Baking Basics

What’s inside

• What is the primary purpose of creaming softened butter with sugar in a cake recipe?
• Why should an oven usually be fully preheated before baking begins?
• Which ingredient most directly activates baking soda in a typical cake batter?
• What is the best indication that a standard cake is fully baked?
• What does blind baking mean when preparing a pastry crust?
• Why is cake flour often used for delicate cakes?
• Overmixing muffin batter can make the finished muffins tough and dense.
• Yeast needs warmth, moisture, and a food source such as sugar or flour to become active.