Hacks To Make You A Better Baker – 10 Clever Ideas!
Want to be a better baker? Find out some of the hacks to make you a better baker that will save you a lot of time baking as well!
If you’ve been around here long enough, you know that when it comes to creating things in the kitchen, I am the baker and my hubby is the cook. There is just something about the baking process that gets kicks my creative process into high gear. And since I’ve always loved baking, I’ve come up with some clever hacks to make you a better baker!
Baking can be LOTS of fun and it’s something that creates memories with your children that they will remember for years to come. And let’s not forget some of the recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Even if it’s a new recipe, baking is nostalgic to me.
Here are 10 clever hacks to make you a better baker!
Get your bananas to ripen FAST!
If you are baking with bananas and running short on time or just don’t want to wait 3 days to make banana bread, an easy trick that will have them ready in 40 minutes is to simply bake them! Put unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake them in a 300 degree oven for a little over 30 minutes. Remove and let cool. This trick is for baking purposes only. You will need to let the bananas ripen naturally if they are not being used for baking.
Use Ziploc bags to prevent icing messes!
Does your kitchen get covered in icing when you are making cakes or cupcakes? Instead of spreading frosting all over, put the icing into a Ziploc bag, seal and clip the corner off. This method can be repeated multiple times since the bags can be washed and re-used.
Use flour to save time in your dough!
It sounds simple and obvious but it is something that most people don’t think about. When using cookie cutters on a dough that is rolled out, you will get less resistance during the process by dipping your cookie cutter into the flour before cutting the dough. This also work with pie crusts when you’re using a knife. For any tool that you are using to cut dough, dip it in flour first.
Soften butter in mere seconds!
If you are working with eggs and butter, it goes without saying that more often than not, you are going to need your butter to be room temperature before using. Hard butter or melted butter will yield unfavorable results in all of your baking! To soften butter, please it in a sealed Ziploc bag and use your hands to soften it. When it’s soft and pliable, you can use it in your recipe!
Use a vegetable peeler to decorate your desserts!
A vegetable peeler? YES!! Just take your peeler and run it across a chocolate bar to get the shavings you need! This can be used for cakes, cupcakes and pies!
Bake your lemons to get the most out of them!
There is no need for your hands to cramp while squeezing the juice from your lemons and limes! This also won’t yield all of the juice that’s in the fruit. Pop them into the microwave for about 10 seconds and the juice will flow with ease when you squeeze them.
Pre-heat your knife for crumb-free brownies and cakes!
Looking to create crumb-free brownie bars or any other baked pastries? Heat up your knife with hot water before cutting. Just make sure your knife is dry before using.
Create your own supply of brown sugar!
This may not necessarily be a hack but it’s a way to get fresher ingredients. Mix a cup of granulated sugar with some molasses for brown sugar. You can make this ahead of time and store in an airtight container. This is great to make before the holidays!
Use cooking spray to keep you out of sticky situations!
Things can get sticky when working with ingredients like molasses or honey. Simply coat your measuring cup or spoon with a little cooking spray and your sticky ingredients will slide right off.
Use a fork or spoon to decorate your pies!
When you’re trying to make beautiful pies, forget about fancy kitchen tools! Simply use a fork and spoon to create unique patterns the way you like. You’ll be amazing at the variations of designs you can create with these two everyday utensils.
There you have it! Ten clever hacks to make you a better baker that you can start doing today!!
If you’re looking for more ways to ramp up your baking game, check out my Homemade VANILLA Extract and Buttercream Icing! These two simple recipes will make all of your desserts taste like they’re from a professional baker!
