Baking Basics from The Big Green Bowl

I'm excited to post more delicious recipes here on Davis Patch, but before I do, I'd like to share some baking tips that I've learned along the way. This is in no particular order, and if I forget something important, I'll bring it up later.

Baking Basics

First of all, use measuring tools! Baking is a precise art. You need to use the measurements specified in the recipe, unless it's something like nuts or chocolate chips, in which case you might prefer more or less. But as for the basics, follow the measurements and be exact.

When measuring flour, fill up your measuring cup all the way, then use the flat side of a knife to scrape off the excess. Goofing up your flour measurement will change the texture of your cookies. My Aunt Bonnie taught me this, just so you know.

Use tools you like. My big green bowl is a great mixing bowl and I get happy just pulling it off the shelf. My measuring cups and spoons, and my wooden mixing spoon, even my rubber spatula, are all specially chosen for the way they look and feel.  on Russell Blvd. has a really great kitchen section.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever!" - Mary Poppins

Invest in a good cookie scoop. 1-1/2" is a good size. Your cookies will all be the same size and nice and round.

Use real butter, NOT margarine. It is not better for you but hey, you're BAKING; why worry about that anyway? Butter tastes better and bakes up better. I also use recipes that call for shortening. If you are anti-shortening, you might as well leave right now. This is not a health-food baking blog!

Crisco makes the texture of baked goods soft and chewy. If you substitute butter for Crisco, the recipe will NOT turn out the same. Your cookies will be flat and crispy. That's just the way it is.

Use REAL vanilla. Not that imitation stuff

Use REAL chocolate chips. Not that imitation stuff

Always have oranges and lemons on hand, and a good zester.

Don't overcrowd your oven. Put one cookie sheet in at a time and just be patient. If you overcrowd your oven, your cookies will cook unevenly.

I will tell you right now....the key to delicious cookies is to NOT OVER-COOK them!! Under-cook them a little. They will cook up a little more after you take them out of the oven and let them cool a bit on the cookie sheet. Trust me on this! I like soft cookies.

Invest in cooling racks. You need somewhere to cool your baked goods, and these provide for good air circulation.

That's all for now. For more tips and recipes, check out my blog, The Big Green Bowl.

Happy Baking!