In the past year, Covid-19 has caused us to stay at home and find new things to do to ward off boredom. So it must not have been a shock that you have seen a baking-related post or two while scrolling through social media. Home-baking has had a new emergence in many households and the trend is not there for nothing.
Although my baking journey started long before the pandemic hit, it didn’t stop me from improving and growing in my culinary skills over the break. I’ve found baking to be a very relaxing and fun process, often rewarding at the end of it all because one of the main perks of baking, and cooking in general, is getting to taste the fruits of your labour.
Let me start off by sharing why baking brings me so much joy, and perhaps you will be convinced to try it too. Many people think that baking requires too much work and time, and while I do somewhat agree, I think that when you see the final product, you kind of forget about the hours you put into it. Or maybe you do remember the hours you put in, but then it’s followed by the feeling of pride. You actually made it! With your own hands! Isn’t that something to be proud of? Baking can be very therapeutic and relaxing when you get the hang of it – mixing, measuring, watching your creation come to life.
There’s so much to be learned in the world of baking. Maybe you’ve never thought of it, but baking requires a LOT of science! From the start to the end, it’s full of reactions – chemical reactions! Math is also largely involved in the culinary universe: ratios, sizes, and measuring. If there’s a recipe you really like but its serving size is way too large because you only need enough for yourself, simple math can come in handy to adjust the amount of ingredients needed. Don’t forget that art can also be useful in baking! One example is cakes. The decoration, the icing; all of it requires an eye for aesthetics.
Perhaps you’ve tried baking before and thought it wasn’t for you because you failed, or it didn’t taste so good. I think that sometimes, it’s a matter of the right recipe because some recipes require complicated techniques or tools. So, if you’ve been eyeing the baking videos on Instagram or just have time on your hands, consider this a sign to try it out 😀
Below, I’ve written a recipe that I find is a great level for both beginners and advanced alike. No complicated ingredients or tools are needed (it doesn’t require an electric mixer). If you want to spice it up a bit, add some chocolate chips or matcha powder! It’s all up to you~
It’s a super simple and delicious cookie recipe that can be modified to fit your needs and has been a favourite of mine and everyone that has tasted it, so I hope you give it a try! 🙂
Be sure to read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. Lastly, the words in grey are just small notices/notes.
BASIC COOKIE
Ingredients:
113g melted butter (advanced: or if you want more oomph, brown the butter – melt the butter till the milk solids turn brown, but keep stirring and keep an eye on it)
110g brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional if you don’t have it)
175g all-purpose flour (make sure it’s not cake or bread flour! Very different)
½ tsp baking soda (very different from baking POWDER – so be sure to check!)
¼ tsp salt
Steps:
In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and the brown sugar.
Mix them well together and allow the mixture to cool (they are not going to emulsify, so don’t worry :)).
Add in the egg and the vanilla extract and whisk until it looks like a caramel-like mixture (this is, in my opinion, the best part of the whole process – the caramel-like mixture is IRRESISTIBLE!).
Sift the all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt into the bowl.
Fold everything together until you see no more flour.
Let the dough rest in the fridge for about 30 mins (or if you’re impatient, go ahead and move on to the next step ;)).
Preheat the oven to 162 degrees.
Take the dough out of the fridge and shape it into 40g balls (you can change the size, but remember, the bake time will change!).
Bake the shaped cookie dough for 11-13 mins (time depends on how you like your cookies – less time, more chewy-like; more time, more cake-like).
Allow the baked cookies to cool and enjoy!
If you really enjoyed making this recipe, perhaps you would very much enjoy making other things such as bread, cake, etc. There are tons of great recipes online, but be sure that you trust the website/video. A great way to get more insight is to check the comments and see what other people say about the recipe.
Some resources to start:
Bon Appetit (requires more complicated ingredients, materials, etc.)
Youtube (for research purposes + if you are more of a visual learner)
Of course, the links above are just places to get started, but don’t be afraid to search for your own!
Good luck and have fun~ :))
— Writer Juan Yu (Lulu) can be reached at juanyu.lulu@gmail.com.
Follow her on Instagram @juanyu.lulu.
—Editor Suchita Thepkanjana can be reached at suchita.th@gmail.com.
