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Baking Fundamentals

These posts are all deep dives into the fundamentals of baking.

I have some posts explaining hard-to-explain ideas, such as What Does it Mean to Salt to Taste and How to Pair Flavors.

There are some posts comparing and contrasting different baking terms, such as What is the Difference between Butterscotch and Caramel and What’s the Difference Between Pies and Tarts.

Some posts answer questions: Do I Have to Sift Flour? How do I Scald Milk?

And don’t miss my tips posts including Cooking 101: Ten Tips to Make You a Better Cook and Must-Have Tools for Serious Bakers.

How to Temper Eggs (And Why)

Tart vs Pie/Pie vs Tart: Similarities and Differences

Tart vs Pie/Pie vs Tart: Similarities and Differences

A glass mixing bowl of chocolate mousse with a spoon in it.

Why Is My Chocolate Mousse Grainy (and How to Prevent It)

A ramekin of dry yeast spilling onto a wooden surface.

What Does Yeast Do In Bread Baking?

Cheese Plate Ideas | How To Serve a Cheese Platter

Cheese Plate Ideas | How To Serve a Cheese Platter

A high-angle shot of whipped cream in a glass bowl with a whisk.

How to Whip Cream by Hand Like a Pro

Apple Butter Vs Applesauce | Similarities and Differences, Recipes, and More!

Apple Butter Vs Applesauce | Similarities and Differences, Recipes, and More!

What Is the Difference Between Butterscotch and Caramel?

What Is the Difference Between Butterscotch and Caramel?

How to Fix Broken Ganache (without changing its texture)

How to Fix Broken Ganache (without changing its texture)

How to Pair Flavors: A Comprehensive Flavor Pairing Guide

How to Pair Flavors: A Comprehensive Flavor Pairing Guide

What Does It Mean To Salt To Taste?

What Does It Mean To Salt To Taste?

Do I Really Have to Sift Flour? | Fundamental Friday

Do I Really Have to Sift Flour? | Fundamental Friday

A Pastry Chef’s List of Must-Have Tools for Serious Bakers

A Pastry Chef’s List of Must-Have Tools for Serious Bakers

How to Choose the Right Kind of Flour

How Do I Choose The Right Kind of Flour for #Fundamental Friday

An image of a kichen scale with the parts labeled.

How to Use a Food Scale (and Why)

How to Scald Milk

What Is Scalded Milk? | How to Scald Milk

A glass jar with brown butter in it on a blue plate.

How to Make Browned Butter

Baking by Hand

Must-Own Baking Cookbooks To Make Your Library Complete

orecchiette

Cooking 101: Ten Basics to Make You a Better Cook

Baking Tips from a Professional Pastry Chef

Baking Tips from a Professional Pastry Chef

The Creaming Method for Making Cakes and Cookies

Dreamsicles and Creamsicles: What’s the Difference and Where to Find Them

Seven Cool Whip Substitutes | Alternatives to Cool Whip

Two glazed buttermilk muffins with a blue bowl of muffins in the background.

Your Friendly Baking Troubleshooting Guide

A stack of cocoa fudge with nuts on beige parchment paper.

The Science of Making Fudge

Ingredient Function | Fat: What It Does and How It Works

Hi! Iโ€™m Jenni Field

So Happy you are here. Iโ€™m a passionate cook and baker. After teaching special education for 16 years, I left teaching and attended the Orlando Culinary Academy in 2005-2006.

Now Iโ€™m here to teach you the โ€œwhysโ€ behind the โ€œhowsโ€ of cooking and baking. Once you learn those fundamentals, youโ€™ll be more relaxed and more creative in the kitchen. Let me help you be fearless in your kitchen!

Read More about me

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Trending Recipes

A sliced loaf of cinnamon raisin bread on a cutting board with a bread knife and a jar of ground cinnamon in the background.

The Best Cinnamon Raisin Bread Recipe

A white paper tray of 12 slider buns filled with poppy seed and butter filling, ham, and cheese.

The Best Ham Biscuits

Crispy, Crunchy, Homemade Butterfinger Recipe

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Easy Penne alla Vodka Recipe (with Jarred Sauce)

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My Top 5 Secrets to Becoming Fearless in the Kitchen

Plus weekly new recipes, how-tos, tips, tricks, and everything in between

Latest Recipes

A stack of beige candy bars flecked with toasted coconut on a blue plate. There are 3 wrapped, store bought Zagnut bars in the background.

Homemade Zagnut Recipe

A bowl of bucatini carbonara topped with crispy bacon and black pepper on a blue napkin with a knife and fork in the foreground.

Bucatini Carbonara (with Bacon)

A stack of 3 pancakes with syrup pouring over them.

Overnight Pancakes (Yeast-Raised, Easy)

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Creamy Baked Shells and Cheese

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  • About
    • Work with Me
    • FAQ
    • What Does a Pastry Chef Do?
  • Recipe Index
  • by Type
    • 8 Ingredient Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread and Rolls Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments and Jams
    • Meat
    • Poultry
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Stew
    • Vegetarian Meals
  • Savory
    • Burger Recipes
    • Meat
    • PIzza Recipes
    • Poultry
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Stew
  • Sweet
    • Butterscotch Recipes
    • Cake Recipes
    • Candy Recipes
    • Cheesecake Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Cobblers, Crisps and More
    • Cookies and Bars
    • Custard and Pudding Recipes
    • Dessert Sauces
    • Ice Cream Recipes
    • Icings, Frostings and Fillings
    • Individual Desserts
    • Muffins and Quick Breads
    • Pastry Dough
    • Pies and Tarts
    • Pound Cake Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Mother’s Day Recipes
    • New Years’ Recipes
    • Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Valentine’s Day Recipes
  • Family Recipes
  • Baking Resources
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Legal Disclosures
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