Use the following tips and tricks to make your baking easy as pie–pun intended!

General

• Always level off your flour. If you find that your recipes are coming out dry, level off the flour using a knife to prevent any excess from sneaking in.
• Cookies spreading out and touching? After putting them in the pan, pop the pan in the fridge for 5-10 minutes before sticking them in the oven.
• Cookies not spreading out? Let the dough sit out for a few minutes before sticking it in the oven.
• There’s no such thing as too much vanilla. This is of course a personal preference, but, I also put in an extra squirt or two of vanilla. So if you ever see 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla, for example, I always treat that as 1/2 teaspoon vanilla at minimum.
• When you’re storing cookies, always put a slice of bread in the container. It’ll help keep then chewy for much longer.
• Always check two minutes before your recipe is supposed to be done. Because oven temperatures can vary greatly, it’s best to check the food with a little bit of time left in case it’s already done.
• Crust on your pie burning? Cover the edges with foil. When you have about 10 minutes left, take the foil off.
• To make your own buttermilk, mix lemon juice with regular milk. For every cup, use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and the rest milk.

Come back soon for substitutions, a nifty conversion chart, and more!