Categories: Do-It-Yourself Baking Easy
10 Tips Every Home Baker Should Know
Domino® Sugar baking experts offer a wealth of knowledge to home bakers. Insights from our Corporate Chef, Chef Eleonora, can elevate your baking skills. Mastering basic baking techniques is essential to tackle intricate recipes. By leveraging professional expertise, you can gain valuable home baking tips on ingredient selection, troubleshooting common baking problems, and discovering innovative baking methods.
Let's explore our top 10 baking tips for better baking at home!
1. Start with the Correct Sugar
Before you start baking, you need to make sure you have the right ingredients. A common mistake made by many home bakers is using the wrong type of sugar. Domino® carries a wide selection, so make sure you select the correct sugar for your recipe.
For example, when you’re preparing Classic Buttercream Frosting, you’ll need to use Domino® Powdered Sugar instead of our granulated varieties. Its fine, powdered consistency makes it ideal for creating smooth frostings and glazes.
For more questions about Domino® Sugar, visit our FAQ page.
2. Room Temperature Ingredients
Most recipes call for ingredients at room temperature. Allow butter, eggs, and dairy products to come to room temperature before using. This will help your ingredients mix evenly, creating a uniform texture throughout your baked goods.
For recipes like our Classic Chocolate Cake, it’s a good idea to bring refrigerated items, such as butter, eggs and cream, up to room temperature. To do this, we suggest taking these ingredients out of the fridge at least a couple of hours before you plan to bake.
3. Measure Accurately
When baking, there’s nothing more important than getting your measurements right. Sweet success for recipes like our Classic Sugar Cookies often depends on knowing how to measure correctly. Here are a few measuring tricks for your kitchen:
Fluff Flour & Powdered Sugar: To measure dry ingredients, ensure there are no clumps or air pockets. Before spooning flour or powdered sugar into a dry measuring cup, use a fork to fluff up the ingredients.
Pack Brown Sugar: When measuring brown sugar, you need to compress it into the measuring cup. To do this, press down firmly with your fingers (or spoon) several times while filling the measuring cup. Note: Brown sugar should hold its shape when removed from the measuring cup.
4. Weigh Your Ingredients
Using the correct measuring tools and techniques is needed to ensure precise measurements. Some ingredients like crushed nuts can be challenging to measure using a traditional measuring cup. For recipes like our Blondie Brownies with Walnuts & Chocolate Chips, we recommend using a small kitchen scale. This will give you the perfect measurement every time.
5. Combine Ingredients Before Mixing
Do not mix all your ingredients at once. First, combine your dry ingredients in one bowl. Then, make a well in the center that you pour your wet ingredients down into.
Home bakers should also avoid over-mixing their recipe. This can lead to tough baked goods. Mix ingredients just until combined.
6. Let Your Dough Rest
By allowing your cookie dough to rest, you'll be rewarded with more flavorful, evenly baked, and beautifully shaped cookies. To do this, cover your dough in plastic wrap and allow it to cool for 24 hours in the fridge. Read the recipe carefully for the best recommendation. This will create crunchy cookies with gooey insides.
If you want to bake melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Chunk Cookies, try letting your dough rest before baking.
7. The Right Pan Size
Selecting the right pan size will safeguard recipes like Brown Sugar Brownies from burning or brimming over when baking. If you’re unsure about your pan’s dimensions, you can calculate the pan’s width by measuring from inside edge to inside edge. Read 5 Best Brownie Tips to learn more tips and tricks for preparing brownies.
8. Double Check the Temperature
For bakers who use their ovens often, it may be a good idea to use an oven thermometer. Over time, the temperature control in your stove will become inaccurate. If you use an oven thermometer, you’ll ensure your baked goods come out just right. This will help you avoid overbaking your recipes, which can dry out your baked goods.
9. Is It Done Yet?
Before you take your treats out of the oven, you need to check that they’re all the way baked. For recipes like our Vanilla Bean Cupcakes, the easiest way to do this is with a toothpick. Just insert the toothpick into the cupcakes, and if it comes out clean, they’re ready to be cooled.
10. Let Your Treats Cool
You’re finished baking, but don’t rush to celebrate. First, you need to get your baked goods on a wire rack to cool, or the heat from the pan could cause your delicious treats to become overdone. Then, wait until your cakes, cookies or pies have completely cooled before frosting. Note: Even a little warmth can cause your icing to melt.
To achieve perfectly frosted desserts, try our Piping Tips & Tricks for everything you need to know about piping like a pro.
Use Those New Baking Skills on these Domino® Recipes
Well done! You’ve learned the baking basics. Now, use those baking tips for beginners on one of these delicious Domino® Sugar Recipes.
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Peanut Butter Blossoms
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Salted Caramel Cake
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Homemade Oatmeal Crème Pies
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Lemon Raspberry Ricotta Cake
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Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
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