Simple tips and tricks to make your holiday treats even sweeter!
The holiday season is here, and that means it's time to break out the mixing bowls, preheat the oven, and fill your home with the delicious aromas of freshly baked treats! From Thanksgiving pies to festive cookies, holiday baking is one of the sweetest ways to bring loved ones together. Whether you're a seasoned baker or trying your hand at a new holiday tradition, these five secrets can help you create delicious treats worth sharing.
Secret #1: Bring Your Eggs to Room Temperature
When a recipe calls for room-temperature eggs, there's a good reason. Eggs that are room temperature blend more easily with other ingredients, especially when you're creaming butter and sugar together. Room temperature eggs trap more air which contributes to lighter, more tender cakes and other baked goods.
Tip: If your recipe calls for room-temperature eggs, take your Eggland's Best eggs out of the refrigerator shortly before baking. Need to speed things up? Place the eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes. For food safety, don't leave eggs unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
Secret #2: Measure Your Ingredients Like a Pro
Baking is a science, and accurate measurements can make all the difference between soft, fluffy treats and dense, dry desserts.
One of the most common baking mistakes is adding too much flour. Scooping flour directly from the bag with a measuring cup can pack in more flour than your recipe requires, affecting the texture of your finished treats.
Tip: For the most accurate results, use a kitchen scale when your recipe provides ingredient weights. If you're using measuring cups, fluff the flour with a spoon, gently spoon it into the measuring cup, and level it off with a straight edge.
Secret #3: Choose Quality Eggs for Your Holiday Favorites
Eggs help bind ingredients together, provide structure, contribute moisture, and add richness to baked goods. Choosing quality ingredients is an easy way to bring a little something extra to your holiday baking.
With Eggland's Best eggs, you can feel good about what goes into your family's favorite treats. Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland's Best eggs contain:
- 6 times more Vitamin D
- 10 times more Vitamin E
- More than double the Omega-3s
- 25% less saturated fat
It's a simple ingredient choice that brings superior nutrition to your holiday kitchen.
Secret #4: Don't Overmix Your Batter
It can be hard to know when your ingredients are perfectly combined. When it comes to many cakes, muffins, and quick breads, less is more! Once flour is added to a batter, excessive mixing can encourage gluten development, resulting in a denser, tougher texture.
Tip: Follow your recipe's mixing instructions carefully. For recipes that call for gently combining wet and dry ingredients, mix just until incorporated.
Secret #5: Store Your Holiday Treats the Right Way
After all that mixing, baking, and decorating, the last thing you want is for your delicious creations to lose their freshness! Different baked goods have different storage needs. Many plain cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature, while desserts containing perishable fillings or toppings may need refrigeration. Egg-rich custard pies, including traditional pumpkin pie, should be refrigerated rather than left out on the counter.
Tip: Store baked goods according to their ingredients and recipe instructions. Refrigerate perishable desserts within two hours, and keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below.