Baking Essentials

It is a must to have the right baking tools is very important in order for you to be a successful baker. Whether you are baking cakes, or pastries, here are some tools I have found to be very helpful in the kitchen.

1. Kitchen Aid Mixer---I can't say enough about this mixer. Ever since my husband bought one for me as a Christmas gift a few years back, I honestly can't imagine not having one. It has made my baking experience so much easier and faster. I previously used an electronic hand mixer, but it is nowhere compared to the stand mixer I have now. I can leave my ingredients to mix while I go off and do something else. It cuts down the time I normally would spend using to mix either by hand or with an electric mixer.

2. Cake Pan--------If you're going to bake a cake, whether it is big or small, you need a cake pan. Cake pans can be found in all kinds of sizes, Most recipes usually ask that you use either an 8 inch or 9 inch round pan.

3. Rolling Pin------ A good sized and slightly heavy rolling pin is good. I own a wooden one which has handles and has been very handy for me in the kitchen especially when I have had to roll dough for pastries. 

4. Mixing Bowls-----Three good mixing bowls : 1 1/2-quart, 2 1/2-quart, and 4- or 5-quart bowl. I have many different mixing bowls and thing is to make sure that they are deep and very stable.

5. Measuring cups & Spoons-----Can you remember a time when you ate a very delicious dessert someone made and when you asked for the recipe, they said that they could not give it to you because they did not know the exact measurements they used? It can be very annoying, that is why someone invented measuring cups and spoons.... When you follow a recipe, and it calls  for 2 cups of flour, even the best pastry chef out there uses a measuring cup. If you don't, you might end up putting too much or too little, which will affect the outcome of that cake.

6. Rubber Spatula-----There is nothing like having something you can use to scrape all the batter you have in your bowl into the cake pan. it does the job that no spoon can do for you, unless you want to leave the rest in the bowl for the kid's to lick on.

7. Pastry Brush-----They come in many different sizes, and i mainly use mine to apply an egg wash to my pastries right before I bake them to give them a nice golden color to them.

8. Pastry Bag & Tips----You can't be a cake decorator, if you don't own these. They are very essential in cake decorating. I have seen people use all kinds of tricks to make their own pastry bags. Some have used ziplock bags or used parchment paper to make them, but if you're going to decorate an entire cake, why not save yourself the time and energy and buy some.

These are just some of my top eight essential baking tools, whether you are want to start baking, are just starting out or have been baking for awhile.