The Basically Baking Challenge Recap
When I started making cookies a few weeks ago I never imagined that I would make twenty something recipes in the course of a few weeks. The burn out is real. I decided a few weeks ago to stop because it wasn’t as fun as it was before. Time to move on and try something a little different!
Around the time that the cookie phase of my baking obsession stopped, the Basically Baking Challenge started. It felt like the most logical next step in learning about baking! Whenever I share my baking endeavors on instagram I always get a few people who say something along the lines of, “wow I wish I could bake!” Well, I’m here to tell you that you can. This challenge is accompanied by videos, the basically baking forum for all your questions, and a whole community of people online (like myself!) helping you along the way.
I have a little bit of an internal struggle when it comes to getting complements, especially with baking. I feel kind of weird about receiving praise on how great my cookies taste because to me, all I did was follow the instructions! I didn’t come up with the flavor combo or recipe or spend the time figuring out the ratio of ingredients. I just read the instructions and baked everything at the right temperature. To me, baking feels simple.
However, I totally understand why it’s intimidating to other people. But hear me out, if you can read the ingredients on the back of a boxed cake then you can definitely measure out flour and sugar to make it from scratch too. Like my mother always told me as a kid, if you mess up you can start over, flour and salt aren’t the most expensive ingredients in the world.
If you’ve ever felt intimidated by baking today’s your day to try something new. In the midst of the corona virus quarantine, this is your time to shine. I use baking as a way to get out of my head and into my hands and body. Maybe you’ll find this solace as well. If you want to play catch up on the baking challenge I’ve created a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make the first five recipes. If you’re continuing the challenge, I’ll include the rest of the ingredients you’ll need for recipes 5-10 at the end of this blog post. I encourage you all to be safe and make one trip to the grocery store to stock up and take this virus seriously. Even though you may not be showing symptoms at the moment you could be carrying the virus, keep your baked goods to yourself and the people directly living with you. Sharing isn’t always caring.
Your shopping list:
Lots of butter
Eggs
Flour
Sugar
Vanilla
Salt
Cream Cheese
Coco powder
Pecans*
Raw sugar
Canned dulce de leche*
Active dry yeast
Honey
Whole milk yogurt
Earl Grey tea
Buckwheat Flour
Brown sugar
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
*if you’re ditching the pecan shortbread recipe and instead trying out the Alison Roman recipe I linked, ditch these ingredients and instead add an extra 6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate to your cart!
Camouflage Chocolate Fudge Brownies
These were the best recipe of the challenge so far. This being the fifth recipe in the basically baking challenge it is a little bit more advanced than some of the previous recipes. The biggest challenge you’ll see in this recipe is the use of a double broiler. Before you get scared off, trust me you got this. I have neither a glass or metal mixing bowl so instead I set up a small non-stick skillet that fits over top of my one and only sauce pan. Read the recipe! Keep your boiling water on a medium to low heat so that the boil is gentle. You mostly want steam to help heat and melt your cream cheese. These may take a few extra steps but trust me they are so worth it. My first batch was all gone in just a few hours!
Roasty Toasty Pecan-Caramel Shortbread Cookies
Another level two recipe, these pecan-carmel shortbread cookies were very…different. If I’m being honest this was my least favorite recipe of the challenge so far. I do however, love a good shortbread. Be sure to chill your cookie rounds after slicing and before baking! The longer you chill the less they’ll spread. I’m a part of a Facebook group for BA enthusiasts and I saw a lot of photos of these cookies spreading into a crisp. Chilling is important! If I’m being honest I would skip these cookies and instead try out the chocolate chunk shortbread that I made a few weeks ago by Alison Roman. If you make this alternative shortbread make sure you check the asterisk in the shopping list!
Shockingly Easy No-Knead Focaccia
I know it sounds crazy but you can make your own bread! While it may take a little love to make this, you’ll definitely be eating it all day long and enjoying it with all kinds of entrées (think soups, cheese boards, saucy pasta, ect.). This is a great recipe to have in your tool kits as we head into the isolated days ahead. All you need is some olive oil, flour, salt, and yeast. Because this recipe is so simple be sure to use your favorite olive oil and break out that special flakey salt from your pantry. I’m not joking when I said I ate half a sheet tray of this for dinner the second it came out of the oven.
Earl Grey Yogurt Cake
Sweet, sweet, Molly Baaz. You genius. This bread is such a nice morning treat. There are some options here if you’re not a fan of the Earl Grey flavor. Try this recipe with chai tea instead! When I made this recipe I was able to buy bulk tea leaves but if you buy a box of tea that works as well. Also, if you have a coffee grinder on hand I would recommend grinding your tea leaves a bit to avoid getting any hard tea leaves stuck in your teeth. Overall a nice recipe and a great introduction to making sweet loaves like this!
Salty Buckwheat Chocolate Chunk Cookies
I saved this recipe on Instagram and then within the hour I got a text asking if I could make 100 cookies for Valentine’s day. I bought a bag of buckwheat flour and ran with it. I really loved these cookies and I’ve talked about them a little bit on the blog before back in this recipe week recap post. One thing I’ll add on these is that there are so many baking lessons to be had here. Make sure to measure your ingredients exactly (no scooping right out of the bag!) read through the recipe before you start and give yourself lots of time to learn. Here’s a whole post about ten essential baking tips for your reading pleasure.
If you’re planning on following the baking challenge to the end Sarah Jampal actually just posted a shopping list with the rest of the '“special” ingredients you’ll need to complete it. Here is that list so you can get everything you need in one big shopping trip!
Shopping list for weeks 6-10!
Onion
Garlic
Parmeson cheese
Scallions
Dijon
Buttermilk or plain yogurt
Medjool dates
Carots
Carrot juice
Heavy cream
Thanini
More bittersweet chocolate
Sesame seeds
A great tip for baking and life in this moment is to be prepared. Read up, and follow instructions. Measure your flour on a scale, wash your hands and stay safe friends.