Bake with confidence and avoid the meltdowns

Author

Sarah
July 16, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Good morning!

We all have those days. The ones where the world feels a little too loud and a little too much. Here's a secret weapon: baking! Studies say it can be therapeutic, and there's something incredibly calming about kneading dough. So ditch the screens, grab some flour, and knead away those worries with a warm loaf of homemade bread.

THE MAIN COURSE

Baking can be challenging for some because one mistake can ruin a batch. However, it becomes easy once you know the common pitfalls. Yes, you can become a successful baker yourself! You just need to start with learning how to avoid the usual mistakes beginners make.

RISE TO THE OCCASION

There are 14 days left until National Cheesecake Day

A SLICE OF INSPIRATION

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Submit a picture of something you’ve baked recently that you’d like to share to be featured in a future newsletter. To be featured, simply fill out this photo submission form.

THE SIDES

Baking is a wonderful activity that anyone can appreciate—young or old. But besides the delicious treats you can enjoy, did you know baking is also a superb hobby for your mental health? Yep, you read that right. As simple as making cookies or cakes can be, cooking or baking offers several practical benefits to your well-being.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is exactly between cakes and pastries? Each satisfies our sugar cravings equally well, and are made from similar ingredients. But when you try to explain what exactly falls into each category… it depends.

Making bread by hand is entirely possible and actually a wonderful experience, but many of us have time constraints that make baking handmade bread on a regular basis impractical. This is where bread machines come in: with less than five minutes of work, we can have freshly baked bread whenever we want it. But, is a bread machine really worth it? In all honesty, it depends.

CHEW ON THIS

This week's baking challenge is all about expanding your repertoire! Pick a baking technique you've always wanted to try, but maybe felt a little intimidated by. It could be anything from creating a perfect pie crust to mastering the art of tempering chocolate.

Here are some ideas to spark your inspiration:

Pie Crust Perfection: Learn how to achieve a flaky, buttery pie crust that elevates any dessert.

Royal Icing Magic: Unleash your inner cake decorator and try your hand at creating beautiful royal icing designs.

Sourdough Starter Secrets: Unlock the mysteries of sourdough bread and start your own bubbling starter.

Don't be afraid to get creative!

A SWEET TREAT

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned pro, let the world know your passion for baking!

“Baking is my therapy” is just a taste of the fun baking merch I’ve made over the years! Click below to see more designs.

THE LEFTOVERS

Baking is a daunting task for many individuals. The fear of failure may prevent you from picking up the hobby and stress you out. Let’s conquer your kitchen fears and discuss some unconventional techniques for stress-free baking.

Whether to improve the cake’s flavor, texture, density, or moisture, I love incorporating different ingredients into my batter to test out their effects. I was especially excited when I started adding sour cream to my cake recipe. I admit I had my doubts, but I’d also heard many chefs and fellow bakers rave about this ingredient changing their cake game forever. My curiosity won –as always– and I just had to see what sour cream could do for myself!

KEEP ON RISING

Still hungry for more baking knowledge? Dive deeper into past newsletters for tips and tricks you might have missed the first time around. Completely free and available 24/7!

STAY SWEET!

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this newsletter. If you have any comments or question - just reply!

Happy baking!