5 Essential Baking Tools for Making Holiday Treats

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1. Mixers
Every baker needs a quality mixer in their kitchen. With this efficient tool, you can give your arms a break and mix ingredients for your favorite holiday doughs with the push of a button. Whether you’re making a holiday pie or classic sugar cookies, a proper mixer allows you to control speed so you can get the best texture for your treats.
For small tasks, like whipping cream, mixing icing or beating eggs, a hand mixer is the baking tool for the job. Just place the whisks into your mixing bowl to get fast speeds with handheld control. But if you plan on making large batches or working with heavier doughs, you’ll want a sturdy stand mixer. This hands-free device lets you mix or knead your ingredients to the right consistency, so you can focus on other holiday baking tasks while your dough comes together.
2. Food scales and measuring tools
Ask any professional baker how to be successful in the kitchen, and they’ll tell you it’s all about precision. For baking novices and experts alike, following a recipe exactly can ensure your creations come out just right. That’s why it’s a great idea to have holiday baking supplies, like food scales and other measuring tools, handy for your holiday baking.
Classic measuring tools like tablespoons, teaspoons and cups can help you follow the recipe and achieve proper ingredient ratios. Although, if you really want to take your baking to the next level, using a food scale allows you to measure your ingredients by weight for an even more precise result. Food scales can also make baking easier since you don’t have to worry about packing or leveling off ingredients.
3. Choppers, slicers and peelers
If you’re planning on baking with fresh ingredients this holiday season, do yourself a favor by investing in time-saving choppers, slicers and peelers. These items let you take the hard work out of prepping an apple pie, making a fruit crumble, or dicing nutty toppings.
When shopping for baking tools that can chop, slice and peel, you’ll have a few choices. Handheld tools can be a good option if you have the time and want to add any delicate details. But if you’re hoping to chop your ingredients quickly, a food processor can help you slice and dice in a flash. You can also find models with larger compartments so you can prepare large batches just as easily.
4. Bakeware
When preparing for the holidays, it’s essential to have the right bakeware. Depending on what you’re baking up, you may need a flat sheet or a curved pan so that your creations cook evenly and come out in the right shape.
For fruit cakes, loaves and holiday muffins, you’ll need the appropriate baking sheets. With various options, you can find non-stick bakeware pans in many standard sizes. Or, if you plan on baking holiday cookies, making peanut brittle, or roasting nuts, you’ll want a large enough baking sheet. You can find flat cookie sheets or baking sheets with a taller lip for thicker treats like blondies and brownies. And if you think you’ll be baking a selection of different holiday sweets and treats this year, you can’t go wrong with a bakeware set that comes with a variety of pans and baking sheets.
5. Specialty appliances
If you have a specific holiday baked good in mind, you may be able to find a specialty appliance that can do it for you. For example, acquiring a bread machine can help you make homemade loaves for the main course or dessert. With convenience in mind, some bread makers allow you to bake your dough while you sleep so you can wake up to the sweet smell of bread in the morning.
Some holiday baking ideas may require more niche novelty appliances to make your treats. A donut maker can help you make golden-browned donuts without needing to deep fry. Or you can try out a cake pop maker for homemade and tasty holiday stocking stuffers.