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I'm a former pastry pro, and these are my 18 baking season essentials (they're all $25 or under)
Baking season is here — the best season if you ask me. Not that I'm biased or anything! Although I did spend several years making cakes, cookies, breads and pastries for a living, and still love whipping up treats in my spare time. That said, I know a thing or two about the kitchen essentials that'll make life so much easier for home cooks who want to flex their pastry muscles in the coming months. From nonstick mats that make cleanup a breeze to a downright genius adjustable rolling pin, these are the tools I reach for whenever the baking bug strikes. And did I mention they're all $25 or under? Saving dough while you're making dough — we love to see it.
Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat, 3-Pack
Table Concept Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids
Rorecay Extra-Long Oven Mitts, Set of 6
Nordic Ware Aluminum Half Sheet, 2-Pack
Briout Cooling Rack, 2-Pack
Quellance Adjustable Rolling Pin
Fat Daddio's 10-Inch Aluminum Pie Pan
Rfaqk Cake Pan Set
Edelin Measuring Cups and Spoons Set
Etekcity Food Scale
Farberware Nonstick 9-Inch Baking Pan
ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer
Oxo Good Grips Silicone Cookie Spatula
Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop
Di Oro Silicone Spatula
Oxo Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup
Winco Fine Mesh Strainer
Sevnde Pastry Scraper
This No. 1 bestselling pack comes with three sizes of silicone baking mats to fit different sheet trays — and they make cleaning up a breeze. Rather than scraping cookie dough residue off your pans, these handy mats will collect all of that grime, and they're a cinch to wipe off. Plus, they'll help your cookies bake more evenly.
"I’ve been baking for years and would occasionally have issues with uneven cooking across the bottom, especially with cookies," shared a convert. "Decided to try these after hearing others talk about silicone sheets and seeing them used in baking shows. I’m SO glad I did. Absolute perfection; zero sticking, even heat distribution and even color on the bottom of each cookie. Why didn't I get these sooner?! Love, love, love them!"
When it comes to mixing bowls for batters and doughs, I prefer metal to glass, since it won't break. This spiffy set comes with three sizes of stainless steel bowls that can be nested inside one another for easy storage, as well as lids for each.
"I love everything about these bowls!" gushed a fan. "The lids could fit a tad tighter but otherwise they are great! I love that they are lightweight but very sturdy. Makes it easier for these arthritic hands."
I've been burned by so many oven racks, it's not even funny. These mitts are extra-long to protect your hands, wrists and forearms from piping-hot sheet trays, pans and, yes, the oven itself. Not only will you get a 15-inch-long pair of silicone oven mitts to cover your arms, but you'll also get two mini pinch mitts and two silicone trivets.
"These are the highest quality oven mitts I have ever used," wrote a content customer. "If they should become soiled, just wash them like your hands with your hands still in them. No heat comes through and they are long to protect [your] arms. They are soft on the inside. I would gladly give these as a gift."
Want cookie trays that'll last for ages? This No. 1 bestselling set from Nordic Ware is super durable, with reinforced rims that'll help prevent warping over time. The pans are made of pure aluminum, which is an excellent heat conductor, promotes even baking and won't rust.
"After having these for about five months, I am so pleased with their performance," shared a five-star reviewer. "I've used them for baking cookies, roasting root vegetables and making candied nuts. They refuse to warp (like my previous ones did) and they clean up easily. I'm so happy that I bought these!"
When you take baked goods like cookies out of the oven, the heat of the pan will continue to cook them. That's why you need cooling racks on hand — by resting your treats on these, more air will circulate around them, allowing them to cool faster and keep from over-baking.
"These cooling racks are perfect!" exclaimed a shopper. "I used to have the ones with larger rectangles and my cookies would always try to fall through. But with the tiny squares on these, I never have that problem! They are easy to wash, great for cooling all kinds of baked goods. Highly recommend."
Plan on preparing a pie? This ingenious rolling pin comes with four sizes of ring attachments that'll take the guesswork out of rolling out your dough to 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 or 3/8 of an inch, depending on what the recipe calls for. It also includes a handy pastry mat with all of the measurements you'll ever need (and will prevent you from making a mess of your counter). Works for cookie dough, too!
"I really wanted a rolling pin so I wasn't hand-flattening my cookie dough, because it was getting warm and inconsistent with the depth of the dough," explained an impressed user. "Enter this nifty little contraption for anyone who has a terrible time gauging how thick your cookie dough or pie crust is. The little rings on it make it so easy to get the perfect-size dough."
I only use metal pie tins these days, as I find that they help my crusts brown better and won't shatter if you go from freezer to oven. This one has a rim to act as an anchor for your crust, and it's made from heat-conducting champ, aluminum.
"I've been using glass pie dishes since the beginning of time, because that's what I've always had, and my pies have been hit or miss over the years," shared a reviewer. "I ordered this pie pan, and it's great. It's solid without being heavy, and the 10-inch size is a wonderful option for those of us who like a big pie. The surface is perfect for accepting pastry. I anticipate many more successful pies and less hit or miss stuff now that I'm using the Fat Daddio pan."
Got cake on the brain? This shockingly affordable kit comes with practically everything you'll need to create pro-quality cakes at home: you'll get three springform pans (4-inch, 7-inch and 9-inch), which are great for all kinds of cakes, including cheesecakes, scrapers and an offset spatula for frosting application, piping bags and tips for decorating, a leveler for even cake layers, parchment paper to line the tins with, cupcake liners — everything but a partridge in a pear tree.
"I made a three-tiered cake for my daughter's birthday using every item in this kit, and it all worked with ease," wrote a home baker. "From the parchment papers in the pans, to the cakes coming out with no residue left behind, to the cake cutter, piping bags, frosters … it all worked well together and my homemade cake came out looking like I spent a ton at the bakery."
Any home baker needs a set of measuring cups and spoons for portioning out ingredients — this set is made from stainless steel and has the measurements etched in rather than printed on, so you won't have to worry about them fading over time. I also love that each tool has a different colored handle so you'll be less likely to mix them up, and the set includes a leveler to scrape off any excess. Plus, the measuring spoons are magnetic, so they'll nest together in your drawer, as well as double-sided to fit into jars of different sizes.
"The quality of these utensils is apparent," said a happy reviewer. "They are heavy and sturdy. I can’t say enough about the measuring spoons. Being magnetic, they stay together in my drawer. I really like having the choice of a round or oblong spoon. And the best thing is there is a 1/2 tablespoon! I absolutely couldn’t do without them now!"
For the most precise measurements, weighing is always best, as scooping ingredients like flour into a measuring cup can yield wildly different amounts every time. This No. 1 bestselling scale can accurately weigh up to 11 pounds and its sleek design makes it easy to stow away when not in use.
"I'm not sure how I ended up being 50+ and never knew you could use one of these for baking," admitted a shopper. "This morning, I added all the ingredients for bread without needing a single measuring cup! Made everything so much faster! If you have recipes that are written in grams, use this measurement with a scale and SAVE TIME."
Brownies and bars are the perfect treats to bring to any festivities on your calendar, and this nonstick baking pan will make it easy to slide them right out. You could also use it to make a cute little lasagna!
"A nice little pan," wrote a fan. "Very sturdy and genuinely nonstick. I've used this pan to make casseroles, cornbread, cake and brownies, and I've had no issues removing any leftover residue."
Yes, this might technically be called a meat thermometer, but don't underestimate its value when it comes to baked goods. The most accurate way to tell if your cake is done baking is by taking its temperature, and this gizmo will have a reading for you in seconds. It's also essential for ensuring your egg whites are at temperature when making meringues.
"You remember sticking a fork/toothpick in a pan of brownies to see if they are finished yet? Think of this as a more advanced fork!" joked a home cook. "I've found the readings to be very accurate for cooking quiche, baking cakes, as well as cooking steak and chicken. This is a good tool to have in the kitchen for food safety, as well as making better food, since you'll be less likely to overcook when ensuring food safety temperatures are met. Recommended temperatures are printed on the back as well for quick reference."
Your cookies look perfectly golden brown when they come out of the oven — don't mess them up by leaving the bottoms stuck to the tray! This silicone spatula is just the thing to wriggle underneath your treats to loosen them from the pan and place on cooling racks while keeping them intact.
One reviewer called it "the Swiss Army Knife of kitchen tools," adding, "This Oxo Cookie Spatula became our family's go-to gift! We all have several in our busy kitchens. Great at maneuvering around the pan. Perfect for cookies, eggs, burgers ... The silicone can handle everything. And best of all, it does a nice job as a scraper, to get the last bit out of the bowl. It's also stiff enough to cut out a casserole portion like a knife."
Using a cookie scoop is the best way to portion out your dough to ensure each cookie is the same size. Not only will they look prettier this way, keeping everything as uniform as possible will help ensure they all finish baking at the same time, too.
"I'm so glad I finally decided to buy a cookie scoop, and I wish I'd done it years earlier," shared a satisfied shopper. "Each year for Christmas, I make a soft ginger cookie, and this scoop made it so easy this year. Cookies were uniform in size, and looked so perfect I could have bought them at a bakery. The scoop is easy to use, fits comfortably in my hand and works beautifully. My repaired carpal tunnel hands were so happy to have something which made the job easy."
Whisks might be more commonly associated with baking, but I find myself reaching for a silicone spatula much more often. The flexible design and rounded corner allows you to get into the curves of your bowl while you mix, and for more delicate batters, it'll let you gently fold the ingredients in. Plus, you can use it to smooth the top out once you've poured everything into your baking vessel.
"Easily my favorite kitchen tool," gushed a fan. "It's sturdy enough to cut cold butter, soft enough to lightly caress ganache, flexible enough to get every last drop of oil/melted butter/batter out of the bowl in single schliiiick and there isn't anything that doesn't wash off after the briefest rinse — not even hardened caramel."
This might look like your standard liquid measuring cup at first glance, but it's quite revolutionary, as it allows you to see the measurements from overhead rather than having to crouch down to stare at it from the side while you pour. It's the small things!
"Exactly what I needed," raved a five-star reviewer. "The angled measurements are the best. No more holding it up to see how much is in there. Super lightweight. The large grip handle is perfect for those days when my arthritis acts up."
No one wants to find a ball of flour in their cake or a lump of sugar in their frosting. To ensure your dry ingredients don't clump, sift them through this mesh strainer before adding to your batter. It'll also come in handy for dusting powdered sugar over your confections.
"Just what I need to sift almond flour for baking," wrote a fan. "A turning sifter is so cumbersome and unnecessary, this works much better."
As fun as baking is, you're inevitably left with piles of flour and dough all over your counter. This nifty tool allows you to scrape the mess into the trash in just a few swipes, and doubles as a dough cutter (I love using it to thinly slice butter).
"Now here’s a simple tool that will last a lifetime," shared a shopper. "I bake quite often and have several dough scrapers. I particularly like this one because it’s so comfortable in the hand and is very easy to clean. ... Another thing I like about this dough scraper is [that] I don’t just use it for dividing dough. I also use it to clean my granite countertops after the baking process is done. It’s very easy to scrape up all the pieces of dough and flour left on the counter."
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
