Menu Enter a recipe name, ingredient, keyword...

40 Hacks to Help You Become an Expert Baker

By,
Gourmandize
Butter Your Baking Pan or Mold with Softened Butter (Not Melted) 8/40

© Getty Images

Butter Your Baking Pan or Mold with Softened Butter (Not Melted)

Softened butter is easy to spread across your baking pan or mold before adding the preparation. This is to help prevent sticking and adds extra flavor from the fat.  Use a brush to ensure you cover the whole surface of the baking dish or rub a knob of butter across it with your fingers. Don't use melted butter, which could add too much moisture to your recipe, and if you use a brush, you might just pick up the liquids instead of the necessary fats. 


More steaming articles



Chef Tips and Tricks

VIDEO: Zebra Cake

Try this clever trick to make the perfect zebra cake!

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!