Are you a beginner baker or want to try your hand at baking? In this baking tips post, I will provide you with my top Best Baking Supplies for Beginner Bakers!
Best Baking Supplies for Beginner Bakers
Do you feel overwhelmed by the thought of baking? Are you nervous to start because you feel like there is too much measuring? Or are you concerned that you don’t have the right equipment to get started? Are you a beginner baker but don’t know what supplies are best to invest it?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I want you to keep reading! Starting off as a new baker can feel overwhelming, but I promise you it doesn’t have to be!
You don’t need ALL the things, but you may need SOME of the things depending on what type of baking you want to do. For instance, I’m not a pie baker, so pie supplies are not on my radar or in my kitchen. However, I bake cupcakes like it is going out of style, so I have stocked up on cupcake gear!
In this post, I have outlined for you my top Best Baking Supplies for Beginner Bakers to help start you on your baking adventures. Each one of these items I have personally tested and/or currently use in my kitchen! Don’t feel obligated to get it all to start! Figure out the type of baking you want to try and perhaps purchase a couple key supplies to make your life easier and your baking a breeze!
1. A set of various baking pans
Baking pans are an essential component in baking (obviously, right?). Depending on the type of baking you want to do, you may require different kinds of pans. Below I have highlighted some different types of pans and share my favorite brands!
CUPCAKE PAN – I recommend a 12-cup baking pan. These pans can be used for cupcakes, muffins, and mini cheesecakes. Don’t forget the cupcake liners! I’ve included my favorites also!
CAKE PANS – Being a baking blogger, I have every size cake pan you could possibly imagine. But the average home baker does not need every size. For the cake recipes on my blog, I use 7 inch or 8 inch cake pans. Just note, depending on the recipe, you may need to increase or decrease the amount of baking time based on the size pan you have.
Square and rectangular baking pans are used for baking brownies, blondies, bar cookies, and coffee cakes. I recommend investing in an 8×8 square pan and a 9×13 rectangular pan.
BAKING SHEET PANS – Baking sheet pans can be used for cookies, whoopie pies, and macarons. You can also use them for cooking!
SPECIALTY PANS – Specialty pans are for specific types of baking. I recommend a cheesecake/springform pan, a pie pan, loaf pan, and bundt pan.
Cheesecake pans and springform pans have two separate components: side and bottom. These pans make removing cheesecake from the pan a breeze.
Pie pans are available in metal and glass. Metal conducts heat more quickly than glass, so pies baked in metal will have more browning and cook faster, which is good for cream pies. Glass pie pans distribute the heat more slowly and evenly, perfect for fruit pies.
Loaf pans are used to make quick breads and pound cakes and bundt pans are for making bundt cakes…obviously.
2. Icing spatulas
A set of icing spatulas of varying sizes is a great addition to your baking arsenal. They are most often used for icing cakes or cupcakes. I also use mine for spreading batter in baking pans, spreading cinnamon sugar butter on cinnamon rolls, or shaping whoopie pies.
There are two kinds: offset spatulas and straight spatulas. Offset spatulas are commonly used to frost the top of cakes whereas straight spatulas are used to frost the sides. I tend to gravitate toward using offset spatulas entirely, but you have to figure out what works or feels the most comfortable for you!
3. Piping bags
Piping bags are used to pipe frosting onto cakes, cupcakes, or cookies. They are also great for drizzling caramel, peanut butter, or chocolate ganache over anything! Depending on your preference, disposable or reusable piping bags are available!
5. Gel food coloring
Gel food coloring comes in handy when coloring cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or frosting. It is more concentrated than liquid food coloring, meaning that a little goes a long way. Another great feature of gel food coloring is that it doesn’t significantly change the texture or consistency of the batter, dough, or frosting.
4. Piping tips
Piping tips are great tools to help with piping on cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. My favorite tips are made by Wilton and Ateco. My Wilton 1M tip is my go-to piping tip for cupcakes! I’m a sucker for a French piping tip with a cake.
Here are some of my favorite piping tips for both cakes and cupcakes!
Piping tips can also be purchased in sets. Here are some great sets to check out!
5. Cake turntable
If you are interested in baking and decorating cakes, I highly recommend a cake turntable. Cake turntables help you create smooth sides and tops on your cakes when decorating. There are numerous brands at varying price points.
Currently, I am using the Kootek metal turntable linked below and love it! If you are more of a casual cake baker, the white plastic cake turntable is a great way to start! I have also included a few starter kits that include icing spatulas, piping tips, and piping bags.
6. Silicone baking mats
Silicone baking mats are life-changing when it comes to baking! These mats are non-stick and bake cookies, whoopie pies, and macarons evenly. They also help prevent the edges and bottoms of your cookies from browning too much or too quickly. Silicone baking mats also make clean up a breeze!
Here are a few of my favorite silicone baking mats!
7. Cookie scoops
Another multiuse item that you must have is a set of cookie scoopers. I have a set of three different sizes that I am constantly using for both baking and cooking. Use them to portion out cupcake batter, cookie dough, or to measure the amount of buttercream you are spreading in between your cake layers. I also use them to make meatballs!
8. Parchment paper
Parchment paper is a great supply to have on hand as a baker. It prevents cakes, brownies, and other baked goods from sticking to the pan. If you are someone who wants to bake a lot of cakes, I highly recommend using parchment circles so you don’t have to cut out circles each time you bake. If you do not have silicone baking mats, parchment paper is another supply to us when baking cookies or macarons for easy release and even baking.
9. Hand mixer/Stand mixer
Hand/stand mixers are invaluable in a baker’s kitchen. Stand mixers can be pricey. I personally have a Kitchenaid stand mixer and hand mixer and love it! There are various mixers available at various price points. If a stand mixer is out of your budget, I highly recommend investing in a hand mixer to help you make cookie dough, buttercream frosting, and cake batter.
10. Kitchen scale
Kitchen scales come in great handy in cooking and baking. I use my kitchen scale daily in one way or another. Many people bake by weight measurement and certain recipes are written in grams or ounces for increased precision. My recipes are not written in weight, however, I use my kitchen scale constantly for baking for portioning out cookie dough and weighing cake batter to ensure I have even amounts in the pans.
11. Cooling racks
Wire cooling racks are essential to help you properly cool your cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and anything else that comes out of your oven. Cooling racks allow air to get under your baked goods so that they cool faster and don’t leave soggy bottoms. No one likes a soggy bottom. Wire cooling racks come in different sizes and shapes. I prefer to use ones with a grid-pattern as I feel they support the cakes, cookies, and cupcakes more effectively.
12. Measuring cups & spoons
Having a set of measuring cups and spoons is an absolute must! Baking has a lot to do with precise measurements, so it is important to have the right gear to measure your ingredients. I recommend getting a set of measuring cups, measuring spoons, and liquid measuring cups.
And there you have it! My Best Baking Supplies for Beginner Bakers list! You don’t have to have it all, but having the right tools and supplies can make baking easy and fun. And obviously playing 80s music helps with that also!
Did you make this recipe or want to see more? Make sure to leave your review below and tag me on Instagram @CakeMeHomeTonight so I can see your creations!