Ever read an ingredient list, measure it out just right and have your baking not turn out? It might be because you missed a key step in the recipe. Here are my top 5 tips for reading a recipe.
My number one baking tip is to READ THE WHOLE RECIPE!
Ever wonder why when you search a recipe on Pinterest and then you have to scroll for what feels like hours just to find recipe? There is actually important information in there!
I used to skip it (fun fact: I am huge skimmer when it comes to reading) and then I would be surprised when it didn’t turn out. Then one day I finally read the recipe and it turns out that when it said. ½ cup of butter it was not all at once but divided.
This made WAY more sense.
Want to know my top tips for reading a recipe? Keep reading!
“Your brownies will not turn out the same in an 8×8” pan if you were supposed to use a 9×13” in one.”
Here are my top 5 tips when reading a recipe:
1. Read the ENTIRE recipe – reading twice is even a good idea! As per my story above it could be the difference in whether your baking turns out or not.
2. The ingredient list – the ingredients are usually listed in the order you need them in so take note of that. It will also usually indicate if something is “divided” (but not always which is why I started with step one). It will also spit them up into different components of your final product (ex. Cupcake Ingredients and Icing Ingredients).
3. How you should prepare your ingredients – does your butter need to be cold, room temperature or melted? Who knows! It won’t always say in the list so this again brings us back to step number one. Is there an ingredient that needs to sit for a period of time before you start? I can’t tell you how many times I have made my Chai Tea Cupcakes and EVERYTIME I forget I need to steep the Chai Tea for at least 20 mins before baking!
4. Any special tools needed? – Do you need anything specific for this recipe? Let me tell you that 8/10 times if it tells you that you need “fancy assorted baking tool” you can probably use something else you already have if you get a little creative. I will say though that you do want to know when it’s telling you things like what pan size to use – your brownies will not turn out the same in an 8×8” pan if you were supposed to use a 9×13” in one!
5. Order of steps – baking is a science and sometimes if you don’t go in the right order then it can be the reason the recipe doesn’t turn out (especially when there is baking soda involved!). My husband’s favourite dinner roll recipe calls or salt to be added last. This seems so bizarre to me. One time I decided I was smarter than the recipe and added it with the flour like I usually do and all I will say is that there is a reason it goes last.
These tips for reading a recipe are key to my success. Like I pointed out a few times when I don’t read the recipe it often doesn’t turn out.
“Instead of tasting like honey pretzel buns they tasted of store-bought honey oat (minus the oats). I learned my lesson… for a little while anyways.”
Let me know what tips you tried and how it turns out!
Is there something that you always pay attention to when trying a new recipe? Leave it comments – I’d love to know!
Books used in images: “Whiskey in a Teacup” by Reese Witherspoon and “Fraiche Food, Full Hearts : a collection of everyday and casual celebrations ” by Jillian Harris