flour.
4. Need softened butter, but forgot to set it out ahead of time? No worries! Just place it in between two sheets of wax paper, pound with a tenderizer, then roll it with a rolling pin.
5. When using unsalted butter, save your empty wrappers and use them to grease your cookie sheets or baking pans.
Of course, don’t forget that the secret to baking is in the ingredients, so use high quality stuff (which does not include my expired baking soda- oops!) and measure carefully to ensure best results. Happy baking!
Do you have any baking tips to share?
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Shabby Apple Necklace Winner is:
Jess!
Congratulations! Please email me your address to Brittany@ahealthysliceoflife.com 🙂
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
My tip would be Buy a Silpat, it is life changing! 🙂
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life says
I agree! Great time saver!
Brittany says
OK, silly questions- is that for rolling dough out on or baking it?
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life says
You can use it for both! I typically use mine for baking on, but if you buy two, you can use put your dough in between the two and roll out with NO STICKING! It’s awesome!
A tip though: I often use mine to cook non baked goods as well (roasted veg, marinated chicken, etc). If you do this, consider using one strictly for baking and one for cooking. Otherwise the cooking one will hold in some of the flavors and pass them along to your baked goods. Also, even though they say they aren’t dishwasher safe, I put mine on the top rack of my dishwasher all the time! Works just fine!
blackhuff says
I like these baking tips of yours so much. I would have never thought about them at all. I do not have such good baking tips to share except, if you run out of eggs, you can use Flaxseeds instead.
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life says
My best blogging tip is to invest in a gadget like Pampered Chef’s Measure All (http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=210&words=measure%20all) for measuring sticky items like peanut butter and molasses. I love how easy it is to slide out the ingredient and ensure you get a perfect measurement every time! Plus, it’s dishwasher safe! Bonus!
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life says
Baking tip…not blogging tip. Ha!
Brittany says
Oh what a cool device!! Pampered Chef has some awesome gadgets. I want one.
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life says
Well, Christmas IS coming up and it seems you can order from pamperedchef.com now! Maybe the hubs needs a little wish list from Mama Brittany… 🙂
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
omg LOVE that molasses tip. definitely using it next time. and gonna try it for honey too!
PressureCookerDiaries says
I haven’t specifically sprayed my measuring cups with oil, but measuring the oil first, and then the molasses and/or honey has the same effect. You get every drop that way.
marci says
Silpats are great! I never bake without them. Dishwasher safe and roll up small in the drawers.
I often forget about room temp butter until I need it, so I stick them on a windowsill in the sun while I get things out, and it gets warmed up quickly!
Cat @Breakfast to Bed says
my baking tip is that the type of flour you use DOES make a difference. King Arthur, Swan, Gold Medal ONLY. The other stuff just doesn’t taste the same.
KaraHadley says
I always do the wax paper trick when icing cakes.
Also, you can make your own cheaper, healthier (if you make your own cake/cookies/brownies), festive funfetti by just adding sprinkles to the batter. It’s crazy easy and cute.
Oh how I can’t wait to start baking!!!!!
Sarah says
My tip is to keep it fun, not stressful!
I so envy those women who put together the perfect gift platters complete with 16 different varieties of goodies… and every freaking cookie is delicious perfection. I’ve come to realize that takes years and years of experience.
Now that my expectations are lower (and I realize I’ll get there eventually) it’s a lot more fun… And I don’t have a meltdown when my husband helps decorate the cookies… like a 4 year old.
Lauren says
Wow, great tips! I didn’t know any of these and I forsee my future being much easier now that I do.
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
I love that butter trick! I’m a very spur-of-the-moment sort of baker and never leave the butter out ahead of time!
PressureCookerDiaries says
I love the butter trick – beating it instead of waiting for it to soften. I always forget to take my butter out in advance. Usually I’ll put it in the oven on warm for 10 seconds or so, and that seems to work pretty well, but I’ll try it your way next time.
One trick I just learned was for moving pie crust. If you roll out the top, and then drape it over the rolling pin, it’s so much easier to move.
And another one I learned – if it’s too cold in your house to properly rise yeast dough, put the bowl with the dough inside another bowl filled with hot water. The warm water does miracles for the rising. I’ll often do this even in the summer because the results are so good.
Heather says
Baking is one of my favorite things and my one tip is that when you use baking soda and baking powder use a tiny sifter (looks like a strainer) and sift over your flour. I found that sometimes it would get stuck in tiny clumps in my cupcakes/cakes and this leaves a bad taste. I have noticed a huge difference since I started sifting these two ingredients and flour.
Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous says
What great tips! When people write recipes they always leave out tips like this and assume we know them! Thanks for reminding us!
Trainer Kjirsten @ Balanced Healthy Life says
I love these baking tips! I’m horrible at baking so all the tips I can get help! I usually bake cookies once a year and that is at Christmas time! I can’t wait to bake some this year, I love ginger cookies with cream cheese frosting! So good!
Baking Serendipity says
Soup is my winter go-to comfort. It’s too warm in Phoenix for it to be so in the fall 🙁 I love that it’s finally soup season though! Awesome baking tips 🙂
Sarah says
great tips!