Well, not to worry: there are plenty of baking recipes that are suited for the beginner baker. In fact, in this article, we’ll give you five! Starting with these can help you become more confident—in no time, you’ll be confidently whipping up all kinds of delicious treats.

Put on your apron, preheat the oven, and let’s get baking!

Things To Remember Before Baking

Okay, wait. Before you make your easy first bakes, one of the things you need to do is read these basic rules of baking. Next, try as much as possible to absorb these common baking terms so that you won’t get lost while reading recipes.

Oh, and make sure you have the following: 

Essential Baking Tools

No matter what recipes for beginners you’re going to try, you’re going to need these tools: 

• Mixing Bowls: You’ll need a good set of these in various sizes for combining your ingredients. 
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Baking is a precise art, so accurate measurements are key.
• Whisk and Spatula: These will help you mix your ingredients smoothly.
• Baking Sheets and Muffin Tins: Required for projects like cookies and muffins.
• Loaf Pan: You’ll use these for banana bread and other quick breads.
• Cooling Rack: This is where your hot, fresh-from-the-oven goodies will rest and cool before you sink your teeth into them.
• Parchment Paper: This prevents your baked goods from sticking to the pan. You’re going to be happy you placed them—that’s a guarantee!

No idea where to get these tools? Check out Buji.Ph or The TBA Shop!

Basic Baking Ingredients

And no matter what easy baking recipe you plan to make, you’ll thank yourself after you stock your pantry with these important ingredients:

• Flour
• Sugar (both white and brown)—check out the sugar of Penco for some of the best you’ll ever use 
• Baking powder and baking soda
• Salt
• Eggs—they’re great for breakfast and other things, too!
• Butter or margarine, but be prepared for changes in taste and volume
• Vanilla extract
• Chocolate chips or cocoa powder

Now, on to the easy stuff to bake for beginners!

Five Easiest Things To Bake For Beginners

Here are some incredibly easy and foolproof bakes that will help you build your skills. You can use recipes from the Internet (there are plenty for these items), but for the best quality, we encourage you to sign up at The Bailiwick Academy and try out our courses!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

There’s a reason why chocolate chip cookies are timeless and popular. Not only do these cookies taste great, but they’re also one of those easy things to bake! That makes them perfect for trying out as a beginner baker.

To make them, you’ll just need the basic baking ingredients mentioned above, plus chocolate chips. And making them will help you hone baking techniques—you’ll learn how to cream butter and sugar together, mix dry and wet ingredients, and portion dough onto a baking sheet. 

Thankfully, there won’t be complicated steps involved. Just shape the cookies and let your oven do the rest. And before long, you’ll be enjoying crunchy or chewy chocolate chip cookies, depending on the recipe you used. Wouldn’t you love that?

For surefire delicious cookies, check out our Gourmet Cookies or Best Ever Cookies class.

Fudgy Brownies

For those with an irresistible chocolate craving, brownies are your best choice of dessert recipes. Not only are they straightforward to do and very delicious, they also offer a chance to learn key baking techniques. You’ll learn how to melt chocolate, mix it with other ingredients, pour the batter into a pan, and bake.

It also helps that after the process, you only have to do minimal cleanup! Oh, and brownies are extremely versatile and customizable. Feel free to enhance them with your choice of extras, like nuts, chocolate chips, or marshmallows, to truly make them your own. 

Need ideas for different brownie variants? Try our Fudge Brownie Extravaganza class.

Banana Bread

Banana bread is a very forgiving dessert recipe—it’s very hard to get wrong. That makes it a great option for beginner bakers. All you need are your pantry staples plus overripe bananas, and you’ll be able to create a moist and flavorful loaf that the whole family will enjoy.

You’ll also get to master mixing wet and dry ingredients separately before putting them together. This is an essential bakery skill.

Muffins

If you’re looking for a simple cake recipe, go for muffins! They’re small, versatile, and give you an avenue to experiment with all kinds of flavors: chocolate, cinnamon sugar, orange zest, salted caramel, you name it! Muffins can accommodate it all.

Plus, you’ll get to practice portioning batter evenly and watching for doneness.

Check out one of our newest class releases, Glorious Cafe-Style Chunky Muffins Master Class, for surefire muffin goodness.

Pancakes

If asked what’s the easiest thing to bake for beginners, pancakes is also a possible answer because it’s one of the easy recipes you can start with. Yes, it’s not a traditional baked good, but making soft and chewy pancakes is an excellent entry point into the world of baking. You’ll get to practice mixing batter (not dough) and controlling a heat source, skills that are required when you get further in your baking journey.

It also helps that pancakes are a surefire crowd-pleaser!

Our Easy Recipe Recommendation: Brownies

Among the five beginner-friendly baking projects we’ve suggested, we highly recommend starting with brownies. Learning to bake a perfectly moist and fudgy brownie is an achievable goal for any novice baker and serves as a great introduction to the wider world of baking. Plus, they’re made of chocolate—and that means more people will appreciate them!

And you know what’s awesome? Here at The Bailiwick Academy, we have a fantastic learning resource to guide you on this chocolaty endeavor. Renowned baker and educator Chef Jimbo de Panadero offers a comprehensive brownie baking tutorial perfect for beginners.

Why this class? Well, with over 20 years of experience in the baking industry working with top food brands, Chef Jimbo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this class. That means that in this class, you won’t just learn how to make brownies; you’ll also gain practical knowledge of baking techniques, including preparing the pan, mixing ingredients, portioning batter, and determining when your brownies are perfectly done.

The result? You’ll confidently whip up a batch of easy chocolate brownies that will impress not just yourself but also your friends, family, or neighbors. Nothing quite matches the satisfaction of successfully baking from scratch—that’s a guarantee!

Want to start your baking journey on a high note with this brownie baking class? Sign up here today—all for FREE!

Additional Baking Tips

While you’re in the middle of making some of the easiest things to bake, here are some essential tips that beginners should keep in mind:

• Measure accurately: Baking is a science, and accurate measurements are crucial for success. Use measuring cups and spoons to ensure your ingredients are proportioned correctly.
• Follow instructions for room temperature: When a recipe calls for ingredients at room temperature, make sure to let them sit out for a while. Room-temperature ingredients blend better and create smoother textures.
• Preheat your oven: Always preheat your oven as directed in the recipe. This ensures even baking and consistent results.
• Don’t overmix: Overmixing may give you tough baked goods. Mix only until everything is incorporated.
• Keep an eye on what you’re baking: Different ovens may vary in temperature, so it’s essential to monitor your baked goods as they cook. Even if you’re familiar with your oven already, do this anyway.
• Don’t forget to use parchment paper: We mentioned this above, and we’ll mention it again. This is an essential step. It also makes cleanup a breeze!
• Patience is key in baking: Allow your baked goods to cool before digging in to achieve the best texture and flavor.

Final Thoughts

Getting started with baking might feel tough, but it’s all part of the fun. With these five easy recipes, you’ll learn the basics, and soon, you’ll feel like you have a baking addiction—and that’s a good thing!

Don’t worry about making mistakes, either. That’s how everyone learns along the way. Before long, you’ll be signing up for a baking daily newsletter and using cake recipes to make a strawberry shortcake or carrot cake, even while just using an air fryer. 

Yes—the possibilities are endless as long as you keep going! 

So what are you waiting for? Fill your home with the great smell of homemade treats—get to baking!

Oh, and again, if you’re still considering what’s the easiest thing to bake for beginners, don’t forget to sign up for Chef Jimbo’s free brownies class. Sign up here today!

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Keep coming back to The Bailiwick Academy blog for more kitchen tips, tricks, and much more!