Top Tips For Beginner Bakers

Fancy giving baking a go but not sure where to start? The good news is, even beginners can get great results with our useful hints and tips.

Although buying breads and cakes from the supermarket might seem easier, more and more people are starting to make their own baked goods. And it’s easy to see why baking is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. As well as resulting in lots of lovely goodies to eat, when you make your own breads, cakes and biscuits you know exactly what ingredients have gone into them, making homemade a better choice than supermarket alternatives.

But if you’ve never baked before, it might seem a little daunting so here are our nine top tips for beginner bakers.

Start simple

A four-tiered party cake might look amazing but it’s probably not the best thing to tackle if you’re new to baking. Instead start with simple creations such as biscuits, muffins or cupcakes.

Check ingredients before you start

Read the recipe carefully before you start to ensure you have all the ingredients you’ll need. There’s nothing more annoying than having weighed the flour and butter only to discover you are out of sugar.

Choose the best

Always buy the best ingredients you can afford; it will make a real difference to your baking. And while baking is a great way to use up ingredients such as nuts or dried fruit, make sure they haven’t gone stale.

Weigh your ingredients

When cooking dishes such as pastas, stews or curries, you can afford to be creative and throw in a little more or a little less of certain ingredients to suit your taste. But baking is a different matter and it’s important to follow quantities exactly. Just a little too much of something could make the difference between success and disaster.

Know your sugars

There are many different sugars available to bakers from a super-fine caster sugar to a dark muscovado. Each type has specific properties so if a recipe calls for a particular sugar, stick to the right one. Don’t be tempted to substitute it for something different as it could affect the outcome.

Use eggs at room temperature

For best results, always use eggs at room temperature as they will mix more easily than cold eggs. This is particularly important if you need to whip the eggs as cold egg whites don’t whip very well.

Use the right tools

There are many gadgets and accessories available for home bakers and it’s important to use the right tools to get the best results. So, if you’re going to be baking a lot, it’s worth investing in the right kit.

Take your time

Baking shouldn’t be rushed. Take your time and you’ll enjoy the process more and get better results.

Check oven temperature

Always double check recipe temperatures and set your oven accordingly. Allow the oven to heat up to the right temperature before putting items in to cook. Every oven is different so don’t simply rely on the timer; instead, always check to ensure your creation is properly cooked all the way through before taking out of the oven.