The Best Baking Tips

Ever get tired of your recipe not turning out right? Ever think of what you might be able to use in place if you don't have something? Well I have everything you need from tricks to tips on baking! I will tell you all kinds of stuff so that your goodies come out the best they can!

Sometimes cookies just aren't like the picture in the recipe you are making, maybe your cookies come out too dull or too stiff, not enough POW in them? Let's fix that issue with some great tips that will help you along the way!

Tip 1: Don't have enough cookie sheets? No problem. Turn a baking pan upside down and drop the cookie dough on the bottom!

Tip 2: Store cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread. The moisture from bread keeps your cookies soft and fresh! Sometimes, your cookies are softer then before you put them in there!

Tip 3: Having trouble with that brown sugar that you just discovered was super hard? All you have to do is, place the harden brown sugar in a microwave safe bowl and then next to it in a separate bowl full the other bowl with water, microwave for about 1 minute if your sugar is still hard, keep adding 30 seconds, check after each time, the water should moisten your brown sugar back to life!

Tip 4: To keep molasses cookies soft, add a little cream cheese to the frosting. Not too much or the frosting will taste cheesy.

Tip 5: Cookie Cutter Trouble? Dip the cookie cutter in slightly warm salad oil you get a much cleaner cut. Works well with the plastic cookie cutters.

Tip 6: Never re-use hot cookie sheets. When you throw another batch of cookies on the sheet and back in the oven, this causes the next batch of cookies to burn on the bottom. Always cool sheets in between batches. Run cool water on the back on the cookie sheet, if you're in a hurry.

Tip 7: Cookies may be stored in airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months!

I know we have all been there, the cake not turning out right? Cake too hard, too crumbly, not enough spark to it? Well .... Lets see what we can do to make sure that cake you spend so much time on, comes out just the way you want it!

Tip 1: Two tablespoons of salad oil added to cake mix keeps the mix moist and less crumbly.

Tip 2: A beaten egg added slowly to batter prevents the batter from becoming TOO stiff.

Tip 3: If the top of the cake is browning too quickly, place a pan of warm water on the rack above the cake while it is baking in the oven.

Tip 4: Toothpick too short to check for doneness? Well .... Just use a raw long spaghetti noodle! Tah-Dah!

Tip 5: To keep cake from cracking when baked, avoid overbeating! Too much air in the batter causes cracking when baking.

Tip 6: If your cake seems to stick to the pan or seems its about to split when trying to take it out of the pan, just hold the pan over a low flame for 5 to 8 seconds and the cake will come out nice and firm.

Ever try making donuts from home, instead of buying them at the store or your local bakery? Well sometimes donuts can just fall flat! Here is a little insight on making your donuts the best!

Tip 1: The more egg yolk you use in doughnuts, the less grease the doughnuts will absorb.

Tip 2: Let your doughnut stand for 15 minutes or so , before frying them, they will absorb less fat.

Tip 3: Dip doughnuts quickly in boiling water after removing them from oil. Drain as usual. They will be less greasy!

Tip 4: A few slices of potato added to the grease will keep doughnuts from burning.

Tip 5: Use a potato parer or a grater to remove burned crust!

Tip 6: To easily make holes in the center of your doughnuts.... Just use the cap from the cooking oil bottle to make the holes in the center. Hey, it works!

Who don't love pies? Warm cherry or apple pie! Oh yes.... I believe we have all been there, trying to make one, and coming out just a big ol' mess. I know I have tried a few and they just did not look or taste right, but with research and some luck , I was finally able to get that pie I always wanted!

Tip 1:  For the flakiest upper pie crust, just brush the top crust lightly with cold water before baking. The crust will melt in your mouth.

Tip 2:  A good way to keep your pie crust from becoming too soggy is to sprinkle it with equal parts of sugar and flour before adding your filling.

Tip 3:  A "Nutty"  method is to spread finely ground nuts over the bottom crust. This keeps the crust from becoming too soggy on the bottom and adds a delicious flavor.

Tip 4: Brush your pie lightly with milk before baking to give it a rich brown glaze!

Tip 5:  For Lemon Meringue pies .....for a more higher or stable meringue , add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for every 3 egg whites! It's a life savor.

Tip 6: If you turn off your oven and open the door slightly when the meringue is just perfectly brown, the pie cools slowly and prevents the meringue from cracking or splitting.

We all love those sweet icings on them cakes, cookies and just about anything you please. Those lovely days where licking the spoon was the best part of baking! Here are a few tips to keep your icings and frostings on track!

Tip 1: To prevent harden of your icing as your putting on your cakes or cookies, add a pinch of baking powder when making a powdered sugar icing and it will stay moist the whole time.

Tip 2: Icing becoming too granular? Just add a tiny bit of salt to the sugar and that will fix that problem.

Tip 3: Icing a many layer cake is much easier when you secure the layers by inserting a few dry sticks of spaghetti through them as you go. No more sliding before the icing sets.

Tip 4: Powdered sugar sprinkled on top of each cake layer before frosting or filling prevents the filling from soaking through the cake.

Tip 5: Try using devil's food cake mix instead of cocoa in frostings.

Tip 6: Don't have any frosting at all? No problem. Just add a Big marshmallow to each cupcake 2 minutes before taking them out the oven!

Well ...... I hope you all enjoyed my tricks and tips on everything! I hope the next time you bake cookies, cake, etc.. that your baked goodies will come out with ease! All of these tips helped my friends in their time of pulling out their hair, because their cookies didn't turn out. lol Share them with yours. : )