Get to know the lingo
Before you begin you should know some words and terminology which come up often in the baking world.
All-purpose Flour:
Also called white or original flour.
Baking Powder:
Helps cakes and cookies rise (but it's not the same as baking soda).
Baking Soda:
Helps cakes and cookies rise.
Beat:
Using a mixer or whisk, stir rapidly until ingredients are well mixed.
Brown Sugar:
Brown sugar is made from refined sugar and molasses. Make sure your brown sugar is soft so that it can be firmly packed into a dry measuring cup.
Butter:
Let your butter stand at room temperature for several hours to soften. Always use unsalted butter for recipes.
Cool:
To allow warm/hot baked goods to sit at room temperature.
Eggs:
For best results use large eggs – most recipes are developed using them.
Fold:
Use a spatula to gently mix ingredients together by cutting down the bottom of the bowl with the spatula, sliding it under the mixture and bringing it back up. Repeat.
Icing Sugar:
Also called confectioners' sugar or powdered sugar.
Preheat Oven:
Set oven to indicated temperature before baking.
White Sugar:
Also called granulated sugar.
All-purpose Flour:
Also called white or original flour.
Baking Powder:
Helps cakes and cookies rise (but it's not the same as baking soda).
Baking Soda:
Helps cakes and cookies rise.
Beat:
Using a mixer or whisk, stir rapidly until ingredients are well mixed.
Brown Sugar:
Brown sugar is made from refined sugar and molasses. Make sure your brown sugar is soft so that it can be firmly packed into a dry measuring cup.
Butter:
Let your butter stand at room temperature for several hours to soften. Always use unsalted butter for recipes.
Cool:
To allow warm/hot baked goods to sit at room temperature.
Eggs:
For best results use large eggs – most recipes are developed using them.
Fold:
Use a spatula to gently mix ingredients together by cutting down the bottom of the bowl with the spatula, sliding it under the mixture and bringing it back up. Repeat.
Icing Sugar:
Also called confectioners' sugar or powdered sugar.
Preheat Oven:
Set oven to indicated temperature before baking.
White Sugar:
Also called granulated sugar.