12 Baked Goods You Should Make Before You’re 30

Full disclosure: I don’t write any of our cooking how-tos around here (I just follow them!). If you’ve ever before tagged along on one of my baking adventures, you know that I’m uniquely qualified to determine the list of baked goods you must learn to bake before you hit the big 3-0. I mean, I’m a 25-year-old self-professed baking plebeian who doesn’t even have a stand mixer for crying out loud.

Luckily I’m surrounded by cooking pros at Kitchn, so I consulted them to create this baking-coming-of-age-manifesto. Now that I have this list, it’s time for me to get crackin’ … some eggs!

Our food team calls these “the ultimate pantry brownies,” and I’m assuming that by the time that I’m 30, I’m going to have an expertly stocked baking pantry so I can whip these up at any given moment.

Just in time for this baking expedition I’m about to embark on, the food team did an official test to determine the best chocolate chip cookie recipe on the internet. With all that work in the rearview mirror, I’m going to start things off with the best of the best: Alton Brown‘s chocolate chip cookies!

We’re going to assume that you have to celebrate someone’s birthday (at least once a year)! Dare we say this is the perfect combination of spongey yellow cake with chocolate buttercream? And sprinkles — all the sprinkles.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have a pile of brown bananas wasting away in your fruit bowl. Enter: banana bread. The blacker and spottier the peels, the better.

These are not like the dry blueberry muffins at a breakfast buffet. No, no. These one-bowl blueberry muffins are not too sweet, are bursting with juicy blueberries, and have a sprinkle of lemon zest in the batter and crunchy sugar on top. For all of your breakfast needs.

Don’t be fooled by the fancy name and presentation. Galettes could not be easier to make and can be stuffed with fillings both sweet and savory. If your tart comes out a little wonky-looking, you can call it “rustic.”

Every 30-year-old should have a good gluten-free treat up their sleeve, and you won’t even miss the gluten in these sweet macaroons. Plus, they take less than a half-hour to make.

Get schooled in how to make simple crisp-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside biscuits. These Southern-style biscuits bake in about 15 to 18 minutes. Once you’ve mastered the base, throw in cheese, chives, or anything you choose to customize.

Associate Food Editor Kelli Foster says that Bundt cakes only look fancy, thanks to the fluted pan, but they could not be easier to make. Fool your friends into thinking it’s even more impressive with a gooey icing drizzle.

I’ll admit, this crusty loaf is the most intimidating thing on this list for a baking novice to tackle, but I’ve been assured by Associate Food Editor Meghan Splawn that this requires no special equipment, skills, or even a bread starter.

Once you master the classic pumpkin pie, you’re all set for holiday dessert potluck season. Everyone is going to want you at their Thanksgiving table.

This step-by-step recipe will help you make no-fail cheesecake that even a novice can master.

How many of these baked goods have you made?