10 Must Have Gadgets for Every Home Baker

I love kitchen gadgets. I could spend hours browsing through the aisles of cookshop sections in massive department stores and my personal favourite, Lakeland, lusting after the latest kitchen finds. But all-in-all, you can make some delicious things with very little equipment. I suppose I’d even consider myself a “serious homebaker” if we were getting a bit pretentious. Here are my recommendations:

1. A good hand mixer. Though I’d absolutely love a stand mixer (I’m looking at you Kitchen Aid), you can definitely make do with a really great hand mixer at a fraction of the cost. Get one with a dough attachment.

2. A large mixing bowl. I pretty much adore all Tala products. 

3. 1 nine inch removable bottom Round Cake Tin. You only really need one. Even if you’re making a cake with multiple layers, you can get by with just one tin. It might take a bit longer than if you had multiple of the same size, but trust me, it’s definitely doable. I only got a second 9” this year. Before that it was baking a layer at a time! 

4. A Thick Baking Sheet with a rim. That way you can use it for both cookies and traybakes. Heavy duty aluminium sheets are the best. 

5. A great set of Measuring Spoons for those pesky tablespoons and teaspoons. 

6. The English have finally converted me. Kitchen scales are so much more useful than cups. Measuring in grams on the scales has made my baking a lot more precise. I still revert back to my cups occasionally, but I totally believe that kitchen scales are the way forward! 

7. A sturdy spatula that can double as a bowl scraper, a cake leveller and a frosting smoother.
 
8. A cooling rack. It really does make a difference to the bottom texture of cookies and scones and breads.  

9. Whilst scales are the best for flour and sugar and other solid ingredients, you’ll need a measuring jug for all liquid ingredients. 

10. Greaseproof paper. Trust me. Oiling your pan isn’t nearly as effective as actually taking the time to cut out a piece of paper to line it. 

And things you don’t need to buy in a pinch: a rolling pin. I used an empty wine bottle for ages! (Make sure to take the label off to help prevent sticking.)

What are your baking essentials?