All I Really Need to Know About Baking I Learned Online

Do you know how to bake? Even if your answer is no, everything you need to know about baking is right at your fingertips.

There are so many food blogs, baking how to’s, and recipe repositories online that “I don’t know how” is no longer an excuse.

My favorite websites are ones that have written instructions accompanied by photos of each step. That way you can see whether your work-in-progress looks the way it should look before you get too far into the project. It’s a genius idea that makes me, an amateur baker-wannabe, look like a pro.

My mom bakes a lot. When I was growing up, I used to love helping her in the kitchen while she made delicious treats. My house was always a popular hang-out spot because my mom would usually whip up something sweet for my friends and I to eat.

Now that I no longer live at home, I am determined to entice my friends into hanging out at my apartment with tasty desserts. Problem is, I don’t have my mom’s experience or expertise. In lieu of calling my mother several times a week for recipe advice, which I’m sure she would probably love, I have turned to the vast resources available online.

So, no, I didn't make these chick cake pops . . . yet. They're on my to-bake list

Last year, I decided I wanted to tackle the cake pop. A cake pop is a mixture of cake and frosting rolled into a ball, placed on a lollipop stick, dipped in chocolate, and then decorated. They’re so delicious and so cute, but the task of actually making them seemed a little daunting.

I started perusing the plethora of websites that detail the process. I read detailed instructions and recipes outlining the steps to make the pops, and looked through readers’ comments describing their trials and tribulations and tricks and tips that accompanied the recipes.

I looked through photo galleries of various ways to decorate the cake pops. I watched instructional videos of how to dip the cake pops in the chocolate to have an even, smooth coating. Seriously, I think the only way I could have been better prepared was if Bakerella, the queen of cake pops, came and gave me a private lesson at my apartment.

I’m happy to report, my cake pops came out looking like they were from a professional bakery!

Now, you will never find me in the kitchen without my computer. Even if I’m making something simple like baked chicken, I search for tips and recommendations to make it more tender and flavorful.

I regularly check several of my favorite food blogs for ideas to spice up my meals and make new exciting treats for my friends. Now I’m just waiting for a future technological innovation that will enable my computer to do the baking for me!

Need some motivation to bake? Remember, you get to lick the spatula!

What’s your favorite food-related website? Have you used online resources to learn new cooking or baking techniques?