4 Helpful Tips & Tricks to use while baking at home

While baking, just like in any other craft, there are tricks to use to make the end results more delicious, making the actual preparation process a bit easier or just to add a personal touch.

We’ve decided to share some tricks we use in our bakery to help us out, you can try them our as well while baking at home ^_^

1. VANILLA SUGAR

In a glass jar, put sugar and an opened Vanilla bean pod and close it tightly. After a week or more, you will have vanilla flavored sugar in the jar. This is helpful for Vanilla Cake recipes; you can also reduce the amount of Vanilla essence you use in the recipe as well. Naisenya Foods is a great brand you can buy from who sell Vanilla Beans. You can also find vanilla beans being sold in some supermarkets e.g. Carrefour, Healthy U or Chandarana Supermarkets.

Vanilla bean (courtesy of myvanillashop.com)

 2. LEMON/ ORANGE SUGAR

For Lemon or Orange bread or cake recipes; same applies as above. While preparing before baking, put the required amount of sugar for the recipe in a bowl. Grate the rind as required and mix it with the sugar. Let it sit for at least 3 – 5 minutes then use it in the recipe. Your cake or bread will have a stronger fruit flavor.

Lemon rind & sugar (courtesy of Attainable Sustainable)

3. CAKE FLOUR

Some recipes call for cake flour; if you don’t have access to Cake flour you can purchase – just make your own. Measure 1 cup of flour, then remove 2 Tablespoons of flour and replace it with 2 Tablespoons of Corn Starch. Corn Starch can be found in bake supplies shops such as Topserve Ltd or in major supermarkets. Voila! You have cake flour.

4. DRIED FRUITS

For fruit cake or bread; pre-soak the dried fruits in a jar or bowl with water, juice, strong tea, coffee or a dark liquor e.g. Brandy or Rum.

Drain them, pat them dry and use in the recipe as instructed. If you find that when you use dried fruits in your cake recipe and they’re sinking to the bottom of the batter; after patting them dry, dust them with a little bit of wheat flour before using them to avoid them sinking.

Dried fruits

These tips and tricks have helped many bakers out, hope they come in handy in your kitchen at home.
If you have any other tips you use while baking at home, please feel free to share below, thanks ^_^

You can learn more tips and trick while learning how to bake with us. Join today and start learning. Click on this link to find out our available short baking courses.

Click here to find out our current intake and class dates.