The 5 Sweet Reasons Beginner Bakers Should Start With Cookies
Everyone starts somewhere, so what about bakers? Skip the boxed cakes and instant mixes: every beginner baker should start with cookies.
As a self-proclaimed butter mom, I love helping you fall in love with baking. Not only do you get a sweet reward at the end, but baking is also one of the best ways to tell people you love them. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a slice of homemade pie?
And as much as I adore baking, I remember how intimidated I was at first. What if I fail? Isn’t it difficult? Doesn’t everything have to be exact? Where do I even find these ingredients and gadgets?
That’s why it’s so important to start with something simple. Once you master that, you’ll be well on your way to whipping up more intricate things.
So…what is the easiest way to start baking?
COOKIES!
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5 Reasons Beginner Bakers Should Start With Cookies
I’m a strong believer that confident baking starts with cookies. They’re simple, approachable, and help you build confidence fast. Here are 5 reasons why:
1. Cookies Use Easy Ingredients
Have you ever read a recipe and wondered, “what is that and where do I buy it?” Well, that doesn’t happen with cookies!
Most of the time, cookies use simple ingredients like flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and baking soda. These ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store and you might even have most of them in your pantry already.
Then, you just need a few extras, like chopped apples for apple crumble cookies or chocolate chips for chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies. In fact, once you start baking cookies, you can buy these ingredients in bulk and save money!
2. Cookies are Fun (and Easy!) to Decorate
A basic cookie is a perfect canvas for decorating. If you want, you could learn how to pipe frosting on top. Since cookies are small, you can try different piping tips and methods and learn on each one.
Or, skip the frosting entirely! Add different candies or nuts on top before you bake them. The toppings easily become the decoration. No extra effort required!
But I think the easiest way to decorate a cookie is to use sprinkles, like I did for my birthday cake cookies. It’s easy to find seasonal sprinkles for every holiday or time of year.
Enjoy instant download party printables for busy moms. Ready for your next big celebration!
3. Cookies Allow You to Use Tools That You Already Have
Have you ever walked into a baking supply shop and felt instantly overwhelmed? What is a pastry mat? How do you use baking beads? Ahhh!
With cookies, all you need are a few mixing bowls, measuring cups/spoons, and a baking sheet. Some parchment paper or a silicone baking mat will make cleaning up a lot easier, but it’s not required.
Then, as you start baking more cookies, you can buy things like a stand mixer to make life even easier!
4. No Need To Worry About Wet and Dry Ingredients
Cookies are also really forgiving when it comes to how you mix the ingredients. Whether you’re distracted by little helpers like I am or you’re worried you’ll misread the instructions, it’s hard to mess up a batch of cookies.
Some dessert recipes make you add the wet to the dry very slowly. While a lot of bakers also do this method with their cookies, I’m a bit more lenient. I mean, just to a look at my most famous cookies: my One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.
When it comes to cookies, I find they’re a little bit more forgiving: just mix the ingredients together (I tend to start with the wet ingredients, mix those, then layer the dry ingredients on top, and fold) and at the end, you’ll have tasty little treats!
5. Cookies Allow You to Be Creative
If you have ever wanted to create your own recipes, start with cookies! Turn basic chocolate cookies into Teddy Graham cookies. Or, make pink snowball cookies for Valentine’s Day!
Once you learn how to make a basic cookie recipe, you can change a few ingredients and make an entirely new dessert.
For example, instead of a simple sugar cookie, add an Oreo in the middle! All you have to do is take your favorite cookie (like a chocolate chip cookie) and change one thing. Then, as you grow more confident, you can change even more things!
Start Baking Cookies Today
See? Cookies are the perfect way to start falling in love with baking. From here, you can learn how to bake and decorate cakes, pies, tarts, and so much more!
And if you haven’t grabbed my free recipe e-book, The Sweet Six, yet, you need it! It’s my collection of beginner-friendly recipes every home baker should master.
