I compiled a complete list of must-have baking essentials every home baker should have in their kitchen. I find that all these tools are helpful for a successful bake and are ones that I keep in my kitchen.
Measuring
Let's start with the tools that you measure with and what differences they have.
Here I have two types of liquid measuring cups, the first one measures in cups and the little one measure in spoons (teaspoon and tablespoon).
When you measure any kind of liquid it's best to measure in a liquid measuring cup to get the most accurate measure.
I do use my liquid measuring cups quite often, in fact, I have four of them. I have two that measure only up to one cup, then one that measures up to 2 cups and the last is a large one that measures up to 4 cups.
This little measuring cup I find is perfect for when you only need to measure spoonfuls, like for vanilla extract or milk.
These are dry measuring cups. Dry measuring cups do just that measure dry ingredients like flour, sugar, and rice.
I have so many sets of these that I honestly think I have a measuring cup problem. I like to have extra sets to add to my pantry bins. If you haven't seen how I organized my food pantry I highly recommend, I have some ideas that you may like.
Measuring spoons are best used for dry ingredients like baking soda, salt, or cinnamon.
Like my measuring cups I have many sets of spoons, these are two of my favorite sets.
The metal ones where a gift from my son on his first Christmas. Of course, my husband had a helping hand with that.
The red ones are kept in a shadow box that has recipes from my grandmother and great grandmother in it.
Mixing
Whisks are essential in baking for blending ingredients by hand. If you are whisking eggs white for a recipe you are more than likely going to want to use a hand whisk.
Using an electric mixer will over mix the eggs.
A stand mixer isn't really essential in baking but they sure make it easier. I think I use my stand mixer more than my hand mixer.
Take making a cake for instants. I'll add all my wet ingredients in the mixer and let them blend while I sift my dry ingredients.
My hand mixer I do use for baking when it's something quick like a boxed brownie mix. I also use my hand mixer for making mashed potatoes.
I'm big on sifting my dry ingredients. My husband, I was just talking about the reasons why with our girls the other day. One reason I sift is to make sure there are no lumps in my batters. Baking cocoa is a good one for lumping.
But I also sift my dry ingredients because of flour. If you have ever found flour bugs in your flour before you understand why I sift.
I don't think it's as common nowadays but I can remember as a kid having to restart a recipe from the beginning because of flour bugs.
Sifting flour also adds a nice airiness to the flour. I sift the flour after I have measured, that way I get a correct measure.
Cookie Baking
This ice cream scoop is a baking essentials for making cookies, cupcakes, and muffins. This cookie scoop is approximately 4 ounces and makes the perfect size cookie, muffin, or cupcake.
I have a couple of sizes of ice cream scoops that I use for baking.
Cookies sheets are a must for making cookies but they can be used for many other things. I have multiple size cookies sheets that I use regularly.
Sheet pans are good to be used as drip pans. In fact, I have one that is in the refrigerator that I place meat on. This has been a lifesaver a few times when a roast has decided to bleed out.
When I make dishes like Lasagna I'll place a sheet under it my baking dish. If you saw my Fresh Strawberry Pie recipe I mentioned how I used a sheet pan under the pie.
Cooling racks are great for cookies but also to place to cool a cake that just came out of the oven.
Placing a cake pan on a cooling rack will help cool the bottom of your cake. Which will help when removing a cake from a pan.
Baking mats will always be a must in my kitchen. With using a baking mat there is no more need to spray your sheet pan with cooking spray.
Having a baking mat helps when you remove the cookies from the pan they don't stick to the mats. They are heat resistant and dishwasher safe.
Pans
Loaf pans are a baking essential if you plan on making bread. I have two sets that have two each, glass and metal. I tend to use the glass more often.
The only thing with glass is I have to watch my cook time, glass tends to cook faster.
Cupcake pan or muffin pan however you refer to this pan it's a must-have. In my kitchen, I have three sizes of muffin pans.
The standard size, (pictured) extra large for those bakery type muffins/cupcakes, and mini muffin pan.
This pan is one of the most used pans in my kitchen. I use it for muffins, cupcakes and egg bites.
The mini pan I will make mini muffins or mini brownies from my Killer Fudge Brownie recipe for the kid's lunch.
This square pan is great for brownies or for a unique size of a cake.
Round cake pans make the pretties round cakes. I recommend buying two.
A springform pan. is another great baking essentials to have. Springform pans are a must for cheesecake. The lever on the side of the pan loosens the size.
With the sides of the pan removed the bottom slides away.
Bundt pans are great for coffee cakes or if you just want a unique looking cake. I also use my bundt pan at Thanksgiving when I make my Raspberry Cranberry Jello Salad.
Pastries
Pie plates are a must for pies but you can also use them for quiches.
Another must-have on this list of baking essentials would be a rolling pin. Rolling pins are great for when you are making a pie crust you need to make sure it's rolled out and that's where a rolling pin comes in handy.
While baking you will find there are many times when you will need a rolling pin. Cinnamon rolls, pie crust, making crumbs for a graham cracker crust (place graham in a ziplock bag and roll over them with the pin), and you can use it as a meat mallet to tenderize meat.
Pastry Cutter is a must-have for making pie dough or crumb toppings like in my To Die For Blueberry Muffins. You can also use it to cut up eggs for egg salad.
Paper baking cups in two different sizes are a staple in my kitchen. I prefer to use baking cups when I make cupcakes and muffins.
I wouldn't say baking cups are baking essentials but I find they make clean up much easier.
A food scale is great for those recipes that only tell you the amounts in ounces or pounds.
Other Must Haves
A timer is great so you know how long whatever you are baking has been in the oven.
That way there are no worries about over baking your favorite cookies. I use a timer almost daily in my kitchen.
Rubber spatulas are used a lot when I'm baking. The flexibility of a rubber spatula helps scrap the sides of a mixing bowl.
An angled Icing spatula is a great tool for frosting a cake. But also spreading butter on the dough of cinnamon rolls or leveling out the batter in a cake pan.
Having a great set of mixing bowls is defiantly a must have on the list of baking essentials. Mixing bowls come in plastic, glass, or stainless steel. The chose is yours.
These are my favorite nesting bowls, I have two sets just like these. I noticed my other set was getting pretty beat up and didn't look nice in pictures. So this was part of my Christmas present this past year.
Hope you enjoyed my list of baking essentials.
Sharing one creative Recipe at a time~ Jen
Other My Creative Recipes you may enjoy:
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