Baking Tips

This $11 Gadget Makes Burnt Pie Crusts a Thing of the PastTools
Perfect pies for everyone!
Sarah M. Vazquez
Nov 15, 2023
4 Signs Your Pumpkin Pie is Ready to Come Out of the OvenSkills
Give it a nice wiggle to see if it's ready to be served.
Meghan Splawn
Nov 8, 2023
What to Do When You’re Baking and Out of EggsSkills
No, you don't have to run out to the store.
Sheela Prakash
Dec 10, 2022
Baking with Coconut Oil: What You Should KnowSkills
Are you baking with coconut oil yet?
Kelli Foster
Aug 13, 2022
The Best Trick for Slicing Cinnamon Roll Dough PerfectlySkills
You likely already everything you need.
Cory Fernandez
Apr 16, 2022
5 Tips for Baking in Cast Iron, According to a Pro at Lodge
Tips from The Kitchn
Preheat your cast iron skillet. Maybe.
Rochelle Bilow
Mar 1, 2022
The Last Thing You Should Do with Your Orange Peels Before You Throw Them in the Compost Bin
Tips from The Kitchn
Orange you glad you learned this trick?
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 10, 2021
The $25 Gadget That’ll Massively Improve All Your Cooking and Baking ProjectsTools
It'll also help cut back on the number of dishes you have to wash!
Katie Leaird
Oct 26, 2021
The 10 Kitchen Tools I Bought After Working as a Professional Baker for 15 YearsTools
They're all under $30, too.
Katie Leaird
Oct 25, 2021
These Reusable Muffin Cups Have More Than 41,000 5-Star Amazon Ratings and Make Baking so Much Easier
Shopping
Plus, the colors are so cute!
AnnMarie Mattila
Sep 24, 2021
The 4 Basic Spatulas Every Home Cook Needs, According to a Pro BakerTools
Yes, you need more than one!
Annie Burdick
Aug 26, 2021
This 3-Ingredient “Cake Goop” Is the Secret to Perfect-Looking CakesSkills
Baker Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes let everyone in on her secret to getting a picture-perfect, pristine cake that retains its shape.
Naomi Tomky
Jun 18, 2021
I’ve Been Baking Cakes for 20 Years, and I’ve Been Lining My Cake Pan All WrongPeople
Julia Child is to blame.
Meghan Splawn
May 6, 2021
Marshmallow Fluff Makes the Easiest Buttercream FrostingRecipes
Easy, forgiving, and oh-so fluffy.
Kelli Foster
Aug 17, 2020
Here’s How to Get Crinkly Chocolate Chip Cookies (Without All That Pan-Banging)Skills
Get that same texture from *any* cookie recipe without the clatter or rigorous cookie manipulation.
Meghan Splawn
Jul 15, 2020
How to Freeze Cake Slices, According to a Pastry Pro Skills
So you can bake a cake and eat it all too.
Meghan Splawn
May 15, 2020
6 Food-Stylist Tips to Make a More Beautiful Cake
Pretty Delicious
From trimming the layers to crumb-coating, here's how to create picture-perfect cakes.
Jesse Szewczyk
Apr 1, 2020
What’s the Best Substitute for Baking Soda?Skills
Answer: The solution is already in your pantry.
Kelli Foster
Mar 19, 2020
Alton’s “Ooey” Brownie Trick: Bake Them *Twice*Skills
Somewhere between hitting pause and baking twice!
Meghan Splawn
Feb 20, 2020
This $4 Ingredient Is the Secret to the Very Best Chocolate Desserts
Taste Makers
You need this in your pantry.
Sheela Prakash
Feb 11, 2020
The Deepest, Darkest, Fudgiest Brownies Are Also the Easiest
Kitchn Love Letters
They're my favorite cure for dark, cold weather.
Sheela Prakash
Feb 6, 2020
Want to Make a Better Quick Bread? Try Using Muffin BatterSkills
Goodbye banana bread, hello sour cherry chocolate chunk bread!
Patty Catalano
Sep 23, 2019
The One Thing Alton Brown Does to Make Perfect MuffinsPeople
This is so smart.
Naomi Tomky
Jun 13, 2019
Why Do Some Baking Recipes Call for Scalded Milk?Skills
Every once in a while, you may come across a recipe that calls for scalding the milk. This process involves heating the milk until just before it comes to a boil, when bubbles appear around the edge of the pan and an instant-read thermometer reads between 180°F and 185°F. The milk is then cooled for about five to 10 minutes to bring it to room temperature. It all seems pretty fussy — so is it really necessary? The truth is that yes, it is.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
The One Step You Shouldn’t Skip Before Frosting a CakeSkills
If you’re anything like me, baking and assembling a frosted cake is one of the truest tests of my patience. You see, I am not a patient person, and as soon as I take my cake layers out of the oven, I want to frost them immediately. I am overly eager to see the final results and cut myself a thick slice — and can you blame me? — but it’s important to stick those layers in the refrigerator for a bit before frosting. Here’s why.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
5 Spice Blends to Use in Place of Pumpkin Pie SpiceSkills
Now that we’ve made it to November, perhaps you’re growing weary of pumpkin spice, well, everything. Not to worry, though, because there are a handful of spice blends out there that just might rival that classic combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. They may seem unconventional in your pumpkin pie or muffins, but give one a try and I guarantee that your taste buds will delight in the vast world of flavors beyond pumpkin pie spice.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
A Great Vegan Pumpkin Pie: Everything You Need to Make OneSkills
Every host has at least one diner coming to Thanksgiving with a dietary restriction. While the main event isn’t vegan (although, if you need one, try this root vegetable pot pie), most of the other dishes on the table are easily adapted to be enjoyed by both vegans and non-vegans alike. But what about the pumpkin pie? Pie crust is easily made vegan with a switch of butter to vegetable shortening or even oil.
Meghan Splawn
May 1, 2019
5 Pin-Worthy Pie-Decorating TipsKitchen
Making pies pretty is a fun and doable project that’s perfect for the holidays. It’s easy to find many charming and inviting pies on Pinterest, but if you take a good look, you’ll notice almost all are shot before the pie is baked. Here are five tips to ensure that your baked pies are as lovely to look at as they are to eat. Pie decoration is often done with extra pie dough that is cut, shaped, braided, twisted, and cross-hatched and placed attractively on top of the pie crust.
Tami Weiser
May 1, 2019
7 Ways to Upgrade Store-Bought Pumpkin PieGroceries
So, you bought your pumpkin pie instead of making one this year — that’s totally okay. What’s more important is what you do with it on the big day. Go beyond the standard whipped cream for a fast-and-fancy upgrade that really brings that wow-factor to your pumpkin pie. Piled high with ultra-fluffy, sweet meringue, this is the upgrade that gives your store-bought pie instant pizzazz.
Kelli Foster
May 1, 2019
The Best Icing for Decorating Cookies: Candy MeltsSkills
You can leave the powdered sugar, flavored extracts, milk, and food coloring where they are. There’s a much easier way to decorate your holiday cookies, and it only requires a single ingredient that comes in a rainbow of colors as diverse as a box of crayons. Use colored candy melts instead of royal or basic sugar icing for decorating cookies this holiday season.
Kelli Foster
May 1, 2019
5 Important Tips for the Paleo BakerSkills
Despite the restrictions that come with a Paleo diet, you can still enjoy baked goods. The key to cooking up successful sweets is knowing how to make the right ingredients work for you. Here are five important tips all Paleo bakers need to know. Dairy is a bit of a gray area when it comes to the Paleo diet, but if dairy is a part of your Paleo diet, go with full-fat items, like cream, whole milk, and butter (preferably grass-fed) in your baking.
Kelli Foster
May 1, 2019
5 Important Tips for the Gluten-Free BakerSkills
Gluten-free baked goods can be as crave-worthy as their gluten-containing counterparts — you just have to know some of the more important rules when it comes to baking in this style. Familiarize yourself with these tips and tricks, then grab a recipe you trust and head to the kitchen to whip up some treats you can be proud of. There are loads of gluten-free flour mixes available at the grocery store these days, giving many an easy path into gluten-free baking.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
5 Important Tips for the Vegan BakerSkills
The two big keys to delicious vegan baked goods are successful dairy and egg swap-ins. Once you’ve got a plan for those, the possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to the delicious vegan treats you can churn out. Here are five important tips and tricks to keep in mind for vegan baked goods. There are a handful of ingredients out there that can replace eggs in baked goods, from ground flax seeds mixed with water to a mashed-up banana.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
Our 10 Most Helpful Cookie TipsSkills
One thing is certain when it comes to the holiday season: This time of year would not be complete without ample batches of freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven. Whether you’re assembling the cookie plate for a holiday party, mailing a sweet gift, or baking up a batch just because, these are our 10 most helpful cookie tips to keep by your side. Patience pays off, so hold off on baking chocolate chip cookies immediately after stirring the dough together.
Kelli Foster
May 1, 2019
A Guide to Using Extracts and Oils in Your Holiday BakingSkills
That well-loved vanilla extract is really only the beginning when it comes to using flavors to enhance your baking. You can infuse almond, peppermint, and even coffee into your cookies and cakes with the help of extracts and oils. Here’s what you need to know to get started. You’re probably more familiar with extracts, like vanilla, which are made by extracting the flavor of an ingredient into a liquid base, which is usually alcohol.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
3 Signs a Cookie Recipe Is Freezer-FriendlySkills
Whether you’re trying to get a head start on holiday baking, or you find yourself with extra cookie dough or a bunch of baked cookies, the freezer just might prove the ideal spot to stash them. Here are three clear signs your cookie recipe is freezer-friendly. In general, cookie recipes — like shortbread, sugar cookies, drop cookies, and icebox cookies — that include a lot of butter make for a dough that freezes, and eventually bakes up, quite well.
Kelli Foster
May 1, 2019
5 Tips for Even Better BrowniesSkills
There is no denying the pleasure of brownies. Whether you like them fudgy, chewy, or cakey Here are the very best tips and tricks from the Kitchn editors. Eating brownies is fun; cleaning up after them isn’t. The solution? Line your brownie pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This not only makes for easy cleanup, but it also keeps the brownies from sticking to the pan. Win, win. A no-frills brownie is a lovely thing, but don’t hesitate to upgrade.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019
5 Tips About Baking with Chocolate from Alice MedrichSkills
I happily fall into the subset of individuals who believe that it’s not dessert unless there’s chocolate involved. So I most definitely bow down to chocolate queen, Alice Medrich. The author of countless cookbooks, she has been dubbed the “First Lady of Chocolate,” and, when it comes to baking with the sweet ingredient, there’s no better person to learn from. Alice has more tips and tricks than we can count, but these are five of our very favorites.
Sheela Prakash
May 1, 2019