6 Baking tips for Beginners

Baking can be a truly magical and rewarding experience, but for beginners, it can also be a bit daunting.  I have put together 6 baking tips for beginners to help reduce that fear.

I know first hand, that it can be quite frustrating to finally try to bake something and after a lot of time, effort and… a huge mess, your beautiful product does not turn out so beautiful… and at all how you imagined it would.  Don’t believe me? check out this loaf of bread!

Now that I have spent years experimenting and finally feel confident baking, I am excited to share these 6 baking tips for beginners that have been essential in having consistent success.  

6 Baking tips for Beginners

1. Embrace the Kitchen Scale

One of the most fundamental aspects of successful baking is precise measurement. Unlike cooking, where a pinch of this and a dash of that can work wonders, baking demands accuracy. 

This is where a kitchen scale becomes your best friend. Using weight measurements for ingredients ensures consistency and replicability in your recipes.

When you scoop flour or sugar with measuring cups, the density of the ingredient can lead to variations in the amount you use.

For example, if you scoop flour that has been sifted right before measuring, its weight will be different than flour that has been sitting for awhile.  

The same goes for brown sugar.  I mean, if you compact brown sugar using your hulk strength instead of barely pressing it together, the weight can be significantly different and therefore can change the outcome of your results. 

  However, when you use a kitchen scale, you can measure ingredients like flour, sugar, and butter with precision. This accuracy is especially crucial in recipes that rely on specific ratios, such as bread or pastry recipes. Using a food scale is also how commercial bakeries create consistent results.

2. Quality Tools Matter

Investing in high-quality baking tools and equipment is essential for a seamless baking experience. 

Now, I have been guilty of buying the cheapest or cutest option because who doesn’t love more kitchen tools?!  But, the tools I use most, are the tools that do the best job. 

 And… while you don’t need to go overboard or need to spend a ton of money on your tools, having a few key items can significantly improve your results and make your baking adventures more enjoyable and more successful.

I have put together an in depth guide for the top must have kitchen tools I would recommend for beginning baking here.  Some of these, you may have never even heard of!

3. Always Scrape the Bowl

Ok, this is so huge for me!  We have a fine foods market and I have trained many employees over the years in the bakery department and feel like I am constantly reminding everyone to SCRAPE THE BOWL!  I’m pretty sure they feel like I have recorded myself and play it over the speaker constantly.  

It sounds so simple but {I promise} this can make or break your finished product.  When I first started baking this seemed like a waste of time.  I thought the mixers should be able to mix everything together right?!  I found out quickly, I was wrong.  

When you don’t scrape the bowl really good, you will get pockets of unmixed ingredients that can really effect your finished product.  When I troubleshoot a recipe, I start with making sure the bowl was scraped correctly.  

I cannot stress this enough!  It’s a small step that makes a big difference in the final texture, look and taste of your baked goods.

4. Know Your Oven

There are all sorts of ovens on the market today.  Convection ovens, conventional ovens, commercial ovens, steam ovens, deck ovens and the list goes on.  So, how in the world do you keep it all straight and know how to bake in YOUR oven? 

Ovens can be temperamental creatures, and each one has its unique quirks, even the really expensive ovens that are used in commercial bakeries. I have baked in multiple ovens over the years and each one bakes differently and takes a little time and effort to figure out how to bake your product {just right}.  

The good news is, once you know how your oven works, you can adjust your recipes and have consistent results. To achieve baking success and consistency, it’s crucial to get to know your oven and how it bakes.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Know it will be a learning process:  Don’t be hard on yourself if you set your oven temperature to what the recipe calls for and you get less than stellar results.  Make note, adjust and try again.  Just like a good friendship takes effort and time, so will getting to know your oven… and trust me, your relationship with your oven is worth putting time in for.
• Understand Hot Spots: Most ovens have hot spots, areas that may be hotter or cooler than the set temperature. Even convection ovens will have areas that bake faster or slower.  If needed, rotate your baking pans or trays during cooking to ensure even baking.
• Use an Oven Light: If your oven has a light, use it to monitor your baked goods without opening the door.  Your oven temperature will fluctuate drastically when you open the oven door.  The oven will lose a lot of heat at once if the door opens. Conversely, it may take some time to heat back up to the correct temperature.  Frequent opening and closing of the oven door can disrupt the baking process and lead to uneven results.

By taking the time to familiarize yourself with your oven’s behavior, you’ll be better equipped to adapt your baking techniques and achieve consistent, beautiful and delicious results.

5. Always Turn Your Mixer Back to Low Speed

Mixers, whether stand or hand-held, are an amazing tool in baking. However, there’s a common mistake that many beginners make when using mixers: forgetting to turn the mixer back to a low speed before turning it on again.

Always return the mixer to its lowest speed setting before lifting the beaters or removing the bowl. This simple step prevents splattering and ensures a smoother transition when you turn off the mixer. If you switch off the mixer at high speed, you might find yourself facing a cloud of flour, batter, or powdered sugar flying in all directions.

I am speaking from a bad experience, well experiences (yes, plural) with this one.  I can’t tell you how many times I have added eggs to a cookie dough that had been mixing at high speed, was turned off, and when the mixer was turned on…well, you can just imagine the mess!  Yes, eggs everywhere!  On the walls, floor, ceiling, me… It is the worst.  Powdered sugar is a bad one to have explode too.  Yikes.  Don’t do it.  Turn your mixer back to low speed.  You can thank me later.

6. Don’t Give Up

Last but certainly not least, do not give up!  Let me repeat, do not give up! Remember, baking is a skill that takes time to develop.  Try not to be discouraged by occasional failures or less-than-perfect results. Although I know this is easier said than done, but if you stick with it, you will start to see success.  Every experienced baker has had their share of mishaps in the kitchen.

I used to hide my failures deep in the garbage can and cover it so no one would see how bad I failed, I then realized when I finally conquered the recipe I was working on, I would be ecstatic but no one really understood just how much work had gone into making that product amazing.  Now, I try to take pictures of the failures so I have record of just how far I have come.  I love looking back and seeing the progress.

Try not to get discouraged, view your baking journey as a learning experience.

Take note of what went wrong and use that knowledge to improve your skills. Seek guidance from more experienced bakers, whether through cookbooks, online tutorials, or baking communities.  Join me in my baking course for more baking tips for beginners and to become a master in your kitchen.

The process of trial and error is a natural part of becoming an amazing baker. Over time, you’ll gain confidence, refine your techniques, and develop your own signature recipes. Baking is a journey, and it’s one filled with sweet rewards if you don’t give up.

I hope these 6 baking tips for beginners will motivate you to roll up your sleeves, put on your apron, throw your fear of failure aside and go bake something in your kitchen.  You totally can do it!