MAIN Cooking Baking

What says home better than something baking in the oven?

Besides the aroma, the taste of fresh baked breads, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, croissants, favorite quick breads and holiday favorites "take the cake" over store bought everytime.

For beginners, here are some easy, practical tips from experts that will have you baking like a pro :

• Make a fresh start. There is nothing that takes away from the taste of fresh-baked more than stale ingredients. Throw out the old flour, baking powder or yeast, trash the dried-out baker's chocolate, and thorougly clean all baking pans and utensils before you begin.
  
  
• Follow all measurements and instructions. Although it's always tempting to add an extra dash of sugar here or butter there, more recipes are ruined than actually improved by experimenting. Timing and temperature are also important, so always keep an eye on the clock or use a kitchen timer when baking. Remember to note the actual time when you begin so you can know with certainty when to test for doneness.
  
  
• Opt for metal pans rather than glass when baking. Besides being more durable, metal baking pans and muffin tins often result in more evenly browned breads, muffins and cakes.
  
  
• Chocolate melts quickly and evenly when first cut into small pieces before heating. Stirring and watching are critical, so that the chocolate doesn't overcook and burn. Adding water only makes heated chocolate seize up and become unworkable, so make sure pots and utensils are thoroughly dry before you begin.
  
  
• Pie dough that has been thoroughly chilled makes for much flakier crust.
  
  
• Cookie dough that has been thoroughly chilled makes for plumper, chewier cookies.

If you're just starting out, the best technique for learning more is by doing. Begin here with some of the most popular recipes submitted by visitors for cakes, pies and cookies, as well as hand-picked baking instructions & resources around the Web that we know you'll want to bookmark.

Happy baking!

Related Recipes in the Chiff Chef Recipe File:

More about baking & favorite recipes around the Web:

RecipeZaar - Breads - And biscuits, quick breads, muffins and you name it - all contributed (with star-rated reviews) by site visitors with more on holiday recipes and everything else you need for cooking good...

Recipe Source - Breads & Baked Goods Recipes - The motherlode, with hundreds of tested recipes for breads, scones, pastries, buns and bagels, plus tool around the rest of the site for hundreds more soup-to-nuts ideas.

Quick Bread Recipes - About.com guide with recipes and instructions for homemade date nut bread, zucchini bread and more with related recipes for sweet rolls, muffins, bisquits.

Cakes Recipes & Photos - Joy of Baking.com - Beautifully illustrated with full color photos and complete recipes for tortes, cheesecakes, strawberry shortcakes, sponge rolls, pound cakes and lots more.

Pastrywiz Cake Recipes - Pages of recipes including holiday recipes, chocolate cakes, fruit & nut, alchohol infused, pudding cakes, icings and more.

Just Pie Recipes - Like it says, including dozens of variations on apple, blueberry, cherry, pecan and more popular favorites with printer-friendly recipes.

also see in Baking -> Cheesecake Recipes | Cupcake Recipes

National Cheesecake Day | National Pie Day

Pillsbury Bakeoff