Baking is all about perfect measurements and refined skills, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any shortcuts you can use. Even if you’re just starting out use these tips to come off looking like a pro.
- Homemade Whipped
Instead of getting store bought, preservative laden whipped cream make your own instead. A jar and some whipping cream is all you need. Fill the jar halfway, put on the lid and shake for 3 minutes. Now you have rich, homemade whipped cream.
- Marshmallow Frosting
Running out of time and have no frosting laying around? No problem. Just 5 minutes before your cupcakes are done baking, place a marshmallow on top of each of them. It’ll melt into the perfect frosting when the cupcakes are done!
- Eggshell Pieces
We’ve all over-enthusiastically cracked an egg and left little shards floating around in the bowl. Instead of frantically trying to scoop them out with a fork, wet your finger and the egg shells will automatically gravitate towards them.
- Quickly Ripen Bananas
The cornerstone of the perfect banana bread are ripened bananas. You can make one with regular bananas, but it’s really not the same thing. Don’t wait around and simply chuck your bananas in the oven for 40 minutes at 150C for perfectly ripened bananas.
- Cute Cupcakes
Not a fan of frosting? Well that’s no reason to leave your cupcakes undecorated. Grab a baking sheet and cut out a cut patter, lay it over your cupcakes and sprinkle some icing sugar to create cute, frosting-less cupcakes.
- Brown Sugar Clumps
Brown sugar tends to pack together in large hard clumps if even the slightest bit of moisture gets in, but that’s nothing to worry about. When using the sugar, just place a paper towel over it and heat it for 20 seconds in the microwave for soft and warm sugar.
- Non-stick hands
When making things like granola bars or handling any dough with peanut butter, the ingredients tend to combine more with your hands than they do each other. Avoid this by wetting your hands before you start and none of the ingredients will stick to them!
- Perfect Cake Slices
Use a hot knife to get the most perfect slice of cake. Run a knife under hot water, then dry it and use it to cut a slice. For thicker and creamier cakes, make sure the knife gets really hot.
