Read This Before You Start Baking This Holiday Season

*this post contains an affiliate link to my favorite baking sheets

‘Tis the season to get back in the kitchen for some holiday baking!

If you’re ready to dive right in, STOP RIGHT THERE!

Before you even think about pulling out your beloved recipe book, here are a few helpful baking tips that’ll make your desserts the star of the party:

• Make a surprisingly delicious cake using a box mix by making these small adjustments:

  • • Did you accidentally over-bake your cake?  Pudding will actually cure any dried out cake. Poke a holes into the top of your cake.  Whip up a batch of pudding and as the pudding is still warm, pour it over your cake. Refrigerate for a couple of hours and you will have a decadent and rich cake…no one will ever know it was over-baked.
    • Add an extra egg. Adding an extra egg to your cake mix will make your cake slightly more dense, more moist and less likely to crumble!
    • Substitute any oil required with butter. Real butter makes your cake SO moist!
    • If you are looking for healthy fats, or for less fat, consider replacing the oil in your recipe with either applesauce or a mashed avocado. You now have a healthier cake.

• Separating egg whites from the yolks
  

for some of your favorite traditional recipes doesn’t have to be difficult, all you need is an empty water bottle! After cracking your eggs into a bowl, take an empty water bottle, holding the mouth up to the yolk and release the pressure on the bottle. It sucks the yolk right up.

• Coat added elements like fruit and chocolate with flour
  

before adding them into your batter. This way, these bits will stay evenly distributed in your batter instead of sinking to the bottom.

• Don’t over mix your batter!

(I’m guilty of this one) Did you know that Over-mixing your batter leads to too much air being incorporated which will cause gummy or chewy pastries? Be sure to only mix until all ingredients are combined, and that’s it.

• Toss your old ingredients.

Many baking ingredients such as flour, baking soda and baking powder have relatively short life spans. Before you start baking, be sure to check the expiration date!

• Baking soda can expire as soon as 6 months after being opened!

• Self-rising flour can expire in 4-6 months after purchase.

• Baking powder typically expires 9 months after opening.

These are my FAVORITE baking sheets, they’re versatile and are the perfect thing to add to your holiday wish list. Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch® Pro nonstick Half Sheet