Baking Supplies

I really didn’t need to go to Bed Bath & Beyond, but I went anyway.

I mean who “needs” to go?  It’s like Target.  You really don’t need to and sometimes you really need to avoid it unless you want to find yourself a lot lighter in the wallet, but that’s another story.

I had a store credit at BB &B and a stash of 20% off coupons just burning a hole in my pocket.  They never expire.

So I decided to venture into retail chaos but thankfully it wasn’t too crazy crowded since I went on a weekday.

I picked up another Silpat.   I have one Silpat, and I have one FlexiPat, but prefer the results I get with my Silpat so picked up one more.

Nothing screams inefficiency like baking cookies one sheet at a time.  But I’ve actually done that and hope to never do it again now that I will have two Silpats in rotation.

I could really tell the difference in my recent Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries that were baked on the Silpat vs. parchment paper vs. Flexipat.  <– I prefer the results I got in that order.

I also got another cookie scoop.  This $3.99 item has done more for my baking and overall cookie results than any other item.  Highly recommended.

I’m bringing the new one to Aruba.  I don’t care if I overheat the house by turning on the oven.  I will be baking cookies.  My theory is that Scott won’t mind about sweating buckets in a hot house after I serve him a few cookies.  That’s my theory anyway.

My favorite spatula snapped in half a few weeks ago, and I grabbed the clear one with snowflakes as a replacement.

And how cute is all this egg-making paraphernalia.  Too bad I don’t eat eggs.  I bake with them but don’t eat them.

The pink egg stuff is sure adorable though.

I’m glad Skylar wasn’t with me or I would have had had peer pressure to buy pink things.

Secret: I’ve never decorated a cake, cupcake, brownies, muffins or anything with professional tools or frosting tips.  The closest I’ve gotten for decorating is using a Ziplock bag with the corner cut off.

I thought for $8.49 less a 20% off coupon that I should change that major lapse in life experience and can now be christened into the cake-decorating club.

Any tips on using my tips?

I have also been loving making donuts!

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze

Baked Cinnamon Bun Donuts with Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze

Baked Savory Cream Cheese & Herb Donuts

Baked Vanilla Donuts with Vanilla Glaze

My donut pan is the best $8 bucks I’ve spent in all of 2011.

(And the cookie scoop is the best $4 bucks)

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts with Vanilla Peanut Butter Glaze anyone?

Great use of the cheapie donut pan.

I originally thought that a mini-donut pan would be a little too “fussy” to deal with and that trying to get the batter in those tiny holes without making a colossal mess and getting more batter in the wrong places than in the correct places would be too challenging.

But now that I have the hang of bigger donuts…

…I figure that I am ready to try making mini donuts!

Questions:

1. What’s on your baking supplies or kitchen items wish list?

Bigger ticket:

Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid food processor

Smaller ticket:

All those little knick-knacks and gadgets that are everywhere in BB  & B.   I think they’ve built a retail empire by selling gadgets and little trinkets.

Bowls, spoons, cute dishes, cute mugs and cups

I could spend a fortune.  In this sense, I am glad I have a small kitchen and no where to store things.  Prevents me from going too crazy with things I “need” or just “have to have”.

2. Any baking tools or supplies that you love?

As I said, I love my donut pan.  I use the donut pan far more than the donut maker (appliance).  I find it’s just as easy to bake donuts in a pan in the oven as it is to use the donut maker.

The drawback I find to the donut maker is that it can’t be submerged it in water so you have to be extra neat when making your donuts or you are left with a burnt-on, crusty mess to clean up.  Not a huge issue provided you have a half a roll of paper towels to spare and don’t mind dealing with crumbs.

I also love my cookie scoop.

And if you use cake/cupcake decorating tools or tips, give me your tips on the tips.

For my other fave kitchen appliances and gadgets (the ones I love and the ones I find over-rated), check this post.

Happy Baking Season!