Turn Spring Form Pan Bottom Upside DownWhen baking cheesecake in a spring form pan, turn the pan bottom upside down, so that the lip faces downward. This makes it easier to remove the entire cake or even just a slice because the cake server can be slid under the cake without interference from the lip.
Apple Moist Cornbread MuffinsAt Walmart, while looking for a pastry blender (didn't find one), I saw a cheap ($1.89) 6 cup cupcake tin. I got one. And later, while using it, I made a nice discovery.
No Mix Homemade Brown SugarBeing frugal isn't complicated. It tends to be just the opposite. Over the years, I've shown appreciation for tips submitted by littergitter, Sandi/Poor But Proud and others, that make things unbelievable simple. Here's one from me.
Pie Crust ProtectorThe outer rim of a disposable aluminum pie pan works well to keep pie crust from browning too much. Cut the rim of the pie pan and place it on top of the pie crust while baking.
Cookie Exchanges for New ParentsWhile making my cookies for my family cookie exchange, I decided to put these together for my daughter, who is pregnant with twins! I happened to have regular and small cookie cutters of gingerbread figures and just wanted to give anyone with children or pregnant the idea that they can do so as well!
How NOT To Bake Individual PiesAt about ten minutes before the pie should have finished baking, I looked to see how things were progressing. The only thing left on the cooling rack was a couple of cherries and a few bits of crust. All the rest had fallen through the rack into the pan beneath. (I'm still laughing).
Testing Baking Powder and Baking SodaThe picture shows my baking powder is still good, even though it is slightly past the expiration date.
Make Boxed Cake Taste HomemadeSometimes I bump into a boxed cake mix on sale for SO cheap, I can't say no. Having it handy helps save precious time, but it just doesn't taste nearly as good as a cake made from scratch. Here are some tips on getting your boxed cake tasting homemade.
Save Crumbs from CerealThe sweet cereal crumbs can be used as an ice cream or yogurt topping or added to batter for cake, muffins, and cookies. The plain ones can be added to meatloaves and breads. All can be toasted. They freeze well until needed.
Muffin Tin As Cooling RackTurn the muffin tin upside down and it makes a good cooling rack. I do this all the time.
Using Silicone Baking CupsTry using silicone muffin cups. The muffins pop right out, and you save the planet and money by not having to purchase paper liners. They wash easily, too.
Cutting Wax Paper for Round PansWax paper is used to line baking pans to prevent your baked goodies from sticking. Although it is not necessary in baking cakes, for me it is a big help as it is easier and faster to take the cake out of the pan. Round pans are easy to trace, but it takes time to cut. This is what I do.
Dessert in a JifIf I make a regular cake, my husband and I eat more than we should. Sometimes, I just crave something sweet without the guilt. I made a Jiffy cake for the two of us. When I made it, I sifted the mix and when I prepared it, I put in a tablespoon of mayo.
Sprinkle Hearts on a CakeAn easy way to decorate a cake is to use cookie cutters to make sprinkle designs. It's a great option for kids too!
Oil as Substitute for Butter in BakingButter is a type of shortening that helps create good volume, texture and forms emulsion in cakes. When you start baking and you run out of butter you can still substitute it with oil. Oil is also a type of shortening but the difference is that oil is liquid and butter is solid, but they have the same effect.
Converting All Purpose Flour into Cake FlourAll the years I have been baking, I never knew there was a conversion to turning All Purpose Flour into Cake Flour!
Softening ButterPlace the stick of butter into a plastic sandwich bag and either hit it gently and repeatedly with a wooden spatula or curved part of a spoon OR to knead it while it's in the bag until softened.
Leftover Fondant Candle HoldersI made loads of fresh homemade fondant for my husband's birthday cake. I spent so much time decorating it (this one took me hours!), there was no way I would be okay with even a drop of candle wax dripping on his silhouette. I used the leftover fondant to mold into candle holders to place in front of the cake.
Add Pizzazz to Chocolate Cake MixTo add flavor to a chocolate cake mix add a tablespoon of powdered cocoa to your cake mix before blending. Personally I use anywhere from one to two tablespoons of cocoa depending on the flavor of the cake mix. I suggest you start with one then add or subtract from there.
Quick and Easy Garlic RollsThese are great when serving any Italian dishes, and easier to fix than Italian bread!
High Volume Holiday Cookie BakingI often bake up to 100 dozen cookies around the holidays to give as gifts. For the drop or rolled out type cookies, I start the day after Thanksgiving by making various cookie doughs, and freezing in zip bags.
Quick Bread from Dumpling MixI ran out of bread today, so I tried making up two packets of dumpling mix into a loaf. It came out light and aerated. The texture looked a little rubbery, so I sliced and toasted it.
Use Measuring Cup to Grease Baking PansIf you are using liquid oil in your recipe such as brownies, take the measuring cup that you used to measure the oil and turn it upside down in the baking pan while you are mixing the brownies.
Fixing a Failed Crumb CoatI recently made our daughter a red and blue velvet cake for her birthday. The cake was horribly crumbly and I had a really hard time crumb coating it. I was running low on frosting and decided that instead of making more to add a thicker coating to cover all of the crumbs, I would embrace my mess!
4th of July Red and Blue Velvet CakeWe recently bought a boxed cake mix for red and blue velvet cake. I made a buttercream frosting for the filling, sides, and shell border. I topped it with stabilized whipped cream. Then covered it in sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. It was the perfect balance of sweet!
Lemon Juice for Making BreadRather than buying specialised flours, you can use plain, US all purpose, flour and add 2 Tbsp. lemon juice to provide the acidic environment that yeast requires. Don't forget salt, which helps to stretch gluten.
Chocolate Chips for Easy FrostingUse chocolate chips for an easy frosting. While your cake or brownies are still warm, put chocolate chips on let sit a few minutes to warm them. Once they begin to melt, spread with a table knife.
Freeze Cakes Before FrostingAfter baking a cake, put your cake pans in the freezer for an hour before frosting them. They will not crack and crumble when you put on the frosting.
Multi-Tasking When You BakeI always tried to bake multiple items in the oven when I need to use it. It's cost efficient and saves time and energy too! Today I am in the process of cooking down pumpkin for a pie and making appetizers for a party. I figured I would add two hamburger patties into the oven and have tonight's dinner ready as well!
Crust Cover from Metal Pie PlateAfter wasting countless strips of aluminum foil just to cover my pie crusts when baking, I tried cutting up an old aluminum pie pan to place over my pie crusts while baking. It worked!
Measuring Wet and Dry IngredientsHave two different 2 cup sized measuring cups for making recipes. Use one cup exclusively for dry ingredients and one for wet.
Use Less Chocolate Chips in RecipesOne day when I needed to bake, I realized I only had about 1/4 of a bag of chocolate chips left. I took a leap and used that in the cookies. They were fantastic and no one noticed the "scant" amount of chips.
Reuse Butter Wrappers for Baking PansI always reuse the paper that my butter or margarine is wrapped in to butter any pans I will use in my baking recipes. You can even fold them in half and leave them in the refridge after you take the margarine out and if you don't need them for that recipe.
Use Wax Paper for Non-stick Cake PansTrace the bottom of cake pan onto wax paper and cut out the circle. Cut wax paper strips the height of sides of your pan. Coat inside and bottom with oil. Put wax paper circle and strips inside pan.
Towels to Make Level CakesTake old (low loop nap) towels. Cut them at two times the height of the side of your pan. Wet towel strips and pin to sides of pan. Use large safety pins.
Apple Crisp in a JarMake your favorite apple crisp right into small canning jars. It is not only cute but is also a great way to freeze them for baking later. The jar is the perfect serving size and looks adorable with a scoop of ice cream on top.
Tips for Making BiscuitsHoe cakes can be made of flour or corn meal. The name derived from the early American practice of putting a small amount of dough on a very clean hoe blade and placing the blade atop hot coals or stones in the fireplace.
Buttering Cake PansI save all the wrappers from sticks of butter and keep them in a zipper bag in my freezer. When you need to butter a cake pan or casserole dish, just take one out.
Preventing Baking Pans from RustingAfter I pull a cake or other baked goods from my oven and put them on a cooling rack, I wash my dish well in soapy water and put it straight back into the cooling oven, upside down.
Strawberry Shortcake ParfaitThese tiny little treats are perfect for a party! If you use a mason jar, they would also make a yummy gift for someone special.
Getting Dough to Rise QuicklyI needed a quick way to get my dough to rise and I thought why not use a heating pad? I plugged it in, turned it on and checked to make sure it was not too hot.
Easy Flavored FrostingHere is a tip when having to prepare a quick powdered sugar frosting, whether your recipe is homemade or store bought. I take a spoonful of Jello powder and add it to the beginning mix.
Easy To Do Dough RollingYou know how rolling out dough when making pizza, bread, or pie crust can be a pain. The dough sticks to everything, but the pan that you are rolling the dough in.
Simple Tip on Boxed Cake MixesMy girlfriend's dad was a baker and taught me these tips:
Use Two Smaller Pans When BakingMany recipes call for a 9 x 13 inch pan. I began using two 9 x 9 inch pans instead. This results in getting more portions from a recipe while also requiring less oven baking time.
No Frost CupcakesNext time you make cupcakes instead of icing them, just put a marshmallow on each cupcake about 10 minutes before your cupcakes are done. Instant frosting and they taste great!
Wait To Preheat OvenAlmost every recipe I have for baked goods begins with "Preheat Oven." While this may be a time saver, it is not a money saver. Especially if the ten minutes it should take to prepare the recipe turns into thirty minutes.
Freezing Cookie DoughI was making cookies the other day and decided that I didn't want to bake the whole batch of dough. So, using my cookie dough scoop, I put the dough onto a baking sheet, and placed the whole sheet into the freezer until the dough was frozen.
Meat Tenderizer For Peanut Butter CookiesI spray the meat tenderizer with Pam and dip in sugar. This tool will give you a wonderful imprint on your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe.
Cupcake ConesThese are a little messy; the kids did these ones. Bake cupcakes right in an ice cream cone. It helps keep messes to a minimum and everything is edible.
Add Blueberries Directly To Muffin TinsWhen baking Blueberry muffins, don't add your blueberries to the batter. Just fill your muffin tins using a teaspoon and alternate batter with individual blueberries until the muffin cup is 2/3 full.
Mesh Bag for Cleaning Cookie CuttersUse the mesh bag from your next turkey to throw your cookie cutters into. Place the mesh and cookie cutters in your dish washer making sure that the end is closed and placed over a prong.
4th of July Heart CakeI made this birthday cake for my daughter last year. She is so lucky to have a 4th of July birthday, so I tend to go a little crazy playing on the red, white, and blue theme.
Soccer Ball CakeThis soccer ball cake is easy to make and is perfect for a birthday party. All you need is buttercream icing and a variety of tips to make this fun cake.
Decorating Cakes With FondantI made this two tiered birthday cake and decorated the the whole thing with fondant. I really enjoy marbling fondant so I chose to marble a teal and a blue color together. It was for a young girl so I wanted to make funky yet beautiful, so I chose to make the bow and dots in a bright pink.
Save Cookie Crumbs For Ice Cream ToppingThe next time you bake cookies and use a wire rack to cool them on or you have some that have fallen apart, keep all those loose cookie crumbs. Be sure to store them all in an airtight container.
Sushi CakeI made this birthday cake for a friend's daughter. I love working with fondant and really enjoyed making this cake. I made the inside of the sushi rolls with rice crispies and then covered them in fondant.
Preserving the Tops of Frosted CakesDo you hate it when you have a lovely frosted cake and you don't know how to cover it without the frosting sticking to the foil or other covering? The little plastic "tripods" that come with your pizza are ideal.
Extra Eggs in BrowniesI have been making Toll-House cookies for years, it's always my standby for chocolate chip cookies, and almost always make a double batch to have cookie dough in the fridge. The other day I was in the middle of making a batch, and realized too late that I'd doubled the amount of eggs...
Professional Looking FrostingAfter you have frosted your cake, use a hair dryer to go over the icing just until it begins to melt. Your cake will have a shiny, professional look.
Cookie Cutter Top Pie CrustInstead of merely cut a venting hole or two in the top crust of your pie, try cookie cutters. For example, I have a cat cookie cutter. I used it on the top crust and placed the cats all around the edge of the pie and then filled in to the top.
Blueberry Nuggets (Muffins Without Baking Soda)Did you ever wonder what would happen if you forget to put the baking powder into your homemade blueberry muffins? You get Blueberry Nuggets!
Cleaning BakewareI was making coffee cake muffins and the brown sugar dripped down into the cups. I filled the tins with water and stuck it back in the hot oven until the oven cooled. Then I took the tin out and washed with soap and water.
Angry Birds CakeI recently made an Angry Birds cake for my son's 10th birthday. I made all of the decorations out of fondant. In total it took me about 10 hours to complete it. I sculpted each piece by hand.
Don't Overbeat CakesNever over beat the egg and sugar mix as this causes incorporation of more air in the cake which will cause the cake to rise initially while baking and then fall. One minute of beating using egg beater on high speed is sufficient for a good soft cake.
Prevent Muffins And Cupcakes Sticking To LinersDo your muffins and cupcakes stick to the cupcake liners? I now give each cupcake paper a quick squirt with nonstick baking spray before I put the batter in, and have had great success.
Keep Cookies SoftAdd a slice of bread to any kind of cookies. The cookies will pull the moisture from the bread and soften. Every year I add a slice of bread to my Christmas cookies. It works wonderfully.
Soak Tops of Rolls in ButterIf you soak the tops of rolls that you have just rolled out, in a pan with some melted butter they turn out better.
Easy FrostingLemon juice and some powdered sugar will make a nice glaze for a plain cake or quick bread. Just put a cup of sifted powdered sugar and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a bowl.
Add Cake Trimmings To Frosted Middle LayerWhen making cake frosting and filling, set aside a portion of it for the filling. When you have to level your cake layers, just make the trimmings into crumbs and add them to the filling portion.
Pan ReleaseUse to keep cakes from sticking to pan.
Ice Cream Scoop to Fill Cupcake LinersFor years I have been making cupcakes and have tried numerous ways to get the cake batter neatly in the cupcake holders. I saw my old metal ice-cream scoop with the metal lever to release and asked myself "Why didn't I try that years ago."
Line Baking Pans With Aluminum FoilI love to bake using marinades and various spices that are messy to clean up. In my old age, I have learned to line my baking pans with aluminum foil so I can just remove the food, dispose of the foil, and put the pan away.
Using Dark or Light Baking PansWhen you are baking breads, cakes or cookies, if you prefer a darker bottom or crust, use darker pans to bake them in. The dark pans absorb more heat and will brown your food item to a darker color.
Saving Money on Baking Parchment PaperI am very thrifty. To make my parchment paper last longer, I bake with it at least twice before throwing it away. I use it when baking cookies and bread. I just flip it over and reuse it for the next batch.
Use Ziploc Bag For FrostingWhen making powder sugar frosting, why wash a bowl and utensil to stir with? Slip a plastic bag in a coffee mug and turn the top edge down over the rim of the cup. Put your ingredients in and zip the bag closed, mixing the frosting by hand.
Bottle For Inverting Bundt PanI just insert the neck of the bottle into the hole in the center of the pan, and invert it onto the stove or counter and leave it for about an hour to cool. Then carefully loosen the cake at the top edges and remove it to a serving plate.
Making a Lacy Pattern on a CakeA simple technique for decorating a chocolate cake is to lay a paper doily on top, sift on powdered sugar, then lift doily off carefully to leave a design.
Keep Cake Ingredients At Room TemperatureTo help your cakes rise higher, have all ingredients at room temperature.
Use Lard for Pie CrustsLard always makes the best pie dough.
Use Sugar to Dust Your Cake PansIf you like sweets, this is for you. Next time you bake sweet bread or muffins, try greasing and sugaring the pan instead of greasing it and flouring. You will love the slight hint of added sweetness
Spatula to Remove Dough ResidueUse a spatula to clean off the dough that stuck to the counter/board when you were kneading. Just scrape away gently before adding water, and most comes off easily! Saves so much time, and paper towels.
Form Foil On Bottom Before Lining PanFor fitting foil into a roasting pan without tearing the foil, turn pan upside down and fit the foil to the outside of the pan. turn it right side up and gently fit the formed foil to the inside of the pan.
Use Cookie Cutters as Decorating StencilsPlace cookie cutters on top of frosted cakes or cupcakes then pour candy sprinkles or colored sugar inside the shapes. Remove the cookie cutters and you have a nice decoration.
Make A Heart Cake Without A Heart Shaped PanNo need to buy a special heart-shaped pan when you want to make a heart-shaped cake. Use one 8 or 9 inch round pan plus one 8 or 9 inch square pan. When the baked cake is cooled, cut the round cake in half.
Sprinkle Sugar on Top of MuffinsEveryone knows the best part of a muffin is the top! Before placing your tin/pan in the oven, sprinkle a bit of sugar over the tops. This gives it a little something extra special - a sweet extra crisp muffin top!
Bakery Emulsions Instead of ExtractsTry Bakery Emulsions instead of extracts. They come in vanilla, vanilla butter, rum - there are several out there. I bought some recently at Ross, and was amazed at the flavor and how it doesn't bake out!
Make Biscuits Soft or CrustyIf you want your biscuits to be crusty, then you have to spread them several inches apart on the baking sheet. If you let them touch then, they'll be soft.
Freeze Nuts for BakingI use a lot of different nuts and seeds in salads, cooking, and baking (walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.) and keep them all in the freezer to preserve the oils and lengthen "shelf" life.
Freeze Butter Wrappers For Greasing PansIf you use stick butter, don't bother wiping out the bit of butter left on the paper. Just fold it in 4 and stash it in your freezer.
Tips For Successful BakingBaking is an exact science, and it is important to be well prepared. Here's how:
Mix Pie Ingredients In Ziptop BagWhen mixing apple pie ingredients (apple slices, cinnamon, cloves, and flour), put them into a baggie and shake. This makes sure that the ingredients are well mixed so that when you put them into a crust, there are not spices on the bottom or flour on the top.
Melon Ball Scoop for Perfect CookiesTo get the perfect size cookies, use a melon ball" scooper". Works every time.
Decorate Your Own Birthday CupcakesFor a fun birthday party activity, bring out cupcakes that have not been decorated. Let each guest decorate his or her own cupcake. Provide frosting, jellybeans, sprinkles, candies, coconut, chocolate bits, etc.
Reduce Overflowing in Fruit PiesWhen I bake fruit filled pies such as Blueberry, after adding the top crust as well as cutting slits in the top crust, I take a piece of tube type pasta and insert it in the center of my pie crust.
Keeping Cookies SoftAfter you have cooked your cookies or brownies and they have cooled, when putting them in the storage area, like a bag or plastic container, put 1-2 pieces of "white" bread in with them. The moisture of the "white" bread will help keep the cookies or brownies soft.
Baking Breads in a CanUse a soup or vegetable can to bake breads, such as date nut bread. Just wash can, take paper off, spray with cooking spray, and bake. Open the other end with can opener, and the bread will slide out. Makes great little individual loaves for gift giving.
Shaping Crescent CookiesInstead of individually shaping each crescent cookie when baking, roll into a long log and cut whatever size is needed. Then bend each one into the crescent shape. You can do this right on the cookie sheet.
Frost Brownies with Chocolate Covered MintsTo fancy up your brownies, as soon as you take them out of the oven, place chocolate covered mints on top, close enough to melt together. You will have a great tasting brownie!
Use Plastic Bag For Greasing PansWhen greasing a pan, grab a sandwich bag and put your hand in it to reach in and get some shortening or butter for your pan. When finished greasing the pan, just throw the bag away.
Make and Freeze Extra Cookie DoughI have found most cookie dough can be made ahead of time and baked later. Be sure to tightly wrap the rolls of cookie dough in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator, and then freeze.
Add Pudding Mix to Pie CrustFor a nice flavored pie crust, simply add dry pudding mix to your flour mixture. Make the pie crust as usual. Make sure to use the type of pudding that must be cooked and not the instant type.
