10 Time-Saving Baking Hacks

You probably would like to bake more, but it sounds daunting. Maybe you do not even know where to start. You love the idea of spoiling your friends and family, but you do not have the time. At least not Monday through Friday. Here are 10 of my favorite tried-and-true tips that are guaranteed to save you time and ensure you reach for the measuring cup every weekend.

1. Parchment Pointer

When rolling piecrust, place dough between 2 sheets of
parchment or waxed paper. This avoids the flour mess and makes for a more tender
crust.

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2. True Trifecta

Chocolate, vanilla, and salt are made for each other. Use vanilla to give chocolate a smooth taste, and salt to enhance the chocolate taste and balance the
natural sweetness.

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3. Muffin Mastery

If you want your muffins to slide from the pan without sticking, place the hot pan on a wet towel first. They should slide right out.

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4. Take The Cake

For parties, don’t pre-slice your cake more than 20 minutes ahead or the cake will dry out.

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5. Embrace The Brown

When bananas turn brown, don’t toss them out. Peel and freeze them to use in banana bread later.

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6. Bounty Of Berries

Buy berries in season at a cheaper price. Freeze them on a cookie sheet and then place in zippered freezer bags. You’ll have perfectly frozen individual berries rather than a mushy mess.

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7. Soaking For Success

If raisins are called for in a recipe, try plumping them first. Measure the amount of raisins required by the recipe, cover with very hot water (not boiling) and allow them to soak and plump for 2 to 5 minutes.

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8. Rockin’ Raisins

Try soaking raisins in cola instead of water. Cola plumps them up and adds a delicious spiciness.

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9. Raisin Ratio

Raisins often sink to the bottom of the cake batter. When adding raisins to batter, stir only 1/4 of the recipe amount into the batter. Pour the batter into your pan and topit with the reserved raisins.

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10. Floating Fruit

When making blueberry muffins, toss fresh blueberries with a tablespoon of flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom. The flour helps them stick to the batter.

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