Sugar is one of the crucial ingredients in our baked goods. There are a lot of different types of sugar and it’s hard to always know how to use them. But let me assure you, it makes all the difference in the world to know that powdered sugar and granulated sugar are different an switching out one for the other … Read More
Baking Basics: What Does “Softened Butter” Mean?
What does softened butter mean? How do you quickly soften butter?
How To Toast Nuts In The Oven
Find out how to toast nuts both in the oven and on the stovetop and find out why you should be toasting your nuts in the first place! I don’t know about you, but I love a good shortcut. I try and find the fastest way to get home and I never put a topcoat on my nail polish. And … Read More
7 Tips For New Bread Bakers
Bread baking can be tricky sometimes but once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the most satisfying baking projects out there. Here are 7 tips for new bread bakers that I wish I’d known when I first started making bread. This post contains some affiliate links which helps keep me in sugar. Thanks for your support! My … Read More
Baking Powder Vs. Baking Soda
When should you use baking soda vs baking powder? What is the difference? Learn all about which is which and when to use them. Reader Question: Hi H! Technical question: how come some of your recent cookies don’t have baking powder or baking soda? These are ingredients I almost always find in cookies. Cookies don’t really “rise”, but what do … Read More
What is the difference between types of flours?
It’s hard to know which types of flour to use in a recipe. Here is a guide to the most common types of flour and how to best use them for your baked goods. Have you ever gone to the store and looked at all the different types of flour and been totally intimidated by your options? (Seriously, who … Read More
What is the difference between Philadelphia and custard style ice cream?
Finally, it is getting just a tad bit warmer in this great state of Illinois. Warm enough that I am daydreaming about making ice cream again. Whenever I set out to make a new ice cream, I always am torn-do I make the richer, creamier custard style ice cream or the simpler, less time consuming Philly style? Pineapple Upside … Read More
How to quickly soften butter (without melting it)
Quick baking tip-soften butter straight from the fridge for a few seconds in the microwave to get softened butter quickly without melting the butter. There is this spot on my counter where I leave my butter to warm when I have it intended for a baking project. But sometimes (many times) I will have an itch to bake something without … Read More
What Are The Different Types of Food Coloring?
When I was growing up, my mom always had Wilton gel food coloring that you had to dig out with a toothpick. I hated it. I found it messy and annoying and the red was never red (come to find out, I was actually using pink!). Anyway, time went on and I became and adult and I bought myself food … Read More
Alternative Sweeteners to Refined Sugar
Ok, so January, we’re supposed to be cleaning up our eating right? Well, for me, that has meant that I am trying more and more to cut out processed foods. I can’t say exactly when I started, but over the course of the last few years I have been phasing out and reducing my intake of processed and pre-packaged foods. … Read More