Baking is a process of cooking food using dry heat without directly exposing it to flame. The food is subjected to prolonged heat in an oven or smoke pit. One of the most commonly baked items is bread. A person who enjoys baking and prepares baked goods as a profession is called a baker. A baker bakes and sells breads, rolls, biscuits or cookies and crackers. A baker may also choose to bake and sell cakes, muffins and other goods.

Baking is a great way to relax as it takes your mind away from things and helps you rejuvenate. It also works wonder for your stress as it provides you a temporary escape from the daily monotony of life. To the beginner, baking may seem like a time consuming and difficult hobby to cultivate. What is, therefore, necessary is to stick to simple recipes initially.

Baking is a lot about precision and less about preparation. Before you begin, familiarise yourself with the entire recipe. Be clear as to what ingredients and tools you need and keep them ready somewhere nearby. Check the recipe yet again to see if you have missed out on anything.

Avoid using cold eggs. Both the butter and eggs need to be at room temperatures otherwise the mixture won't emulsify thoroughly. If you are baking the cake, grease the pan properly. Pastry brushes can be used for the purpose as they provide better coverage for the same. For cookies, top the cookie sheet with parchment if the recipe states so. This will prevent the cakes and cookies from getting burnt.

Spoon the flour onto a cup that you are using for measuring and avoid scooping it directly from the bag. Scooping causes the flour to stick to each other and become dense, thereby unnecessarily increasing the content of flour in the recipe.
Get into the habit of preheating the oven before you put the batter inside it. Also place the pan at the centre of the oven and keep rotating it from time to time to ensure uniformity. Sieve the dry ingredients to remove any lumps and add ingredients in the order as mentioned. Last but not the least, set a timer.

Hobbylancer and You

At Hobbylancer, bakers from around the world can advertise their products, post easy recipes for beginners and increase their customer base. Search for baking courses in and around your locality or apply to bake under experts and professionals to turn your hobby into a full time occupation. Share your first baking experience or cheer a baker who bowled you over with their amazing bread and cookies. Discover your love for baking and give wings to the baker in you only at Hobbylancer!