It's baking season! Keep these essentials on hand
Successful baking starts with the right tools
Credit:
Reviewed / Dowan / Williams Sonoma / Di Oro
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When the weather starts to cool down and the days get shorter, all we can think about is getting cozy in the kitchen. After all, the season for entertaining is typically filled with homemade pies, cookies, and pumpkin-spiced treasures.
If you're ready to channel your inner baker this season, here are some essential baking tools you'll want to keep on hand to ensure you're prepared to get the best out of every recipe.
1. A reliable pie dish for Thanksgiving and beyond
This pie dish comes in festive colors like Rouge Red, Pumpkin and Sugar White—perfect for the upcoming holiday season.
Whether your go-to DIY fall dessert is apple, pecan, or classic pumpkin pie, you won't get far without a good pie dish. Our favorite Emile Henry pie dish outbeats competitors thanks to its durable ceramic build, stunning design, and large capacity.
This retro Americana pie dish is a classic kitchen staple that will produce perfectly shaped pies every time.
2. A Dutch oven for easy, foolproof bread
This Dutch oven is as functional as it is beautiful.
If you've decided to try your hand at homemade bread this season, you may want to start off with an easy recipe. Luckily, baking bread in a Dutch oven is relatively foolproof, requiring minimal kneading and hands-on work. If you don't already own a Dutch oven, we recommend investing in one from Made In, which boasts high-end French craftsmanship and excellent results without breaking the bank.
A good Dutch oven can make juicy pot roasts, fluffy breads and hearty soups.
3. A reliable kitchen scale for precision baking
Baking can be a breeze when you use a food scale.
Any seasoned baker knows that baking is a science, which means precision is key when it comes to measuring ingredients. That's why kitchen scales come in handy, especially when it comes to intricate cookie and cake recipes. We love the OXO Good Grips stainless steel food scale because it features an easy-to-read digital display and is easy to clean, thanks to its removable platform.
Every baking recipe calls for precise measurements: Using a kitchen scale saves time and mess.
4. A solid loaf pan for pumpkin bread
Got a craving for banana bread this fall? A good loaf pan helps ensure baking success.
Homemade pumpkin bread (or banana bread or gingerbread loaves, for that matter) is an easy-to-make seasonal staple and crowd-pleaser. But the quality of the loaf pan you use can make all the difference. We love the Rachael Ray Yum-o! Nonstick Loaf Pan because its reliable nonstick coating releases loaves easily (even without greasing it beforehand) and its large handles with silicone inserts make it easy to move in and out of the oven.
The perfect loaf is achievable with the help of a quality nonstick pan.
5. A stand mixer for hands-off mixing and kneading
If you’re big on aesthetics, you’ll appreciate that this standing mixer comes in a variety of vibrant colors.
The KitchenAid stand mixer is so iconic it's practically synonymous with baking. Although it's an investment, this kitchen tool can be a game-changer when baking anything from classic chocolate chip cookies to advanced sourdough and tricky macarons. It's also known for its longevity, which means even though it's a steep cost upfront, it will likely last for years (or decades) to come.
This KitchenAid stand mixer will help you produce the fluffiest whipped frosting and knead your dough to perfection.
6. A set of durable mixing bowls
This set of bowls comes with a few different sizes so you can prepare multiple items at once.
Don't be stuck mid-recipe without a tall-sided bowl for whipping homemade meringue. A sturdy set of mixing bowls, like our favorite stainless-steel Cuisinart bowls, are crucial for having ample space for whisking, whipping, and mixing. We love these lightweight and durable bowls because they feature comfortable rims for easy gripping and they come with lids. Best of all? They can be tossed right into the dishwasher after every use, and you never have to worry about them chipping or shattering.
While these Cusinart bowls are ideal for mixing, they also double as a useful storage set with tight-fitting lids to match.
7. A rolling pin for the best pie crusts and cookies
Easily roll dough with a top-notch tool like the J.K. Adams Maple wood rolling dowel.
Sure, you could try your hand at using an empty wine bottle to roll out homemade pie crusts or sugar cookies, but we prefer a real rolling pin for professional and even results. Namely, we reach for the J.K. Adams Maple Rolling Dowel, which holds flour well, is easy to control, and makes for consistently even dough.
A dowel-style rolling pin like this 19-inch maple wood rolling dowel makes for even dough rolling.
8. High-quality spices for tasty, fragrant results
Chances are, that one missing ingredient in your baked good is a dash of flavorful spice.
For the most mouthwatering pumpkin spice cake and gingerbread cookies, you need fresh, high-quality spices. That's why we love ordering from The Spice House, which takes freshness seriously and sources superior spices from around the globe. The Baker's Deluxe Collection includes all the basics and then some, from nutmeg and cloves to crystallized ginger nibs.
The Spice House’s Baker’s Dozen Set comes with a selection of premium spices for every dessert you want to craft.
9. A set of measuring spoons for spices and seasonings
No kitchen is complete without a handy set of measuring spoons.
Once you've got your spices on deck, you'll need reliable measuring spoons before you can get started. (Baking is a science, remember?) The Cuisipro Stainless-steel Measuring Spoon Set is our top pick for a few reasons: The measurements are etched on (and will never fade in the dishwasher), the tapered handles will leave them laying flat on surfaces, and the oval design makes them easy to fit into spice jars.
These stainless-steel measuring spoons are dishwasher safe so they’re built to last.
10. A reliable baking sheet for cookies, roasted veggies, and more
The Great Jones baking sheet comes in vibrant colors like Raspberry, Blueberry, Mustard, and more. Consider it part of your holiday decor.
Your go-to baking sheet is probably working overtime this season, used for everything from baking festive cookies to roasting butternut squash to warming up pastries. That means now is a great time to invest in a new one, namely, the Great Jones Holy Sheet, which boasts a nonstick ceramic coating that makes it great for baking sans troublesome sticking. Plus, it comes in a rainbow of vibrant colors that will make you want to show it off while entertaining.
These jewel-toned Great Jones sheet pans are stunning enough to bring straight to the table.
11. A silicone spatula for scraping every last bit of batter
Consider this nonstick, BPA-free utensil to be one of the safer options to cook with.
Don't let any of your hard work go to waste while baking! Make sure to scrape up every last bit of batter and dough with a reliable silicone spatula. We love the Di Oro Seamless Spatula because its one-side-curved, one-side-straight design helps with thorough mixing and bowl-scraping in one tool. Plus, it's heat-resistant up to 600°F and dishwasher-safe.
The Di Oro silicone spatula is durable enough to withstand up to 600°F for help with baking and cooking.
12. A wire rack for quick cooling
Cool your cookies, cakes, and brownies on this multi-purpose cooling rack.
Once you've achieved the best baking results, you have to follow it up with appropriate cooling. Without a wire rack, your baked goods could lose their desired crispy exterior or suffer from carryover baking while cooling. The Checkered Chef cooling rack is highly rated by consumers for its ample surface area and durable stainless-steel design.
The durable coating on this cooling rack from Checkered Chef can prevent rust and corrosion even after countless uses.
13. A set of ramekins for individual apple crisps (or your favorite dessert)
Not only are mini soufflés and crème brûlées tasty, but in ramekins they’re creative and adorable too!
Baking apple crisp is a must when the delectable fruit is in season. We especially love baking individual servings in attractive ramekins, which makes them even more fun to serve (or indulge in alone on your couch!). These porcelain ramekins are a great choice because they're made of a durable material that's oven-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe. Plus, they can be easily stacked for fuss-free storage.
A small ramekin can earn you major presentation points with your dinner guests.
14. A muffin pan for gloat-worthy cupcakes and popovers
Straight from Rachel Ray’s kitchen to yours comes the Yum-o! Muffin Pan.
Whether you have dreams of pumpkin streusel muffins, gingerbread cupcakes, or fluffy popovers, you won't get far without a sturdy muffin pan. Rachael Ray's Yum-o bakeware takes the cake (literally) here again, thanks to a design that's lightweight, easy to clean, and reliably nonstick. Plus, it yielded some of the best popover results during testing.
If you’re a muffin and cupcake enthusiast, this nonstick muffin tin will be your new best friend.
15. Fall themed cookie cutters to impress guests
Nothing welcomes in the holiday baking season like festive cookies.
Fun-shaped cookies shouldn't be reserved for gingerbread men at Christmas. This set of fall impression cutters can be used to decorate pumpkin pies, shape homemade cookies, or even make savory homemade crackers. With shapes of leaves, pumpkins, and apples, you can enjoy these tools all autumn long.
Enjoy fun autumn shapes like leaves, acorns and pumpkins in this seasonal set.
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