Category "baking"

Adding raw chia seeds to baked goods?

I have seen Chia Seeds used after being soaked in baking and other recipes, but could you just use them raw? I was thinking about replacing the poppy seeds in a

Crème brûlée without torch

Is it possible to finish a crème brûlée without a torch? Are there any other creative methods to get the sugar to crisp up on the top of thi

choux pastry, keep mixing while waiting for the roux to cool?

I made some choux pastry last night, however it didn't come out quite right for what could be various reasons. After making the recipe, I came on here loking f

Lowering oven temps

Can you start a cake at 350 F (180 C), then lower the oven to 325 F (160 C)? What happens to cake? Recipe calls for 350 but the recipe is old. Other recipes I

How does fat affect gluten development in strudel/phyllo dough?

I'd like to prepare a strudel/phyllo dough from scratch, and I have noticed that the recipe calls for about 10%-12% of olive oil mixed into the strudel dough.

Is there a food that is halfway between a cheesecake and regular cake?

While living in Korea, there was one special bakery I found that had a cake that I can only describe as being halfway between cheesecake and regular cake. It wa

Homemade pop tarts coming out too dry / crumbly

So I just recently attempted to make my own pop tarts using the recipe found here: http://rampantcuisine.com/cuisine/homemade-pop-tarts/ But the tarts came out

How far ahead of time can I make or bake a bread with fruit and honey in it?

I want to make several loaves of a honey-apple challah for Jewish friends for Rosh Hashanah. However I am going to be out if town for Labor Day weekend. If I

How to get a sourdough like effect without the hassle of a real sourdough starter?

I enjoy making bread, but the bread I make using standard yeast of course lacks that sourdough taste. But the process of making and maintaining a sourdough st

How does one use cocoa butter in cooking?

I'm experimenting with different vegan solid fats for baked goods, like pancakes. This fat isn't only solid at room temperature, it's hard as a rock even on a

Pineapple upside down cake alteration

I'm planning on baking a pineapple cake for my husband's birthday and the only recipes I find are for pineapple upside down cake. Can I use a pineapple upside d

Why do baking recipes call for instant coffee instead of fresh ground coffee?

I have seen many recipes for cakes, cupcakes, coffee buttercream, etc. that call for instant coffee than the freshly ground/brewed coffee because the instant co

Is baking powder the same thing as baking flour?

Are the two the same? I have no clue. A brief google search didn't provide much help. Update: Here's an example of baking flour

Can I use expired cream cheese spread?

I bought cream cheese (Milkana), didn't use it, and I found out it already expired on 5 August 2013 (over a month ago). Taste and smell are still good. Can I u

Why is milk powder used in bread machine recipes?

In a bread machine bread recipe, why is milk powder included? And is milk powder needed? I have baked several loaves without milk powder. When the bre

Do silicone baking mats come in 14x16" sizes?

I've really liked the non-stick silicone backing mats that I have. I use them all the time. They fit perfectly in our 12x16" jelly roll pans. My cookie sheet

How to substitute butter with combination of butter and shortening in cookie/biscuit making?

Sometimes when I bake cookies, they either come out too soft or they become rock hard. I have read somewhere that baking cookies with butter makes is spreadable

Looking to bake side dishes, having problems with dryness

When I cook my meat, I usually bake or broil it, I basically use the oven. I like using the oven to make the side dish while baking the meat. Usually the side

How to make biscuits having flaky texture even after using water in the dough?

Many people say that cookie dough having water or milk in it makes the end result quite rock hard, and many people told me to bind the dough entirely out of fat

Substituting hazelnuts for almonds, baking

I simply prefer hazelnuts to almonds, especially in sweet applications. I've been recently gifted with a pound of very nice bittersweet chocolate so I've decide