Is baking my newest obsession?

It seemed like everyone was baking their way through the pandemic last year and, much to my surprise, so was I! 

Up until September last year, I'd never baked before and so when I finished university I thought it would be fun to learn. Fast forward a year and I've spent most weekends finding new recipes and trying out bakes.

I found Jane's Patisserie online and have followed her recipes ever since because they've always tasted so good. The blog's creator Jane Dunn has just published her first baking book this summer, so that's been my must-have purchase this year!

Obviously, the best part of baking is the end result when you have a plate full of tasty brownies or cupcakes to enjoy. But I really like the challenge of trying things I've never made before, from making cinnamon rolls to shortbread. Even if it doesn't always go to plan or it doesn't look like what it should do, the taste is the most important thing (at least that's what I say to myself!)

Easter Traybake- A perfect example of a fun seasonal bake!

Something I realised early on in my baking endeavors is the importance of good equipment. Initially I was using an old handheld whisk my mum had, but after a few attempts at making buttercream one of the whisks broke and I could barely control it. If you can imagine ingredients splattered all over the walls and an uncontrollable whisk then you can picture the scene. Now I've got a proper stand mixer, so there haven't been any major Bake Off disasters recently.

As the months have passed, I've noticed improvements in my baking skills - I don't have to look at recipes in as much detail now because I recognise things  I've done before. This means that I can be more creative with my bakes, adding optional ingredients and spices to create different flavours. 

Look how yummy these cookies turned out to be- NYC Cookies from Jane's Patisserie

One of my favourite parts of baking has been sharing what I've made with my family. My mum especially gets excited when she knows I'm making something, and it's nice seeing the joy I'm bringing to her, as my cooking skills are still pretty poor. That might be my next project...

It's important for me to be in the right mood for baking because I don't want it to become a chore. Sometimes I plan to bake at the weekend and then realise that I'd rather do something else, but then at other times I get the random urge to bake on a Friday night and I go for it. 

Creating seasonal bakes is also really fun, such as adding little easter eggs to cupcakes or cinnamon and ginger spices at Christmas. My cakes usually taste better than they look, so that's something I want to improve because I hate piping! I'm really bad at delicate/arty things like that, I just can't wait to eat it. So I need to learn to have a little more patience when it comes to adding the finishing touches to my bakes, instead of just shoving it all in my mouth! 

I'm so glad I started baking last year, although I can't believe how long it took me to start. I know so many people bake when they're younger, so I feel like I'm playing catch up a little. I was never really interested when I was little, I remember helping my mum bake a cake and I found it so stressfull I nearly cried. I always worried about ruining it or knocking stuff over (I'm quite clumsy in the kitchen). I think coming to it on my own has meant I've seen it as 'me time' and I've learnt on my own through trial and error. 

If anyone has any recommendations of cakes/treats they love to make, then let me know - I'll add them to my baking book!

Carrot Cake for Christmas!