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40 Hacks to Help You Become an Expert Baker

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Gourmandize
Preheat Your Oven 6/40

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Preheat Your Oven

Just as it's important to make sure your baking measurements are accurate, you need to ensure the oven temperature is correct and ready to go before you add your preparation. Time and temperature are both very important when it comes to baking, and starting a recipe in a cold oven could compromise the end result in both taste and texture. A good rule of thumb is to start preheating your oven about 15 to 20 minutes before you finish the preparation (batter, dough, etc.). That's about how long it takes to get it to the desired temperature, without wasting too much energy.


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Ingredients

  • 2 large water or soda bottles (empty)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Ready 2 large plastic bottles, cleaned and dried.
  3. Add 1 cup of flour to each bottle.
  4. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to each.
  5. Melt butter, then add equal halves to each bottle.
  6. Add 6 eggs, 3 in each.
  7. Add 1/2 tbsp of baking powder to each.
  8. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream to each.
  9. Shake the bottles thoroughly until the contents are well mixed.
  10. In one of the bottles only, add the cocoa powder.
  11. Beginning with the cocoa powder mixture, add a dolop of batter to the center of a circular
  12. baking tin. Do the same with the other mixture, placing the dolop directly in the center of the previous one.
  13. Continue with alternating additions of each mixture until all batter is used and the tin is full.
  14. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  15. Serve and enjoy!