Online Resources to Be a Better Baker

My grandmother liked to say, “If you can read, then you can cook,” and I totally agree. But sometimes, it takes a little more reading than just a recipe to fully understand what you’re supposed to do. When it comes to baking, those precise steps can be even more complicated. To make it all a little easier, I’ve rounded up all my favorite online resources to make you a better baker.

Here is a collection of guides, videos, and blogs focused on baking techniques. You will be so much more prepared the next time you decide to whip up a random recipe – no Pinterest fails here. Sure, baking still takes practice and some trial-and-error to perfect, but you’re starting a level up here. So let’s get baking!

1. Food52 will change the way you bake.

I love Food52. I regularly check their website for interesting recipes, fill my kitchen with items from their shop, and follow many of the chefs and stylists on social media. So it’s no surprise that I am loving their series Change the Way You Bake. This features unexpected tips to improve your baked goods. There’s only a few posts for now, but you can also explore the rest of the How to Cook section of their site which features some baking as well.

2. Learn to bake with King Arthur Flour.

Here’s another site I’ve been a fan of for a long time. I’ve always loved KAF’s products, like their Vietnamese cinnamon and many varieties of bundt pans. But the site also includes plenty of delicious recipes, guides, and courses. Their baking guides break down some pretty complex techniques. I especially have been loving their guide on white whole wheat flour, which I use in everything!

3. Sally shares her tips

I discovered Sally’s Baking Addiction while looking for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe – and I found it. Every one of her recipes that I’ve made has been fantastic, but she also provides plenty of tips as well. Browse through this section of her blog to discover things like pie crust braiding, tool recommendations, and the importance of room temperature ingredients.

4. Ask around at The Fresh Loaf

Forums open up a brand new world of baking tips, advice, and more. Here you can read through multiple opinions of techniques and even submit your own questions. The forum is broken down by categories of baked goods, so you can focus specifically on types of breads, sweets, and more. I like to browse through the Challenges board, so I can get ahead of potential problems with my own bread baking.

5. The Perfect Loaf breaks down sourdough

Sourdough can be overwhelming, and you totally need a step-by-step breakdown when first getting started. I love how The Perfect Loaf has specific guides for each step of the process, from creating your starter, to shaping loaves, to baking with and without a dutch oven. This site makes sourdough seem a lot less intimidating (though still a lot of work!)

6. Bring your questions to Ask Baking

I love the /r/baking subreddit to see what fun creations people have put together, but I enjoy reading the content on this question-specific baking sub even more. Everyday, a few new posts are added with questions including recipe ideas, how to use specific ingredients, and what to do when something goes wrong. And the answers come from a wide variety of professional and home bakers who have had their own shares of trial and error.

So, what are you going to make with all your newfound knowledge. Is it time to dive into yeast baking or switch gears to puff pastry? Let me know! For me, one of my kitchen goals for this year is to learn how to work with sourdough, and you can bet I’m using that guide from The Perfect Loaf linked above to get there.