Baking How-to

Yeast is the magical component of baking that makes dough rise. But there are lots of kinds out there. Which one is right for your recipe?

By Lauren David

Mayonnaise is the best baker's secret ingredient. Why? Because its simple emulsion of egg, oil and acid is vital to most baking recipes.

By Suzie Dundas

Some of the best breads are leavened using yeast. But how does this tiny microbe make bread rise? And why is it so intimidating when it comes to baking?

By Stephanie Vermillion

While many home bakers, including most Americans, measure out flour and other ingredients with a cup, experts say you should ditch that cup for a scale. Here's why.

By Alia Hoyt

Both are essential fats for baking, but they bring different flavors, textures and even appearances to the end product. So is one better than the other?

By Stephanie Vermillion

Don't know your cake flour from all-purpose? The difference is subtle but the end result is huge.

By Jeremy Glass

If you've taken up baking, and don't know AP flour from self-rising we'll explain the difference. Because the final product is only as good as the flour you put into it.

By Jeremy Glass

In an effort that would have made Marcel Proust proud, our writer goes into the kitchen in search of the perfect hump on the perfect little confection, the madeleine.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

No yeast to bake bread? No problem. You can start baking sourdough bread in about a week once you've made your own sourdough starter. We'll tell you how.

By Stephanie Vermillion

American viewers of the hit "The Great British Baking Show" might be confused by the challenge for "Biscuit Week." We break down how the American biscuit is vastly different from the British version.

By Dave Roos

Everyone loves getting holiday cookies. But nobody loves getting cookie crumbles. So how do you ship your cookies so they don't break?

By Shaun Chavis

Cupcakes are a perfect dessert or anytime sweet treat. And they're great food for parties and celebrations because these days, you can make a cupcake look and taste like just about anything.

By Caitlin Uttley

Nowadays, you don't have to be invited to a wedding reception to see a really creative cake. Inventive decorating techniques are letting even novice cake decorators build innovative cakes.

By Sara Elliott

Whether you're baking a cake for a child's birthday or as a housewarming gift for friends, you want the cake to look as good as it tastes. These essentials will help you achieve confection perfection.

By Chris Obenschain

When you think of cake, the usual suspects come to mind: butter, sugar, flour, eggs and maybe some chocolate. But would you consider adding hot peppers, soda, or even some pasta to your baking masterpiece?

By Emilie Sennebogen

The perfectly iced little cakes you buy at your local bakery make cupcake baking seem like a snap. But when you try to bake your own, you end up with lumpy cakes smeared with runny icing. Where did you go wrong?

By Alia Hoyt

There are many ways your cookies can go wrong. From the cookies merging together on the sheet to the bottoms burning to an undesirable shade of black, the bottom line is baking isn't easy. But these tips may help!

By Amanda Arnold

Upon a base of pastry dough, many irresistible creations have been made. But a pie with a tough crust won't win you any awards.

By Heather Kolich

Baking powder is an essential ingredient when preparing and making baked goods. As a leavening agent it gives volume and a fluffy texture to muffins, breads and cakes.

Vanilla sugar is sugar that has been flavored with a vanilla bean. It can be made from scratch or found at gourmet stores. Read this article to learn more about vanilla sugar.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

Baking yeast, which comes in three varieties, is used for baking bread. Learn more about baking yeast here, including the differences between the 3 types you would find in a grocery store.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

A water bath is used when cooking foods that require a moist cooking environment, like custards and puddings. Learn more about how to make one in your own home.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

Every baker wants to make a perfect batch of cookies. In order to make the perfect batch, you need to know a little more than how to just 'mix and bake'. Check out our questions about making cookies and find hints and tips for common cookie problems.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

Baking powder is a leavener that makes baked goods rise and is similar to baking soda. Their properties are slightly different, so one should not be substituted for another. Learn how to use and store baking powder in this article.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine

In today's fast-paced world, who has time to bake delicious brownies, biscuits, and other desserts from scratch? Luckily there are plenty of baking mixes available for making quick desserts that taste like you spent hours baking. Read more.

By the Editors of Easy Home Cooking Magazine