Common Baking Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And How To Avoid Them)
Baking requires careful thought, patience, and determination. If your recipes aren't turning out quite right, it's possible that you're making one of these all-too-common baking mistakes.
Here are eight mistakes that could be impacting your cookies, cakes, and other baked goods.
Not measuring ingredients
Baking is a science, which is why it's important to follow the recipe as best you can. When measuring ingredients, accuracy is everything.
Too much or too little of certain ingredients can completely change the texture and flavor of a baked good. Be sure to use a measuring cup or scale whenever possible.
Over-mixing the batter
Mixing flour with liquids is the key to maintaining the structure of baked goods. However, there is such a thing as too much mixing.
Over-mixing batter can cause dough to become tough and chewy due to an overdevelopment of gluten. For the best results, mix your batter only until there are no more visible streaks of flour.
Using substitutions that don't make sense
We've all experienced the panic of realizing we're out of a key ingredient while baking. It may seem reasonable to find add more of a different ingredient to make up for it, but this can quickly lead to a baking disaster.
Recipes are tested and written with intention, so substitutions can be risky. It's best to choose a recipe that includes ingredients you actually have on hand.
Not scraping the bowl
Scraping the bowl after adding new ingredients helps prevent large clumps in your batter. Silicone spatulas are the best option for scraping because they are smooth and pliable.
Be sure to scrape excess ingredients from all areas of your mixing bowl for a clump-free batter.
Not chilling the dough
If a recipe asks you to chill the dough for a certain amount of time, it's important to not to skip this step.
Chilling the dough prevents cookies from spreading too much in the oven. It also helps concentrate the flower and let gluten relax, leading to softer and more tender baked goods.
Not greasing your pans correctly
Greasing your pans properly is an essential step in the baking process. A well-greased pan prevents baked goods from sticking to the pan and causing a big mess.
Baking sheets can be greased using butter, nonstick cooking spray, or parchment paper. If you're not sure which method is best, check the recipe for specification.
Baking at the wrong temperature
Your oven should always be fully pre-heated before use. If the oven is not at the right temperature when you put in your batter or dough, it can alter the baking time and consistency of the baked good.
For extra precision, consider using an oven thermometer to double check the oven's temperature before baking.
Not letting cakes cool before frosting
If your cake or cupcakes are too warm, the frosting may melt or cause the cakes to become a crumbly mess. This is why it's best to let cakes cool completely before decorating.
If you want to speed up the process, let the cakes cool on wire racks for half and hour and then transport them to the fridge to finish cooling.
Baking doesn't need to be overly complicated. With a few small adjustments, you'll be whipping up cookies and cakes in no time.
Avoiding these common mistakes will allow you to spend less time stressing over the oven and more time enjoying your tasty treats.