Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Baker's Delight - Everything You Need to Bake Sweet Treats

Purple Star emoji 19 items
I love to bake!  When I was a child it was something I did with both my parents and grandparents.  In my family it was sugar cookies for Christmas, but peanut butter, chocolate chip, and snickerdoodles for just whenever occasions.  Thanksgiving breakfast was when mom made cinnamon rolls, and the rest of autumn was for pumpkin bread.  We had banana bread whenever the bananas got overripe, and the bonanza of zucchini from the garden became zucchini bread for weeks on end.
Sections
5
 
 
 
 
 

Basic Baking Equipment

If you're just learning to bake or cook, these are some basics every kitchen should have.  They'd make great gifts for the young adult moving into their first home!

 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I love to bake, but I hate to clean up after myself.  These silicone mats make cleanup a breeze!  I use them both on my cookie sheets as I'm baking and also when I'm rolling out dough.
Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mat, 16.5x11.6, 2-Pack
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
Cooling racks are a must have when you're baking big batches of cookies!  For the home cook, these are great because they fit inside your baking sheet and can do double duty for baking greasy foods.
2PCS 10x15" Stainless Steel Cooling Racks
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
If you're going to be making sugar cookies, you need a good basic set of cookie cutters!  The circles can double as biscuit cutters as well.
Metal Cookie Cutters Set - Heart, Star, Round, Flower - 12Pcs
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
You're not going to be baking anything unless you have a sheet pan to bake it on.   These are also nice for baking bread.  Put your loaf pans on the sheet pan before placing them in the oven.  Its a lot easier to grab the sheet pan than the loaf pan when taking them out of the oven!
HONGBAKE 3-Pc Nonstick Baking Sheet Set
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I love my magnetic measuring spoons.  Though I do have to admit, I've lost some of the magnets out of them.
Magnetic Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons Set of 8
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
Don't have a set of baking pans yet?  This covers the basics for cookies, muffins, bread, and cakes.
Amazon Basics 6-Piece Nonstick Carbon Steel Bakeware Set
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I don't have this exact one, but a handy chart like this is SO helpful when you need to figure out alternative measurements.
Kitchen Conversion Chart Magnet - Baking Gift
placeholder

Baking Supplies

Supplies that should be in every kitchen if you're going to bake.  Parchment paper has so many uses beyond lining your cookie sheets!  

 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
Make cleanup easier!  I use the silicone mats for my sheet pans, but parchment paper is still my go to for my loaf pans.  I have a silicone loaf pan, but I hardly ever use it.  My favorite loaf pans are a pair of aluminum loaf pans older than me that I inherited from my mom, and in those I use parchment paper to line it.
Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment Paper Roll
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
This will last you a while!  Whether you're making cupcakes or muffins, you need to line your pan!
Caperci Natural Cupcake Liners 500 Count

For the Serious Baker

I wouldn't spring for these if you're just getting started.  I don't have a patry mat…yet.  And I only upgraded my rolling pin recently.  I still use the loaf pans my mom had all my life. 

 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I've recently gotten into experimenting with making cinnamon rolls.  Until now the smaller mats that fit on my cookie sheets have been enough for me, but this has gone on my wish list to buy eventually.  The cookie sheet mats just aren't big enough for rolling out cinnamon rolls.
Non-slip Silicone Pastry Mat 28x20 Red
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
You'll need a rolling pin for a lot of pastry and cookie recipes, but this is the fancy version!   The discs at the end will help you roll out your dough to a consistent thickness.
Stainless Steel Rolling Pin & Silicone Mat Set
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
When you're baking a batch of 4 dozen cookies, these are going to be a god send.  There's NEVER enough space in the kitchen when you're trying to bake and cool cookies at the same time.
Geesta 2/3/4-Tier Collapsible Cooling Rack
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I admit I don't have one of these.  I just use a pair of forks like my mom and grandmas used to do.  What about you?  Is it worth the storage space to have one on hand?
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Dough Blender
placeholder

My Favorite Recipes - Quick Breads

I love quick breads!  Banana, zucchini, pumpkin, apple, and more.  If you've never made bread before this is where to start.  These breads don't need yeast or proofing or any of the more complicated aspects of bread making.  Mix your batter, pour it in your loaf pan and bake!

 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
When I'm in the mood for bananas, I'll buy a bunch big enough to have some to eat with a few left over to make banana bread.  Got overripe bananas?  Make banana bread!  If you're not in the mood for banana bread now, you can freeze your bananas for later.
Best Banana Bread Recipe - Food.com
placeholder
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
Is there anything better on an autumn day than a warm slice of pumpkin bread for breakfast or a snack?  I tend to use this recipe as a base.  I don't use as much sugar for one.  I usually use baking Splenda or a mix of baking Splenda and brown sugar.   I also tend to boost up the spices.  I also usually use applesauce in place of all or some of the oil.
Pumpkin Bread - Food.com
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
I leave out the walnuts.  I'm just not a fan.  I eat a lot of zucchini bread in July and August…my gardeners understand.  I also freeze shredded zucchini so I can make it in the winter as well.
Mom's Zucchini Bread

My Favorite Recipes - Cookies

As far as I'm concerned, sugar cookies, ginger snaps, and snickerdoodles are the holy trinity of cookies.  But I will allow room for others to enjoy their chocolate chip, peanut butter and other lesser cookies.

 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
When I was a teenager, I worked at the dry cleaners next door to one of the Roselyn bakery locations every Saturday.  I would often treat myself to one of these giant sugar cookies.  This recipe makes a LOT of cookies.  So it's great if you need to make a lot.  The dough freezes and you can make smaller batches of the dipping icing.
Roselyn Bakery Smiley Face Cookies
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
If you don't love snickerdoodles, I don't even want to know you.  They're my favorite cookie and so easy to make! (Probably part of the reason why I love making them)
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
 
Tabitha Summers of Fieldlight Designs profile picture
LOL.  Why go looking for a recipe?  Just turn the bag the chocolate chips came in over and follow the one on the bag.
Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies