As a baking enthusiast, there is a high chance that every time you open a baking recipe, you always find an “essential” piece of equipment that you don’t have in your pantry. I know that feeling far too well. It’s the worst 😭 Especially when your heart is already set on a recipe.
Before you get frustrated and buy every baking utensil out there, hear me out!
It’s very easy to caught up in the moment and buy literally every baking tool you come across, they’re all so bright, shiny, and pretty 😍
But with all the baking tools that are just sitting and collecting dust in my baking pantry, let me break it to you – you don’t need them all.
If you’re a baking beginner, there are a few essential baking tools that you absolutely need in your baking kit, and I’ve compiled a list to help you get started.
9 Essential Baking Tools For Beginners
Here is my list of baking tools that you absolutely need in your baking kit
Food Scale
If there is one and only one baking tip I could give you, it would be to get a food measuring scale. Baking is a precise science, which is why measuring cups are a very unreliable way of weighing your ingredients. First off, not all measuring cups are made the same. There is a high possibility that the volumes of 2 1 cup measurements are not the same. Especially when it comes to weighing dry ingredients, measuring cups are not the best choice.
A food measuring scale helps you accurately measure your ingredients to the gram, resulting in the best results every time. Given how specific baking is, even a few grams of variance can make a difference. So make sure you get a food scale before you start baking.
This is the one I have been using for a while. It’s affordable and does the job well!
Spoon Measures
Almost every baking recipe calls for ingredients measured in teaspoons – baking powder, baking soda, salt, etc. Because of how different the regular spoons in each household are, you cannot use your daily-use spoons for these measurements. Spoon measures (teaspoon, tablespoon) make sure you’re adding the right amount every time.
I would recommend getting metal spoon measures as they’re easier to use and clean, especially when you’re dealing with sticky ingredients like honey.
These ones on amazon are cute and affordable.
Hand Whisks
Whisks are an essential baking tool as they help you combine ingredients together. Even the simplest of recipes call for a whisk. For instance. you would need a whisk to mix together the dry and wet ingredients in something as simple as a pancake.
The shape of the whisk helps incorporate ingredients into each other quickly and easily, unlike any other regular spoon in your pantry.
I love these whisks from Ikea, the size is perfect + they’re not too heavy!
Silicone Spatula
Silicone spatulas are probably my favorite tool in the kitchen for any type of cooking. They are a MUST HAVE in my opinion. They scrape your bowls like magic and get all the last good bits out.
Silicone spatulas are also used for folding ingredients together in many recipes instead of using a whisk to retain the airiness of the batter.
A lot of cheap silicone spatulas can be very flimsy and don’t do the job well. Spend a little and get this pair of good-quality spatulas. Trust me, they will make your life a lot easier.
Offset Spatula
An offset spatula is an angled spatula that helps spread batter and buttercreams smoothly on surfaces. If you’re into making cakes, an offset spatula is definitely an essential tool for cake decoration. There are different sizes of an offset spatula. In my opinion, the small size is the most essential.
This one from Wilton is perfect for your beginner baking kit.
Mixing Bowls
This one is quite obvious. If you have ever baked before, you know that it requires a lot of bowls. Add a few different shapes of mixing bowls to your collection for different uses. Also, make sure that your mixing bowls are microwave safe so that you can use them for all kinds of baking projects.
It’s also a good idea to add a variety of bowls like glass bowls and plastic bowls for different uses
You don’t need to spend a lot on mixing bowls. This collection of plastic ones is great for beginners.
Sifter/Mesh Sieve
A lot of baking recipes require a sifter to maintain smoothness. Adding sifted vs unsifted dry ingredients in a recipe can make a huge difference, which is why having a mesh sifter in your baking kit is essential.
I would recommend going for a mesh sieve instead of the traditional sifters as it’s much easier and quicker to work with. This collection here does the job well.
Baking Sheet Pans
Baking pans/sheet pans/cookie pans, whatever you call them, are very important for a baker and can be used for multiple purposes, like baking cookies or cakes, or even for savory baking.
You should have a few different sizes of the baking pan. Good quality ones last for a very long time, so you can splurge a little here and get nice pans like this one.
Looking for a sheet pan to bake cookies? Here’s our recipe for the perfect bakery-style chocolate chip cookies to help you out!
Electric Mixer
Baking requires a lot of mixing, and having an electric mixer makes sure you don’t lose an arm whisking your ingredients together. If you bake often, having an electric mixer is absolutely essential.
The good news is that there are many affordable options now available in the market. This one by Kenwood works well and is very cost-effective!
Other Helpful Baking Tools For Your Kit
Stand Mixer
As a beginner baker, a stand mixer is not an essential tool. But damn, does it make your life easier. Not to mention how pretty they look on your countertop 😍
But still, stand mixers are a big investment, and unless you bake often, they’re not worth buying. But if you are an avid baker, you should definitely add one to your list. I personally think Kenwood has the best stand mixers.
Cake Pans
If you’re interested in baking cakes, then cake pans are a must. While there are 100s of shapes and sizes to choose from, I would recommend beginning from the very basic round cake pan. If you’re more into baking layered cakes, I find 6 inch cake pans like these the best.
More into baking cheesecakes? Then you would need a springform pan where you can remove the bottom from the pan (this is necessary for any cake that you can’t take out by flipping from the pan, like a cheesecake)
Rolling Pin
If you like baking recipes with dough (like bread, tarts, pies, etc.) then a rolling pin is another essential tool for you. A classic wooden rolling pin is the best, there’s a reason it’s been a classic for so long!
Make sure you get a big one so that you can roll your dough with ease. This one is pretty handy.
Pastry Brush
A pastry brush is used for lightly coating a pastry or cake with something liquid, like giving any pastry an egg wash before baking, or spreading sugar syrup on a cake layer.
It can be a very useful tool, especially if you’re into making pastries. Plus, there are many affordable options available, like this one. So you can always add it to your baking kit.
Hope you found our list of essential baking tools! Have a baking tool that you love and can’t live without? Leave it in the comments below!
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