Baking is a wonderful blend of art and science, perfect for those looking to explore their culinary skills. This article introduces beginners to baking basics with ten easy and delicious recipes. Each recipe is designed to teach essential baking techniques and foster confidence in the kitchen. From classic cookies to elegant cheesecakes, these recipes will surely delight anyone embarking on their baking journey.
Contents
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons hot water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
- Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to batter along with salt.
- Stir in flour and chocolate chips.
- Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until edges are nicely browned.
Basic Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups of all-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter a 4×8-inch loaf pan.
- Mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth in a mixing bowl.
- Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.
- Mix in baking soda and salt.
- Stir in sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the flour.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Easy Apple Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 recipe pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour to form a paste.
- Add water and sugars, boil, reduce temperature, and simmer.
- Place the bottom crust in your pan, fill with apples, mounded slightly.
- Cover with a lattice work of crust.
- Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust.
- Bake 15 minutes, reduce temperature to 350°F (175°C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes.
No-Knead Artisan Bread
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1¾ teaspoons salt
- 1½ cups warm water
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt.
- Add water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy.
- Cover bowl and let dough rest for 12 – 18 hours at room temperature.
- Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C), heat a cast iron pot with a lid.
- Shape dough into a ball and place it in the pot.
- Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, remove lid, bake another 15 to 30 minutes until loaf is browned.
Fluffy Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1¼ cups milk
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions:
- Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
- Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and melted butter; mix until smooth.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately ¼ cup for each pancake.
- Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Homemade Pizza Dough
Ingredients:
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
- Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water, let stand until creamy.
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt.
- Add yeast mixture and oil, mix well.
- Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
- Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled.
Simple Sponge Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), grease and flour a 9-inch pan.
- Sift together flour and baking powder, set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thick and pale.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Fold in flour mixture.
- Heat milk and butter until butter melts, quickly fold into batter.
- Pour into prepared pan, bake 30 to 40 minutes.
Decadent Brownies
Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
- Melt butter, stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Beat in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Lemon Drizzle Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup white sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 lemons, juiced and zested
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), grease and flour a loaf pan.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well.
- Mix in lemon zest.
- Fold in flour and baking powder.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Mix confectioners’ sugar with lemon juice, drizzle over warm cake.
Creamy Cheesecake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
- 1½ cups white sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter; press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
- In a bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
- Blend in milk, then mix in eggs one at a time.
- Mix in sour cream, vanilla, and flour until smooth.
- Pour filling into prepared crust.
- Bake for 1 hour, turn off oven, let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours.
The Bottom Line
These recipes provide a fantastic starting point for anyone new to baking. With clear instructions and basic ingredients, each recipe is designed to be approachable and rewarding. Whether it’s the simple pleasure of a homemade cookie or the accomplishment of baking a perfect cheesecake, these recipes will inspire and delight any budding baker. Enjoy the process and savor the delicious results!