Let’s be honest here, baking is definitely not everyone’s forte. I mean, add too much of one thing, and the whole recipe can flop. Worst comes to worst, you cause a chemical explosion and burn your house down. But baking at home is something that’s not so hard once you’ve found the right recipe. Plus, in these trying times when you might be getting a little cabin fever from being in the house, it can be quite therapeutic.
Unfortunately, that also means limited grocery store runs and definitely no outings to restaurants. That means you don’t have the means to get that perfect chocolate chip cookie you’ve been craving.
What’s a person gotta do?!
Well, fear not! Here are 5 of the best things to bake from scratch while your home.
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
C’mon, did you think this wouldn’t make the list?
Chocolate chip cookies are an American classic! And for this reason, they are a staple on this list. Also, they are pretty much the easiest thing to make at home, especially if you don’t have much experience.
Here’s a video of my favorite recipe for CCCs, and they turn out fantastic every time.
*IMPORTANT! Her oven is set to 350 CELSIUS! For Fahrenheit ovens, set it to 325.*
2. Cheesecake
The cheesecake may seem intimidating, especially to beginners, but I can assure you it’s not. However, it is time-consuming.
In most recipes, they will tell you to make your own graham cracker crusts, and by all means, you can! If you have a food processor, it’s easy as pie.
However, if that’s not quite your style (or it just seems like too much effort), they sell boxes of pre-crumbed graham crackers, or graham cracker crusts already assembled.
They will also ask you to pre-bake the crust, which essentially means to bake it in your oven for 10 minutes before putting your cake batter in so it doesn’t crumble.
For me, the recipe that I use every time is actually comprised of two recipes. One for the crust baking instructions, and a different one for the crust and cake itself. I’m not saying you have to do this, it’s just because the recipe I have for cheesecake doesn’t have pre-baking instructions.
To find the instructions for the baking of the crust only: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/classic-cheesecake/#tasty-recipes-66517
To find the recipe for the crust and cake: https://www.stuckonsweet.com/cheesecake-strawberry-sauce/
3. Muffins
Muffins are a staple found in diners and cafes across the country, and they are so easy to make at home. They may seem a little intimidating, but that would be false! Just remember to not overmix because then you’ll come out with a tough and chewy muffin (this goes for any baked good). I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t prefer my muffins or cake to be chewed all day.
While we may have the idea that a perfect, bakery muffin is only found in stores, they can easily be achieved at home!
Here’s a link to the best blueberry muffins that are just like store-bought ones!
4. Banana Bread
I don’t know if it’s just my town, but banana bread was something everyone grew up with. It was something that defined potlucks and Sunday mornings.
Essentially, it brought people together. For this reason, it is a must on your baking list.
Here’s a link to a really tasty recipe.
5. Cake
There are so many varieties of cake: layer cake, birthday cake, wedding cake…the list goes on.
That’s fair, right? Cake in itself is a versatile dessert!
If you don’t want to make a full-sized cake, A) That’s totally understandable, and B) cupcakes are a lot of fun, too!
If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can try a roll cake. But just be mindful that these are much harder than your average cake, very finicky, and quite time-consuming.
*Note: Any cupcake recipe can be adapted to make a full-sized cake. Just check the recipe notes!*
So, now you’re in the know as to what people bake at home. And by following these recipes, you will not fail, guaranteed! Also, it’s always okay to cut things like the sugar if you’re not a fan of overly sweet things. In fact, I always do this. Just make sure that you don’t increase other ingredients to compensate for that sugar (unless things seem too liquidy-then add flour in little increments at a time).
During this newfound free time, it’s good to try new things and pick up a new skill. Baking could be one. So the next time you’re asking yourself, ‘To bake or not to bake’? The answer will always be the latter.