What Should I Bake?

By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 9, 2024

Deciding what to bake can be as complex as choosing a Netflix series for a Saturday binge - you want it to be satisfying, perhaps a little challenging, but ultimately it needs to hit the sweet spot. Whether we're talking about a multi-layered cake that requires the precision of a Swiss watchmaker or rustic cookies that forgive our forgetfulness to set a timer, baking is an adventure in flour, sugar, and everything nice. Our taste buds might be leaning towards a gooey chocolate brownie, or perhaps our soul is crying out for the comfort of a classic apple pie.

Standing in the kitchen, apron donned and mixing bowl at the ready, we face the ultimate question – what should we bake? Fear not, for this conundrum is precisely why bake-offs were invented! While we can't all have Paul Hollywood in our kitchen to impress, we get the thrill of experimenting with new recipes, whether it's the charm of a lemon drizzle cake or the twist of adding a dash of espresso to our chocolate chip cookies.

For those of us craving something savory, fear not, the realm of baking is not just a sweet escapade. Envision pulling a golden, cheese-stuffed bread or a crispy-edged quiche out of the oven, releasing aromas that could make even our neighbors jealous. So preheat your ovens, friends, and let's find out what masterpiece we'll create today – be it for a meal, a dessert, or the sheer joy of it! Plus, if you're curious which delectable baked good matches your personality best, take our 'What Should I Bake?' quiz over at BrainFall — you knead to know!

Getting Started With Baking

We're about to embark on a whisk-tacular journey, sprinkled with fun and floured with creativity. Let's get our bake on and discover the essentials to transform our kitchen into a bakery haven!

Essential Baking Ingredients

To kick things off, let's chat ingredients—it's what makes the dough rise and the flavors dance! Here's what we can't do without:

• Flour: The foundation of many baked goodies. Whether we're kneading dough for bread or dusting our countertop for cookies, flour is our BFF.
• Sugars: Sweet, sweet sugar. Granulated for that classic sweetness, brown sugar for a moist chewiness, and powdered sugar for a snowy finish.
• Eggs: They're the glue that holds our baking dreams together. Room temperature ones mix like a dream!
• Butter: Unsalted butter gives us full control over the saltiness in our cake or our decidedly decadent brownies.
• Leaveners: Baking soda and baking powder, the dynamic duo that gives life to our lovely loaves.

The Right Baking Equipment

Now, let's gear up! The right tools mean the difference between 'meh' muffins and spectacular sour cream pound cake.

• Mixing Bowls: Size matters; we need a variety for all our mixing escapades.
• Whisk/Spatula: For mixing and folding, so our ingredients are combined to perfection.
• Bundt Pan: The classic doughnut-shaped hero for that perfect pound cake.
• Sheet Pan: Ideal for bars, cookies, and oh-so-much more. Don't forget the parchment paper to prevent sticky situations!
• Oven: Our magical box where raw gooeyness turns into golden goodness; always preheat it!

Mixing and Prepping Basics

Before we dive spatula-first into our batter, let's talk technique.

• Measurements: Accurate measuring is the secret ingredient to consistent results. Trust us, it's a game-changer.
• Temperature: Room temperature ingredients are our secret handshake. They blend better, mix faster, and ensure our masterpiece bakes evenly.
• Mixing: Stir, fold, don't overmix! We want to treat our batter like a first date—gentle and not too aggressive.
• Preheat & Patience: Always preheat the oven and give our creations the time they need. Patience yields deliciousness.
• Cooling: A cooling rack isn't just for show; it cools our treats, providing the perfect crunch and texture.

Now, with these bits of know-how under our apron, we're ready to turn up the heat and bake like a boss! Let's get those mixers whirring, and turn that flour into power! 🍰

Bake It Till You Make It

Prepare to preheat your ovens and get those aprons ready, because we're about to dive into some deliciously adventurous baking that'll not only satisfy those sweet tooth and savory cravings but might just crown you the reigning champ of your kitchen! Brace yourselves for a roller coaster of amazing flavors and textures that'll send your taste buds on a wild ride.

Sweet Sensations

Let's kick things off with the superstars of any bake-off, Sweet Sensations! We're talking cakes that can make a grown-up weep tears of joy. Imagine sinking your teeth into a slice of moist German chocolate cake with its rich layers and coconut-pecan frosting. Drool... But hold on, what's that fluffiness beckoning us? An angel food cake, so light and airy, it must've floated down from heaven itself.

• Cookies: It's not just about cakes though, no sir! We're looking at you, peanut butter cookies, with the perfect balance of chewy and crisp, followed by the everlasting classic—chocolate chip cookies. You can't go wrong with these babies.

• Muffins & More: Don't even get us started on banana muffins and blueberry muffins. They're the unsung heroes of the brunch world, ready to leap right into our bellies. And for the fancier folks, let's turn it up a notch with delicate macarons or that show-stopping mousse cake. Ooh la la!

Savory Treats and Bread Winners

Now for the heartier souls, the ones who prefer their bake with a side of... comfort. Do you hear the crunch of freshly-baked bread? That's our Bread Winners section calling! From the crumbly goodness of cornbread muffins to the complex flavors of your own homemade loaf, nothing says love like bread does.

• Quick Breads: Want to whip up something on the double? Quick breads like zucchini bread are your new best friends. Add some sour cream for extra moisture or enjoy slices slathered with butter.

• Sandwiches & Sides: Don't forget about bread as the ultimate accessory for our sandwiches or even as a side dish to our meals! And the best part? You can add fun toppings to make each bite a new experience.

Beyond Basic Baking

Alright, alright, alright. Let's say farewell to the ordinary and say hello to "extraordinary" with Beyond Basic Baking! Get innovative and conquer the kitchen with recipes that push the boundaries. Combine sweet and savory or introduce unexpected twists that'll make your taste buds dance the cha-cha.

• Unexpected Delights: How about a chocolate zucchini cake that smuggles in veggies so deliciously, no one will guess they're eating their greens? Or maybe a glazed lemon bundt that's like sunshine in cake form?

• Preserve the Goodness: Baking wonders like these deserve a good home. So, keep 'em fresh in an airtight container, or get adventurous with storing techniques like wrapping your treasure in foil to retain all that glorious moisture.

So, my fellow bakers, whether you're craving the sweet, the savory, or something unlike any other, remember: In our kitchens, we're all winners. Ready, set, bake it 'til you make it... and let's see if you have what it takes to be the next baking ninja!