Category: Bake

JK Adams Tapered French Rolling Pin $17

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Ceramic Pie Weights $39

1. Use Pie Weights Correctly

It’s common knowledge that, when par-baking a pie crust, it’s important to weigh it down with dry beans, pie weights, or another heavy, heat-proof material. What I didn’t know is that those weights should not just cover the bottom of the crust—they should also go all the way up the sides, filling the pie dish completely. “We’re not only trying to weigh down the base of the crust so that it doesn’t puff up, we’re also trying to weigh down and support the sides of the crust,” Erin says. It’s a trick that stops the pie crust from slumping and sliding down the sides of the pan during baking.

5 Tools We Use to Make the Perfect Pie, Every Time

Pie season is here (did it ever leave?), and as you break out your pie dishes and rolling pins, you may decide it’s time to upgrade those tools you’ve been baking with for years (if not decades). Whether you’re still using the same pie dish you bought 15 years ago, or you’ve never owned one in the first place, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to refresh your pie-making toolkit in advance of the biggest pie day of all, Thanksgiving.

1. Rolling Pin

Yes, you could technically use a wine bottle to roll out a pie crust—we won’t stop you. But if you’re looking for an easier, more efficient experience, reach for a rolling pin. Whether you choose a tapered, French silhouette or a more classic, handled shape, we like ones made with sturdy, durable hardwood. Marble is another great option, as it has the added benefit of keeping your doughs cool—a must when making pies.

To Bake Like a Scandinavian, Reach for the Cardamom

“The smell of freshly ground cardamom is strong and pungent, and it reminds me of eucalyptus or menthol,” said Nichole Accettola, whose new book, Scandinavian From Scratch: A Love Letter to the Baking of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, hit shelves this we…

“The smell of freshly ground cardamom is strong and pungent, and it reminds me of eucalyptus or menthol,” said Nichole Accettola, whose new book, Scandinavian From Scratch: A Love Letter to the Baking of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, hit shelves this week. Admittedly, it’s a difficult flavor to describe, defying easy categorization. Like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, cardamom is considered a “warming” spice—but, depending on who you talk to (and the variety of cardamom you’re tasting), it can just as easily be described as “peppery,” “smoky,” “citrusy,” “sweet,” “fresh,” “resinous,” or “floral.”

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Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baking Sheets $24–$34

KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, 6QT $549.99

GIR Silicone Grip Whisks, Set of 2 $25

With origins in South India and grown today in India, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, the practice of using cardamom in cooking and medicine is not a new one. From the earliest recorded mention of the spice in Vedic texts from 3000 B.C. to its use as a perfume, aphrodisiac, and digestive aid in Ancient Greece and Rome, cardamom has, for the last thousand-or-so years, also maintained a stronghold in Scandinavia’s baking scene. “Historians trace its arrival in Scandinavia back to the Middle Ages, when the Moors settled in Spain and traders from the north got hold of the spice,” said Nichole. When used in baked goods, the spice “has a yellow citrusy (lemony-pomelo) pungency”—akin to lemon zest “but with even more depth in flavor.”

11 (Very) Different Ways to Make a Chocolate Chip Cookie

chocolate chip cookies are a highly personal thing, and what I’m not here to do is tell you that my ideal version is better than any others. Personally, I gravitate towards cookies that are made with browned butter, lots of salt, and feature crispy edg…

chocolate chip cookies are a highly personal thing, and what I’m not here to do is tell you that my ideal version is better than any others. Personally, I gravitate towards cookies that are made with browned butter, lots of salt, and feature crispy edges with a chewy center—but I know that for some people, a cakey, soft cookie, or even a nutty, whole-wheat iteration, is the ultimate goal. To recognize—and celebrate—the many forms that chocolate chip cookies can take, we’ve gathered 11 of our favorite versions, with each one suiting a different preference, baking style, or dietary need.

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Five Two Kitchen Utensil Collection $20–$99 $14.99–$99

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baking Sheets $24–$34

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1. For the Purist

If you want classic chocolate chip cookies (and you want them right now), reach for this Genius recipe from Tara O’Brady. There’s no rest or chilling time required, no unexpected mix-ins or techniques—just the best version of a simple, streamlined cookie.

How to Perfect Your Apple Crisp This Fall

It’s officially apple season—and that means it’s also apple crisp season. Though September might be too early in the year for apple crisp’s more formal, buttoned-up relative, apple pie (we’re saving those for Thanksgiving), there’s no reason all that seasonal fruit should go to waste. Crisps (and their oatless counterpart, crumbles) are an ideal, low-maintenance fall dessert. But, just because they’re simple and straightforward, it doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tricks that can turn a very good apple crisp into an excellent one. Here are five of our favorite tips for perfecting this classic fall dessert.

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Staub Enameled Cast Iron Traditional Deep Skillet, 11″

$249.99–$386

$179.99–$386

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Dansk Købenstyle Baker

$135

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Bamboo 7-Piece Nested Mixing Bowl Set

$60

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1. Use the right apples

You won’t get very far if you don’t start with the right ingredients. “I love a Granny Smith,” said Food Editor Emily Ziemski, “but any mix of heartier apples (such as Mutsu and Honeycrisp) will hold up nicely to baking.” You’ll want to avoid anything too soft, like a Red Delicious or McIntosh, she added, as those risk disintegrating and becoming mealy during baking. If you’re uncertain, you can’t go wrong with using a mix: Choosing a variety of apple types will yield a range of textures and flavors in each bite, from tart and firm to sweet and jammy.

From Our Shop

Staub Enameled Cast Iron Traditional Deep Skillet, 11" $249.99–$386 $179.99–$386

exclusive

Dansk Købenstyle Baker $135

Bamboo 7-Piece Nested Mixing Bowl Set $60

1. Use the right apples

24 Must-Have Gifts for Every Baker in Your Life

You know they love to bake in their spare time—but maybe you’re not exactly sure how to turn that fact into a perfect present this holiday season. Never fear: We’ve got you covered. Our Shop is filled with gift-ready baking essentials for any skill level and budget. To get you started, we’ve gathered 24 of our favorite options (grouped into five categories) for versatile, guaranteed-to-please baking gifts.

Baking Tools

For someone who’s really into baking, you can’t go wrong with giving them the tools they need to upgrade their cakes, pies, and cookies. A marble rolling pin—which helps buttery pastry dough stay cool—is a great option, and you can’t go wrong with staples like measuring cups and a digital scale.

Our 46 Favorite Fall Baking Recipes

We’re getting ready for fall in the best way we know how: by collecting inspiration for all of our upcoming baking projects. Fall is the start of the unofficial baking season—the weather cools down, activities turn indoors, and winter holidays appear on the horizon. It doesn’t hurt that the season is also associated with flavors that are particularly well-suited for baking, whether you lean towards apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice. We’ve gathered some of our favorite highly rated and fall-ready baking recipes and divided them into four categories: cakes and quickbreads, crisps, pies, and cookies. Without further ado, here are 46 baking projects we’re excited to tackle this fall.

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