Don't Overbeat CakesNever over beat the egg and sugar mix as this causes incorporation of more air in the cake which will cause the cake to rise initially while baking and then fall. One minute of beating using egg beater on high speed is sufficient for a good soft cake.
Soak Tops of Rolls in ButterIf you soak the tops of rolls that you have just rolled out, in a pan with some melted butter they turn out better.
Add Cake Trimmings To Frosted Middle LayerWhen making cake frosting and filling, set aside a portion of it for the filling. When you have to level your cake layers, just make the trimmings into crumbs and add them to the filling portion.
Pan ReleaseUse to keep cakes from sticking to pan.
Making Cheesecake in a Pie Pan?I am making a cheesecake and I don't have a springform pan. Can I use a pie pan?
Why Are My Homemade Cupcakes Sticky?I'm wondering why the cupcakes I make from scratch come out sticky. Not only on the tops of the cupcakes, but also when the liners are removed the cake sticks to my fingers.
Use Lard for Pie CrustsLard always makes the best pie dough.
Spatula to Remove Dough ResidueUse a spatula to clean off the dough that stuck to the counter/board when you were kneading. Just scrape away gently before adding water, and most comes off easily! Saves so much time, and paper towels.
Making Mini Muffins?I've acquired several mini paper baking cup (liners). I've never made anything
Use Cookie Cutters as Decorating StencilsPlace cookie cutters on top of frosted cakes or cupcakes then pour candy sprinkles or colored sugar inside the shapes. Remove the cookie cutters and you have a nice decoration.
Why Do My Chocolate Chip Cookies Turn Out Cake-like?After making chocolate chip cookies, I can't figure out how to get the consistency I want, chewy and soft, or even chewy and crunchy. All I get is fluffy, cake-like cookies. What can I do to correct this?
Can I Substitute Self Rising Flour for All Purpose in a Cake Recipe?Can I substitute self rising flour for all purpose flour in a cake recipe?
How Can I Protect a Plastic Handled Pan in the Oven?I have a good and seasoned frying pan (copper bottom), with a heavy plastic handle and I'd like to make fritatta in the oven! How can I protect the handle from the heat?
Homemade Cookies Taste Salty?I'm trying to learn how to cook. I baked cookies according to this recipe, but they came out tasting salty. Could anyone help me figure out what went wrong?
Bakery Emulsions Instead of ExtractsTry Bakery Emulsions instead of extracts. They come in vanilla, vanilla butter, rum - there are several out there. I bought some recently at Ross, and was amazed at the flavor and how it doesn't bake out!
Cake is Too Dry?Why are my cakes coming out so dry?
Cooking Using a Pizza Stone?I think it was last year a lady on here told us about a woman on Facebook cooking with a pizza stone. Does anyone remember her site?
Testing the Freshness of Corn Starch?How do you test the freshness of cornstarch?
Mix Pie Ingredients In Ziptop BagWhen mixing apple pie ingredients (apple slices, cinnamon, cloves, and flour), put them into a baggie and shake. This makes sure that the ingredients are well mixed so that when you put them into a crust, there are not spices on the bottom or flour on the top.
Testing Freshness of Baking Soda?How do you test for freshness of baking soda?
Melon Ball Scoop for Perfect CookiesTo get the perfect size cookies, use a melon ball" scooper". Works every time.
Best Dye for Fondant?For fondant, what is better to use for dye? Powdered or gel/water? Does anyone know how much it costs?
Baking Breads in a CanUse a soup or vegetable can to bake breads, such as date nut bread. Just wash can, take paper off, spray with cooking spray, and bake. Open the other end with can opener, and the bread will slide out. Makes great little individual loaves for gift giving.
Do I Need to Pre-heat a Stone Gingerbread Mold?Does a stone gingerbread mold require pre-heating?
Keeping Cinnamon Buns Moist After Baking?Why when I take canned cinnamon buns out of the oven they taste great, but in a short while the bun becomes dry and hard? What can I do to keep them moist?
How Do I Make a Pie Crust?How do I make a pie crust?
How Do I Measure Brown Sugar?How do you measure dark sugar?
Slice Roll Cookies with Cheese SlicerWhen baking tons of cookies at Christmastime, I discovered that the easiest way to slice "slice-and-bake" cookies was to use a wire cheese slicer. The wire cuts right through the cold refrigerated cookie dough without distorting the round shape of the log
Releasing Bread or Cake from PanIf a cake or quick bread sticks to the bottom of the pan, turn it over onto dish. Saturate a dishtowel with hot water, wring it out to just barely not dripping, and place on bottom of pan. Within a few minutes, the cake or quick bread will loosen and drop to dish.
Best Cookies to Ship to a Soldier in Afghanistan?Our Army son is in Afghanistan and wants me to send him homemade cookies. What are the best kind to send over there?
Repairing a Broken Frozen Pie Crust?The frozen pie crusts I bought are broken. How do I use them in making a pumpkin pie?
How Do I Make an Open Book Shaped Cake?I would like to know how to make an open book shaped cake without a book shaped pan. Also, how do I ice an open book cake?
Determining the Yield of a Cookie Recipe?About how many cookies does the blue ribbon oatmeal peanut butter recipe make?
Custard Pie Bake Time?What is the length of time to bake an 8 inch deep dish custard pie?
Scrape Burned Cookie Bottoms OffDon't throw out burned cookies! Scrape off the blackened bottoms with your cheese grater, since it is much faster than using a table knife.
Making Cupcakes With a Graham Cracker Crust?I baked cupcakes with a graham cracker base. It stuck to the wrapper and got very hard? Why?
Biscuits Turned Out Doughy?What causes biscuits to be doughy?
Don't Clean Up Dough With Hot WaterWhen making doughy baked items, for easier clean up, don't use hot water. Instead, use cold water and a bench scraper. It saves time and effort. The hot water tends to make things even more gooey!
Using Paraffin Wax and Chocolate on a Cake?Can paraffin wax and hard chocolate be mixed and drizzled on cakes?
Substituting Splenda or Ideal Sweetener for Confectioners Sugar?We are watching our refined sugar intake and I was wondering if anyone has tried substituting Splenda or Ideal sweeteners for confectioners sugar in a glaze for cupcakes or cakes?
Use Cereal Inserts for Cookie Sheet LinersI save the wax paper bags from cereal boxes. When the cereal is gone, I cut the bottom off and split the seam open making a sheet of wax paper. I then cut it to the size I need for lining cookie sheets or cake pans.
Using Cream Cheese Icing Successfully?Can I ice a cake with cream cheese icing successfully?
Mario Galaxy Birthday Cake?Does anyone have a picture of a Mario Galaxy birthday cake?
Use Glass Pudding Cups to Make MuffinsI've been buying blueberries on sale each week and baking two dozen wholewheat blueberry muffins. My husband and I have a bowl of cereal each morning and then enjoy a blueberry muffin along with our coffee.
Cake Decoration Pattern for Baby Trainers?Can you help me with a pattern for little trainers for my grandson's christening cake? I want to use them as a topper.
Measuring Flour When Baking?When following a baking recipe, do you measure the flour before or after sifting?
How Do I Make a Guitar Cake?I need to make a guitar cake, fast. It has to be easy. I have a party to do tomorrow and I am so sick. Please help.
Making Powdered Caramel Color for Baking?One of my bread recipes calls for caramel color. They said I can buy it, but its made from caramelized sugar. What do you do with it to make it into the powder form?
Making Brownies Without Eggs?I am looking for a recipe for brownies without eggs.
A Cookie Assembly LineCooking lots of cookies in a hurry can be challenging. Create as much counter space as you can. If you need to, you can use the dining room table with a piece of cardboard under each sheet of aluminum foil.
Sweetening Frozen Cranberries for Baking?I'm looking for a way to make frozen cranberries not so bitter tasting. I want to put it in a bread that makes it sweet tasting.
Pre-measure Dry Ingredients for BakingMeasure out the dry ingredients to make your holiday pies or cookies, placing them in zip lock bags. Be sure to label with what and how many (two pumpkin pies, 4 dozen lemon cookies, etc) this product is for, and store in the fridge or a cool, dry cupboard.
Methods for Cutting Baking Time?Can I raise the oven temperature to shorten baking time?
Making a Cake in a Mug?How can I make a cake in a mug, but using packaged cake mix?
Baking With Shaped Pans?I have a heart shaped metal pan. Actually there are six heart shapes in the pan. I want to make a simple valentine recipe. Could I use a cookie, cake, or cookie bar recipe from a box? Which would work best?
I Left the Cake Mix Open, Can I Still Use It?I opened a box of dry cake mix, put it in a bowl and left it out on the counter for two days. I didn't add any wet ingredients to it. Is it okay to still use it?
Dragees (Silver Ball) Cookie and Cake Decorations?Is anyone else having trouble finding "dragees"? These are the little silver balls for cookies and cake decorating.
Glaze Mix for Cake in a Mug?How much glaze mix do I put in the baggie for the cake in a mug recipe?
Different Types of Flour?Can someone tell me what the difference between bread flour, self rising, and regular flour?
Homemade Herman Bread?I am trying to make homemade Herman bread, but as soon as the heat hits it the top falls. This makes the whole loaf heavy and dense instead of light and fluffy. What am I doing wrong?
Drinking Glass to Emboss CookiesI found a heavy drinking glass that has a star shaped pattern on the bottom. I use it to press down peanut butter cookies at Christmas time. But you could use that kind of embossing on almost any kind of rolled cookie to leave an impression.
Vinegar for Flaky Pie Crusts?I want to make my pie crust with vinegar. Does anyone have this recipe?
Baking Frozen Homemade Pies?I'm freezing unbaked, homemade fruit pies. I would like to know if I can bake them from the freezer without thawing them and what oven temperature to use. Will my Pyrex take freezer to oven use? Thank you.
Fresh Baked Bread Had Plastic-Like Taste?I just baked some bread last night using yeast and it had a funny plastic-like aftertaste sprinkled throughout the loaf. What could be the cause? I kneaded it by hand and baked it in the oven.
Fondant Patterns?I am looking for fondant patterns for the Build-A-Bear Cakes, especially the Christmas pattern. If anyone has some, it sure would be great, or a web site that has free patterns. Thanks.Cricket Girl
Making a Doll Cake?How do you make those cakes that have the doll standing up in the middle of the cake. Thanks for the help folks.
Decorating Alien MuffinsA fun way to decorate muffins with dried fruit!
Calculating Cake Baking Time?I usually make a big Christmas cake (2lbs fruit, 6 eggs, 2 cups flour, etc., that usually takes a good two hours to cook, problem is, there are now only two of us, and we never get through it.
Best Apples for Pie?What do you consider the best apple to use for a really good Apple pie?
Use Mayonnaise Instead of Oil for Chocolate CakesUse mayonnaise instead of oil when baking a chocolate cake. The texture and taste are so much better!
Titanic CakeI am looking for a recipe for a titanic cake.
Cake Doesn't Rise in New Oven?My cake doesn't rise properly. It comes out flat with little bubbles throughout the top. Could it be aluminum pans (tried disposable foil and regular aluminum pan)? Does it make a difference gas vs. electric?
Tackle Box CakeThis is a birthday cake a friend (Denise) made for my husband, an avid fisherman. Yes, the fish were edible.
Baking in a Can?Any one know about baking cakes in a coffee or other can?
Top Baked Goods With Nuts Instead Of MixingWhenever a quick bread or muffin recipe calls for nuts (and often even when it doesn't), I put them on top of the batter in the pan instead of mixing them in.
"Grill" Decorated CakeThis is my grill cake I made for a cook out. I baked a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Then I used decorator frosting to make the grill. I purchased 3 chocolate mint patties to represent the hamburger patties.
Bean Cake Recipe?Does anyone have a recipe for bean cakes?
Breadmaker TipsIf you use a breadmaking machine as I do, here are a few tips that help me. Firstly, once a week I measure out my dry ingredients in large recycled (coffee) jars so I have enough bread mixes to last me a week.
Have Kids Decorate Their Own CakesOur Grandchildren were visiting last week. I wanted to do something different for their party. This was the highlight of the party (the children attending were 2, 3, 5, 6 and 12 years old).
Cake Ideas for a Newly Ordained Pastor?I'm looking for a unique saying for the top of a cake for a newly ordained lady pastor in our church. Thanks for your help.
Handbag Cake Recipe in Just 1-2-3!Totally tasty! A yummy gift for your loved ones. Make up cake using directions on packet and pour into a greased and lined 205x205mm square cake pan.
School Bus CakeA school bus cake I made for a school carnival. The bus is made from a loaf pan cake and the cab is a miniature loaf, the lights are spice drops cut in half, the driver, and children are HEB buddy graham crackers.
Best Pan CoatingSo you have decided to do a lot of baking. The best pan coating is as follows:
Make Bread for the Birds With Old Flour I found an old 5 pound bag of wheat flour that got lost in the back of the pantry. Not wanting to waste it I used it in my bread machine and made loaves of bread to put out for the birds.
Using Candy Melts on a Cake?I would like to use the candy melts to cover a cake. What can I add to the melts to keep them from hardening so much? I need them to dry so they won't stick to your hands while eating the cake.
Use A Cookie Scoop And Parchment Paper For CookiesSave yourself a lot of work by using a cookie scoop and parchment paper when baking cookies.
Decorate Holiday CupcakesI decorate cup cakes with cute little marshmallow holiday treats. I just make my own icing from powdered sugar (1 box), 1 cup Crisco, a few Tbsp. milk and 1 tsp vanilla flavoring.
Save Money By Baking Your Own BreadOne way to save quite a bit on food is to learn your way around baking yeast. You can find a whole pound of it for about $2.50 at little shops or places that sell in bulk and you use it a tablespoon at a time - it lasts for months in the refrigerator.
Add Chocolate Chips To Generic Brownie MixAny box mix of brownies can taste better when you add some inexpensive chocolate chips into the batter. I have bought generic chips at Krogers and Aldi and they both worked just fine! This makes the brownies richer, creamier and tastier. I add 1/2 bag to the mix.
The Perfect CookieI've had many friends and relatives ask me how I make my cookies so soft, when theirs all turn out rock hard. Laughing to myself, I explain to them how easy it is! All you need to do is cut (decrease) the recommended time for baking by 2-3 minutes AND set the cookie sheet(s) on cooling racks.
