March 19, 2024

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Baking

Here is a list of baking tools and tips. You'll find hints on how to create everything from pies to chocolate brownies.


Essentials for the Baking Pantry:

Flours:

  • All-Pupose
  • Cake

Leavening Agents

(all have expiration dates; check before you buy):

  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Yeast


  • Salt
  • Cream of Tartar

Sugars:

  • Granulated
  • Brown
  • Confectioners’
  • Sanding
  • Superfine

Flavorings:

  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Pure Almond Extract
  • Semisweet Chocolate Chips
  • Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
  • Dutch-Process Cocoa
  • Dried Fruit
  • Nuts
  • Fresh Lemon

Dairy:

  • Unsalted butter
  • Whole Milk
  • Buttermilk
  • Dried Skim Milk

Essential Baking Supplies

  • One 12-Cup Standard Muffin Tin
  • One 9 x 5 Loaf Pan
  • Two 9-Inch Layer Cake Pans
  • Three 8-Inch Layer Cake Pans
  • Two Cookie Sheets
  • One Rimmed Half-Sheet (Jelly Roll) Pan
  • One 9 X 9 Square Baking Pan
  • One 8 X 8 Square Baking Pan
  • Two Wire Cooling Racks
  • Two Sil Pat Non-Stick Liners
  • One Set Dry Measuring Cups
  • One Liquid Measuring Cup
  • One Set Measuring Spoons

Tip for Today

Muffins: Place rack in lower-third of oven. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Use a fork to mix swiftly and not too well. Batter should have flour just barely incorporated. Before adding berries, dried fruit, or nuts, toss them with a tablespoon of flour and fold them in after batter is mixed.

Muffins

Place rack in lower-third of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter muffin tins or fill tins with paper liners. Set aside.

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • I stick (1/4 pound) butter melted and cooled
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  1. Use a fork to mix all dry ingredients together well.
  2. Beat milk and eggs into melted butter.
  3. Using a fork, swiftly stir liquid ingredients into flour mixture.
  4. Spoon into 12-cup standard muffin tin.
  5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.
  6. Remove muffins from tin. Transfer to cloth-lined basket.
  7. Serve with butter, cream cheese, jam

Fruit or Nut Muffins

To add dried cherries, cranberries or raisins, fresh blueberries or strawberries, finely diced apples or pears, lightly toasted walnuts or pecans:

  1. Toss 11/2 cups fruit or nuts or a combination with 1 tablespoon flour.
  2. Fold into lightly mixed batter.
  3. Proceed from Step 4 above.

Corn Muffins

Place rack in lower-third of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter muffin tins well and place in preheated oven while you mix the batter.

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup best-quality corn meal
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • I stick (1/4 pound) butter melted and cooled
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  1. Use a fork to mix all dry ingredients together well.
  2. Beat milk and eggs into melted butter.
  3. Using a fork, swiftly stir liquid ingredients into flour mixture.
  4. Remove muffin tin from oven. Carefully (pan is hot) spoon batter into 12-cup preheated muffin tin.
  5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.
  6. Remove muffins from tin. Transfer to cloth-lined basket.
  7. Serve with butter, cream cheese, jam