In a world that’s all about the hustle, baking is one of life’s simple joys and sharing your tasty creations with those you care about really is a recipe for happiness.
Whether you’re a baking newbie who wants to learn to re-create a childhood favorite or an experienced kitchen wiz whipping up a new recipe you found on Pinterest, we’ve found five must-have baking products that will take your baking game to the next level.
Why we love baking
- Baking is both fun and rewarding. Baking brings you into the moment and there is a real pleasure in turning basic ingredients into something that is both beautiful and delectable.
- Baking is a money saver. Store-bought cakes and breads can be expensive, especially if you are looking for something more unique. Once you get the hang of baking basics though, you’ll be amazed at what you can make in your very own kitchen at a fraction of the cost.
- Baking allows you to unleash your creative side. Home cooks are using increasingly surprising ingredients. Chocolate cake flavored with Coca-Cola (it really is a thing!), or sweet treats with hints of lavender; there is no limit to where your imagination can take you.
- Baking makes people happy! Go ahead and treat yourself or share your homemade cookies and cakes with someone you love. Baked treats are a sure-fire way to put a smile on anyone’s face.
Even if you’ve never baked before, with a little practice and a few handy baking products you can unleash your inner master chef and start making rich, gooey chocolate brownies or freshly baked artisan bread that wouldn’t seem out of place in an upscale bakery.
Ready to get started? Read on to check out the top five baking appliances trending today.
1. Breville Handy Mix Scraper
While stand mixers are the ultimate in baking prep appliances, hand mixers are still a great tool to have in the kitchen, and when it comes to baking in smaller batches, they are the perfect, fuss-free way to get the prep work done.
Simple to use, this classic kitchen favourite has been updated with intuitive technology making it even easier to create heavenly, homemade snacks and treats. The Breville Handy Mix Scraper might be at a higher price point than other hand mixers but its clever design and features make it worth the investment.
Never baked before?
If you are new to baking, the range of appliances and must-haves out there can seem a bit overwhelming. A hand mixer is a great tool to get you started and with its intuitive technology the Breville Handy Mix Scraper takes some of the guesswork out of whipping up something delicious.
This device comes a range of accessories allowing you to customise your mixer to the task. It detects the inserted attachment and adjusts the speed accordingly meaning your cupcake batter will be smoothed to perfection and oven-ready, even if it’s your first ever baking attempt.
With 9 different speeds, this mixer can be used for a wide range of recipes, and unlike most hand mixers, it even has the power to knead different kinds of dough.
Stand-out features and accessories.
The folks at Breville are known as being leaders in the world of kitchen appliances and this mixer is no exception. The display panel includes a timer, which is useful for when your baking prep demands total precision, as well as a light underneath that gives you a clearer view of your ingredients as you mix them.
The included attachments — 2 scraper beaters, 2 dough hooks and 2 balloon whisks, allow you to work with a wider range of recipes than a standard hand mixer. All the attachments fit in a storage container that conveniently clips to the mixer, keeping everything together.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a stand mixer, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper is definitely the next best thing.
2. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
Benefits of stand mixer
Stand mixers are the ultimate in home baking appliances. At the press of a button, a stand mixer does the hard work for you, freeing your hands for other tasks. Stand mixers have the power and oomph to knead bread and pizza dough while their versatility means they can also be adjusted for lighter tasks like beating eggs and making icing that’s smooth as silk.
If baking is your passion and you are looking for a stand mixer that can handle any creation you can dream up, you really can’t go past the iconic KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. Loved by home-bakers for generations, with the right attachments there isn’t a lot this baby can’t do.
The ultimate go-to for dough.
The thought of baking your own bread can seem a little daunting, but it is seriously a lot easier than many people think. This stand mixer, with adjustable speeds, makes kneading dough super-efficient. Simply attach the dough hook and this mixer does most of the work for you.
Multi-purpose
While the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is an absolute star when it comes to home baking products, what really makes it stand out is its sheer versatility. Every stand mixer purchase includes a bowl, dough hook, whip and beater as standard — and these alone allow you to make just about any baked recipe out there with ease.
If you want to go beyond baking though, a few added accessories and attachments can take you there. Juices, fresh pasta, home-made sausages and ice-cream are just a taste of what you can create with this super easy-to-use appliance.
The iconic design, built to last quality and incredible versatility makes the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer a much loved baking appliance favourite. It’s no surprise that anyone that owns one wonders what they ever did without it.
3. KBS. Stainless Steel Bread Machine
Bread machines are the busy baker’s dream. All you do is measure your ingredients and throw them in. These clever appliances then do the rest. You can even set a timer, allowing you to wake up to the aroma of freshly baked, which sure beats a regular alarm.
The KBS Bread Machine is one of the best on the market and its range of functions allows you to do a whole lot more than make delicious, fresh bread.
Simple, fresh, delicious
If baking your own bread has been put in the too hard, (bread) basket, it’s time for a rethink. The KBS Bread Machine has a host of features that make creating artesian-style homemade breads a breeze.
The easy-to-use LCD touch panel makes choosing your program setting easy and there is a 15-hour delay timer, so you can pop your ingredients in after work and wake up to fresh bread the following morning. Heaven!
For fruit and nut breads, simply add your ingredients to the dispenser and they’ll be released into the dough at the exact right time, so you can’t go wrong.
Beautifully baked bread, customized.
Whatever bread you fancy, from sourdough to whole wheat to sweet breads, the 17 program settings allow you to bake almost anything, including gluten free bread. You can choose from a light, medium or dark crust and customise your loaf size. It comes with a recipe book to get you started so you’ll be eating your homemade, butter-slathered bread in no time.
Beyond bread
This multipurpose machine can be used to make a whole host of products including yogurt, jam, cakes and sticky rice. Imagine waking up to a breakfast of fresh baked, crusty French bread, covered in your own home-made jam. The versatility and ease of use of this machine makes it a must-have baking product for those who want the benefits of homemade bread but are a little short on time.
4. Ninja Ultra Prep Food Processor
Food processors aren’t usually the first kitchen appliances that spring to mind when making a list of baking item must-haves, but as a time-saver they can be really useful. With a bit of know-how and a little trial and error you might be surprised at how quickly you find yourself reaching for your food processor for a lot of your baking prep tasks.
With three different speeds, three interchangeable blades and plenty of power, the Ninja Ultra Prep Food Processor has an incredible range of uses while still being compact and easy to store.
Easy work for hard ingredients
Nut flours and butters are increasingly popular ingredients for the home baker — think cashew butter brownies or decadent cakes made with almond flour. Cakes and treats made from nut flours are a great gluten-free alternative, and with a Ninja Food Processor you can make these ingredients from scratch.
Freeze dried fruits add a tasty twist to your baked goodies and a food processor can grind these to a powder for fruit-infused frosting. Dried fruits can also be turned to puree in moments, ready to be added as a healthy sweetener for your cakes.
Cool down, chill out
Once the work is done and your creation is in the oven, you can sit back and enjoy a well-earned cold drink. The Ninja Ultra Prep Food Processor is renowned for its drink making ability. Throw in some of your favourite fruits, add a little ice and you’ll have the perfect smoothie in moments.
If you are looking to add a food processor to your stock of baking products, the Ninja range reigns supreme.
5. KLARSTEIN Lucia Rossa Kitchen Machine
The prep work for baking can involve a lot more than measuring and mixing. You might need to crush and grind nuts, knead dough or carefully blend frosting with fruit puree for just the right consistency. The Klarstein Lucia Rossa Kitchen Machine is a brilliantly handy, all-in-one that can replace several other items at once.
With 6-different speeds and a range of attachments this machine will perfectly peak your egg whites for meringue cookies or powerfully knead thick bread dough in no time.
Cakes and treats
Aeration, adding air bubbles to a mixture, is essential for producing cakes that are light yet still have good structure. Getting it right can mean the difference between a cake that tastes good, and a cake that tastes melt-in-your-mouth delicious. This machine takes the work out of whisking and beating, helping you create cakes that are gorgeously fluffy and moist.
Plenty to share
The 5.3-quart-bowl included with this machine is designed to make food to share.
If homemade pizzas are your thing, you can use this appliance to knead your dough to create a perfect base. Get some friends around, throw on your favourite toppings and you have the makings of the perfect night in.
What’s included
One of the great perks of this device is what comes included. All your standard baking prep items are there — dough hook, stirrer and eggbeater but there are a bunch of other features as well. Multiple meat grinding attachments and a sausage stuffer tube is included, as is a pasta making device.
This multi-function machine has you covered for every meal of the day and will have you cooking restaurant quality cuisine right in your very own home.
Our essential take-aways
If you are a kitchen novice just discovering the joy of baking, these appliances can get your delicious journey off to a flying start. Forget about Instagramable, perfect looking food and try your hand at baking for the joy of it, and for the mouth-watering results you can share with your family and friends.
For those more experienced bakers, there is almost nothing you can’t make with the items on this list.
All of these baking essentials are multi-function, so let out your inner-chef and get creative. With their many features and range of uses you’ll be creating a lot more than than cupcakes, and soon you’ll be wondering how you ever did without them.
The article is published by DealDash.
