The 9 Absolute Baking Essentials for Any New Baker

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For those just getting into baking, the hobby can be an intimidating one to get into. Baking recipes call for so much equipment, and it can be hard for baking newbies to tell what they really need to get in order to begin whipping up baked goods.

Even if they can determine what equipment they really must get, there are so many brands that the buying process is usually very daunting. I’ve known multiple people who have wanted to get into baking but quit before they got started just because shopping for the beginner’s essentials is just such a pain.

This post is meant to solve that all-too-common issue for baking beginners. I’ll take an overview of the tools that are absolutely essential to getting off the ground when baking and I’ll recommend a specific model of each that will appeal to beginners. I’ll also give you an easy shopping list that will be useful in 95% of basic baking recipes.

Baking Tool Essentials

The table below contains Something Swanky’s definitive list of items new bakers need to get started on the hobby. Each of the table’s nine rows lists a different item and provides a recommendation as to a beginner-friendly model of that tool. Below the table, you can read a bit more about each recommendation in the buyer guide I’ve put together.

Item	Beginner’s Choice	Price Range ($-$$$$$)
Spatulas	Ultimate Spatula Set	$$$
Whisks	Signature Whisk Set	$$$$
Hand Mixer	KitchenAid Ultra Speed Hand Mixer	$$$
Rolling Pin	Rolling Pin	$$
Baking Pan Set	Deluxe Time to Replace Your Pans Set	$$$$$
Measuring Set	All-Clad Measuring Cups and Spoons	$$
Liquid Measuring Cups	Flex-It Silicone Measuring Cups	$$
Cooling Rack	Stainless Steel Cooling Grids	$
Mixing Bowls	Non-Skid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set	$$$

1. Spatulas: Ultimate Spatula Set

by Williams Sonoma

A set of durable spatulas that look nice and clean off easily is possibly the most important baking tool of all, and this dishwasher-safe silicone spatula set fits the bill. The set comes with four pieces, normal and mini versions of both the spatula and the spoonula (a spoonula is a spatula with a slightly concave shape that allows it to double as a large spoon).

The silicone head on each piece is just bendable enough to scrape up every last bit of batter while being firm enough to stir or score thick dough, and the silicone can withstand heats of up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

All four pieces have an easy-to-wash stainless steel handle that washes easily and resists heat so it stays cool in your hand. The handles even have an easy-grip paint brush shape. They make the tools easy for beginners to manipulate, and they’re so durable that you’ll never have to buy baking spatulas again. 

2. Whisks: Signature Whisk Set

by Williams Sonoma

This set includes all three major types of whisk: the flat whisk, the French whisk, and the balloon whisk. Check out here the article about the best whisks.. Each is made for a different purpose, so you’ll always have the perfect whisk for the occasion with the set.

All three whisks are made from 18/10 stainless steel. That means they contain 18% chrome, which makes the whisks shine like new even after years of use, and 10% nickel, which makes the whisks resistant to rust and other corrosion. The rest is pure stainless steel, which is durable, heat-resistant, and feels good in the hand. They’re even dishwasher-safe.

3. Handmixer: KitchenAid Ultra Speed Hand Mixer

by Target

This hand mixer is powerful, versatile, simple to use, and looks great. It may not have the bells and whistles of a very expensive mixer, but that’s no problem for beginners and should do just fine even after they graduate to more advanced bakers.

My favorite feature is the proprietary design of the beaters, which KitchenAid dub “turbo beaters.” They do a better job than any other beaters I’ve used of grinding their way through ingredients like a knife through hot butter. Combine the design of the beaters with the machine’s five-speed functionality and the extraordinarily powerful motor, and you’ve got a hand mixer than can handle any job from kneading dough to beating egg whites.

4. Rolling Pin: Rolling Pin

by Made in Cookware

The rolling pin consists only of a tapered piece of wood, so it’s a little hard to believe it’s as effective as it is for baking beginners and professionals alike. The simplicity is one of the factors that makes the tool so great, though; no interlocking pieces like you see in most rolling pins means no chance for breakage or gunk buildup in hard-to-wash crevices.

The beechwood used to make the rolling pin looks good and is 100% resistant to moisture, so it will still look and smell clean after lots of use. The French-style tapered design of the wood also makes it easy to maneuver and control.

5. Baking Pan Set: Deluxe Time to Replace Your Pans Set

by King Arthur Baking

This set consists of all basic baking pan types: a half-sheet pan, a bread loaf pan, a rectangular cake and brownie pan, a deep pie pan, two round cake pans, and a muffin pan. All of them are durable, spacious, and covered with a superior non-stick coating called Americoat that makes hand-cleaning and release easy but is still heatproof to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I wouldn’t expect anything less from USA Pans, the gold standard in bakeware.

6. Measuring Set: All-Clad Measuring Cups and Spoons

by Williams Sonoma

There’s no getting around it: all cooks, including bakers, need a reliable set of measuring spoons and cups. After all, they’re used in almost literally every recipe on Earth. So why not go with something nice rather than the generic black plastic sets commonly seen in dollar stores across the country?

All four measuring cups and four measuring spoons in this set are made of 18/10 stainless steel, which means they will gleam like they’re brand new even after years of use. The handles have an ergonomic design and are extra long, which helps with the task of reaching deep into jars or cans for the last of the ingredients. They’re also dishwasher-safe.

7. Liquid Measuring Cups: Flex-It Silicone Measuring Cups

by Williams Sonoma

Forget the old-fashioned glass 2-cup measurement tools that you could find in every 20th century kitchen. If you’re starting baking nowadays, you might as well go for the much more efficient option that’s just as cheap: silicone measuring cups.

There are three cups in this set; a one-cup size, a two-cup, and a four-cup. Each of them are clearly demarcated on the sides so you can measure out exactly the amount you need. The cups are heat-resistant to 490 degrees Fahrenheit, and the silicone material has enough give to pinch into spout but firm enough to hold shape for scooping. The cups even nest together for easy storage. Simply put, they are a much, much more convenient set of cups for measuring liquids than the old-fashioned glass ones.

8. Cooling Rack: Stainless Steel Cooling Grids

by Sur La Table

A cooling rack is virtually essential for making baked goods cook evenly, so every baker needs one. This one is simple but it definitely gets the job done. A durable design, an aesthetically pleasing stainless steel, perfectly-sized grid squares… what more do you need? You can get it for a great price, too.

9. Mixing Bowls: Non-Skid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

by Sur La Table

These mixing bowls look great and function just as well. The stainless steel construction is durable and sleek-looking. The jet-black rubber exterior on the bottom of the bowls keeps them from slipping around during use. They are also dishwasher-safe, and they nest together so they take up less space in the cabinet.

Baking Recipes for Beginners

After you get your first baking equipment, you’ll want to put it to use as soon as possible!

Must-Have Baking Ingredients

95% of baking consists of a few basic ingredients. If you want to play around in the kitchen a bit creating your own baking recipes, just pick up those ingredients at the market. They include:

• Unbleached Flour – The end-all be-all baking ingredient. Be sure to get the unbleached stuff, because it tastes better and it’s healthier.
• Rolled Oats – For texture and to bind ingredients together.
• Sugar – Without this, most baked goods will just taste like flavored bread.
• Salt – It gives baked goods a needed kick.
• Brown Sugar – It’s not as sweet as white sugar but it has a richer, toffee-like flavor perfect for brownies and other dark-colored baked goods.
• Baking Soda – It has tons of uses in the kitchen, but one is making baked goods lighter and fluffier.
• Baking Powder – It’s a great leavening agent, meaning it helps cakes and other baked goods to rise.
• Honey – A flavorful sweetener with a smoother texture than sugar.
• Powdered Sugar – Good to use if you want a powdery texture.
• Cocoa Powder – Making baked goods more chocolatey is frequently a good idea, and cocoa powder does the trick.
• Vanilla – Vanilla has a way of bringing out all the other flavors in baked goods, so it’s used in almost every baking recipe.
• Eggs – Eggs make baked goods thicker and gooier. Translation: yum.
• Milk – Milk helps to thin out batters that are too thick without detracting from the flavor.
• Butter – Butter also makes things thicker and gooier, but it’s not as fluffy as eggs when baked. It also adds a rich creamy taste.
• Yeast – The classic leavening agent.

You can supplement these ingredients with a few of your favorite flavor add-ons, like berries or candies, and I guarantee you’ll be able to cook up some delicious baked goods.

Recipes for Beginner Bakers

If you’d rather stick to the recipes, here are a few great ones that people who are new to baking will be able to tackle without issue:

• Salted Caramel Brownies
• Monster Magic Cookies
• Kentucky Butter Cake

Let’s Get Baking

I’ve been into baking since I was a little girl, and the hobby has provided me with thousands and thousands of hours of satisfying cooking fun – not to mention thousands of delicious homemade baked goods to share with my friends and family. Anyone who’s considering taking up the hobby need not think twice, and I hope this guide will help you get started with a bang!