Unless you eat out for every meal, chances are you are in the kitchen at least a couple nights a week cooking and meal prepping. During the holidays we tend to be a little busier baking and creating elaborate meals to share with family, friends, and co-workers.
Throughout the year, as well, there are occasions where we’re creating yummy desserts and bread to share (or maybe you just had a craving–no judgment!).
When the time comes to get in the kitchen and bake, it’s always easier to do it if you have the right supplies. Here are the 11 baking accessories you should invest in so you’re ready when that 10 p.m. brownie craving hits.
5-Quart Stand Mixer
A hand mixer beats a spoon, and a stand mixer beats the hand mixer! Any time you’re making something that needs to be mixed for more than a minute or two, a stand mixer is going to be super convenient.
KitchenAid is pretty much every baker’s favorite brand! You can pick one up for a couple hundred bucks and it should last a long, long time. It’s definitely one of the top investments you can make. You can also add many different attachments to get the most out of this tool.
Spoon-shaped Spatula
A spoon-shaped spatula is the best of both worlds. Not only can you use it to mix up your ingredients, but it can also scrape off anything from the side of your bowl or be used to scoop things like brownie mix into your baking dish. Here’s a good option by Rubbermaid.
Pyrex Measuring Cups
Another old-faithful brand, Pyrex Measuring Cups are not only sturdy, but they’re also convenient. Use them to measure liquids, melt butter in them, or use them to mix up pancake batter. You can’t go wrong by picking up one or two sizes of these measuring cups.
Cooling Rack
If you’re planning on making cookies, you’re going to need a cooling rack. A cooling rack serves two purposes. It lets the cookies cool more quickly by letting air circulate around them. And, it also prevents the steam from escaping the cookies and soaking the bottoms.
Candy Thermometer
If you’re getting serious about any kind of cooking, a thermometer is a must-have. If you’re baking, a candy thermometer with a clip ensures you have the right temperature. This is critical for some more finicky items, like jams and candies. You can also make sure you have perfectly lukewarm water for your yeast.
Silicone Baking Mats
While parchment paper works, too, a silicone baking mat is a reusable mat that makes your baking sheets non-stick. Works with cookies as well as taffy and candies. This mat also works when roasting veggies, too! It’s handy all over your kitchen!
Offset spatula
For a lot of baked goods, icing is a part of the process. An offset spatula is one of the tools that will make this much easier! Easily scoop up your icing and smooth it out on the surface of your cake. It can also be used for other purposes too, such as sliding cookies off a baking sheet.
Dough Scraper
If you’re a fan of making bread and other baked goods that have a dense dough, a dough scraper is a great tool–and one of the cheapest to pick up, too. Use it to scrape the bowl or your countertops clean and get all that dough into your loaf. You can also use it cut and portion up your dough.
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
Unlike plastic bowls, stainless steel mixing bowls don’t stain or absorb odors. You can use them for so many things: mixing batter, putting together a salad, for serving, for marinading, letting your dough rise, and more. These are definitely a staple in any kitchen.
Sifter
A flour sifter is one of those tools that it seems like you wouldn’t need but is actually pretty important. A sifter helps “fluff” up and mix any finely powdered ingredients. It removes clumps and makes sure the consistency of your flour, powdered sugar, or other ingredient is right before you blend it into your dough or batter.
Baking Ramekin
Ramekins are a cute all-purpose serving ware. You can use them to pre-measure out your ingredients for a smooth baking process, to serve up cute deserts or appetizers, or as a bowl for dips and topping. These white ceramic ramekins are microwave safe, oven safe, and freezer safe too!
There you have it, our list of most-necessary baking accessories. Did we leave something off the list? Let us know what tool you can’t live without in your kitchen!