No matter whether you’re baking sweet treats like fluffy pastries and muffins, or hearty homemade breads, there are certain essential techniques you need to master for successful results. Baking is both an art and a science, so practice and patience are key to achieving bakery-style results every time.

General Preparation Techniques

The foundation of excellent baked goods begins with careful preparation. Gather all your ingredients and tools before you begin, and measure the ingredients accurately. Pay attention to details, such as the temperature of your eggs and other ingredients. Soften butter by leaving it on the counter for one hour before using, or cut butter into cubes if you’re short on time.

Mixing

Mixing is a necessary step that prepares the ingredients to become a cohesive dough or batter. Cake batters and quick breads are typically mixed using a spoon or spatula, while cookie dough and yeasted recipes often need to be combined using an electric mixer. If you’re using a mixer, make sure not to over-mix the dough or batter as it can result in tough, dense pastries and breads.

Rising

For yeasted recipes, the dough needs time to rest and rise. This will allow it to absorb the moisture from the other ingredients and help it become light and fluffy. Place the dough in a warm, draft-free location and let it double in size. The optimal rising temperature is 78–80 degrees F.

Shaping

Shaping pastries and breads is an important step in the baking process. After the dough has risen, and it is a soft and pliable consistency, you can shape it into the desired shape. For raised doughs, make sure to use enough flour when you knead the dough to prevent it from sticking. Use rolling pins and well-floured countertops to shape cookies, pie and tart crusts, and other pastries.

Baking

Once you’ve shaped and formed your dough or batter into the desired shape, it’s time to bake! Preheat your oven and use a temperature setting that is recommended in the recipe. Avoid removing pastries or breads too soon from the oven as they need to bake for the specified cooking times for the best results. Finally, let them cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Mastering these essential baking techniques can help you create baking brilliance every time. Armed with these techniques, you can create delicious homemade pastries and breads that your family and friends won’t be able to resist!