What is the one big rule in baking?

Read the Recipe Through Completely At the risk of sounding way too basic, this one deserves repetition. You must read and re-read your recipes before beginning anything. Human error, even for the best bakers, can get in the way and ruin your entire endeavor.

375-400 F: Shorter term baking or roasting favors a slightly higher temperature to ensure crisp edges to cookies or bubbling golden cheese . This is also the perfect roasting temperature for chicken to ensure golden, crispy skin.

What is the secret ingredient in a cake recipe?

“ Vinegar is a secret ingredient that can make your cakes light and fluffy .” One of the great things about using vinegar in cakes is that it's versatile. You can incorporate it into various cake recipes, from classic chocolate cakes to fruity variations.

What ingredient in baking causes the baked good to rise?

Leavening Agents Baking powder combines baking soda and cream of tartar and reacts with liquid to produce carbon dioxide gas, which makes the batter rise. Baking soda, on the other hand, needs an acidic ingredient, such as buttermilk or lemon juice, to react and produce carbon dioxide gas.

Which is the strongest flour?

Bread Flour : With a protein content of 12 to 14 percent, bread flour is the strongest of all flours, providing the most structural support.

What does milk do in baking?

Milk is a nutrient-rich white fluid secreted from the mammary glands of female mammals. In baking, it moistens batter or dough, and adds protein, color and flavor to baked goods .

What is the cheapest ingredient in baking?

Explanation: Water is considered the cheapest ingredient in baking.

What is the most common mistake in baking?

One of the most common baking mistakes is using ingredients that are either too cold or too hot . Room-temperature ingredients are typically best for baking, so if your recipe calls for butter, eggs, or milk at room temperature, make sure to set them out ahead of time.

What are the 4 principles of baking?

There are 6 main principles of baking: wet ingredients, dry ingredients, leavening agents, flavoring, heat, and different mixing methods .

What is the most important rule in baking cookies?

Get Your Flour Power on This is the most important tip when it comes to knowing how to bake cookies. You MUST measure the flour correctly. Adding too much flour will make your cookies tough and dry. In fact, you should reduce the flour by 1/4 cup!

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (2024)

People don’t talk about it, but July is actually one of the best months to bake. The market is overflowing with fruit that shines in everything from cobbler to shortcakes, plus there are opportunities to bake on the grill or enjoy childhood favorites outdoors. Here’s what you should bake (or in some cases, freeze!) this month.

1) Blueberry Shortcakes with Lime and Ginger

Summer instantly conjures dreams of strawberry shortcakes, but this year, zig where everyone else zags and go with blueberry shortcakes instead. These are taken to a whole next level thanks to the addition of lime and ginger, which add sharpness that cuts through the sweetness of the berries. One smart trick to this recipe: The shortcakes are made with a portion of almond flour for extra tenderness.

Get the recipe:Blueberry Shortcakes with Lime and Ginger

Shop the recipe:Almond Flour

2) Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

We’d argue that few things are more crowd-pleasing than an oversized chocolate chip cookie. This super-sized version is baked in a skillet for extra-crispy edges and a pleasingly gooey center. To serve, cut into wedges and top with vanilla ice cream, or simply add a few scoops of ice cream to the center of the skillet, hand out spoons, and let everyone dig in.

Get the recipe:Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Shop the recipe:Our favorite chocolate chips

3) Lemon-Blueberry Streusel Pie

If you stock your freezer with pie dough, summer fruit pie is always within reach. This single-crust beauty has a tart lemon filling, a layer of fresh blueberry compote, and, to gild the lily, some cinnamon streusel on top. Looking for a contender for your local pie contest? Here it is.

Get the recipe:Lemon-Blueberry Streusel Pie

Shop the recipe:The essential pie pan

4) Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars (Millionaire's Shortbread)

This bar is a beloved classic, and it’s easy to see why: Buttery, snappy shortbread lies beneath gooey caramel and rich chocolate. Each component is fabulous on its own, but combined in one bite? It’s somehow even more than the sum of its parts.

Get the recipe:Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars (Millionaire’s Shortbread)

Shop the recipe:Our go-to chocolate wafers

5) No-Bake French Silk Pie

Most chocolate pies are rich and heavy. But ifyou’re looking for something a little on the lighter side, choose this French Silk Pie instead. It has whipped cream folded into the filling, resulting in a fluffy, creamy, chocolatey pie. And the best part? Because it’s made with a press-in chocolate cookie crust, the pie is entirely no-bake.

Get the recipe:No-Bake French Silk Pie

Shop the recipe:More chocolate wafers!

6) Margherita Pizza

No one needs an excuse to throw a pizza party during the summer, but if you’re still looking for one, this new Margherita Pizza recipe is it. Made with '00' pizza flour, the crust is chewy and flavorful; a pizza stone or steel helps it bake to leopard-spotted perfection.

Get the recipe:Margherita Pizza

Shop the recipe:'00' Pizza Flour

7) Chocolate Zucchini Cake

It’s inevitable: Whether you’re growing it yourself or it’s foisted upon you by neighbors, at a certain point this summer you’re going to have too much zucchini. And when that day arrives, you’re going to grate it, mix it with chocolate, and make a cake. This fudgy delight gets a flavor boost from both cocoa and espresso powder, along with a simple icing made from chocolate chips and cream.

Get the recipe:Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Shop the recipe:9" x 13" pan

8) Monster Cookies

Oversized and full of savory and sweet mix-ins, these Monster Cookies will be on your baking rotation all summer long. The base of the cookie combines the best of oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chip cookies, then adds salty pretzels and chocolate candies to create a chunky cookie that’s impossible to resist. These cookies are not only easy to make but also generously sized, making them perfect for sharing (or, let’s be honest, still enjoying solo). 

Get the recipe:Monster Cookies

Shop:A chip blend with every kind of chocolate

9) Easy Cake-Style Fruit Cobbler

Pie gets a lot of love, but summer is also cobbler season. This recipe is dead simple and infinitely customizable. You can use any kind of fruit or combination of fruits that you’d like (even frozen works!), then toss with sugar, cornstarch, salt, and lemon juice. Pour on a simple one-bowl cake topping — prepared with melted butter for speed and ease — then bake until hot and bubbling. Using self-rising flour in the topping streamlines things even further.

Get the recipe:Easy Cake-Style Fruit Cobbler

Shop the recipe:Self-Rising Flour

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (10)

10) Chocolate Biscuits

For some people, it’s always chocolate season. Embrace it with this dessert-friendly biscuit, made with Triple Cocoa Blend and mini chocolate chips, plus a little espresso powder to really amp up the chocolate flavor. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy bake with minimal cleanup, these are drop biscuits, which means there’s no rolling or cutting necessary. Eat them plain or turn them into shortcakes with fresh whipped cream and the fruit of your choice.

Get the recipe:Chocolate Biscuits

Shop the recipe:Triple Cocoa Blend and Mini Chocolate Chips

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (11)

11) Quick Lemon Bread

This cake-like quick bread comes together with just about 20 minutes of prep time and will satisfy any lemon craving. Lemon oil and lemon juice give the batter some zing, while the bright lemon glaze adds an extra burst of tanginess.

Get the recipe:Quick Lemon Bread

Shop the recipe:Lemon Oil

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (12)

12) Homemade Marzipan

If you’re looking for an all-purpose marzipan recipe, this is it. But that’s not why you should make marzipan this month. The real fun here is contributor Camilla Wynne’s whimsical marzipan fruits. Colored with natural food dye, the marzipan can transform into strawberries, lemons, apricots, pears, and more. Better make a double batch to maximize your fun.

Get the recipe:Homemade Marzipan

Shop the recipe:Almond Flour and Natural Food Colors Set

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (13)

13) Iced Coffee Icebox Cake

The icebox cake is a summer staple. This version marries coffee and chocolate for a creamy, dreamy combination. Bake your own cookies with black cocoa for an extra-dark appearance or take a shortcut and use store-bought. The espresso-spiked cream between them will make things fabulous either way.

Get the recipe:Iced Coffee Icebox Cake

Shop the recipe: Black Cocoa and Espresso Powder

The 14 best recipes to bake in July (14)

14) Grilled Asiago Rounds

Fire up the grill for flatbreads this summer. This simple dough uses semolina flour for extra chew and is seasoned with grated asiago cheese. Serve with dips for a fire-kissed appetizer or sliced tomatoes and kebabs for a heartier meal.

Get the recipe:Grilled Asiago Rounds

Shop the recipe:Semolina Flour

Cover photo by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.

Additional contributions from Jessica Battilana.