If the nationwide shortage of flour and active yeast are anything to go by, America’s new favorite past time is baking. And who can blame us, really? It’s cold, we are locked inside and what is more comforting than the smell of freshly baked goods? We’ve rounded up some of the best recipes on the internet for your baking pleasure.
Sourdough Bread: A Beginner’s Guide
On social media, making sourdough bread seems to be the gold standard of baking. After all, this is a recipe that requires a starter you have to nurture and feed, and it’s more like a chemistry experiment than an afternoon project with the kids. Plus, from a nutrition standpoint, you can’t beat it — the natural fermentation gives the bread pre- and probiotic properties, makes it easier to digest and increases the nutritional content. Our favorite recipe and step-by-step tutorial is by the The Clever Carrot. And remember, if the first loaf doesn’t come out picture perfect, keep feeding your starter and try, try again.
Cinnamon Rolls
While this delicious recipe is probably not one you’ll be making on a weekly basis — especially if you are trying to fend off the dreaded Coronabod (here are some ideas on how to keep it at bay) — it is the ultimate in warm, cinnamon-y goodness. And what makes Ambitious Kitchen’s the best cinnamon rolls you’ll ever eat? Well, if you ask us it has to be the gooey cream cheese icing. There are also options for making these sweet treats overnight and freezing them so you can do the work ahead of time and still enjoy the piping-hot homemade goodness.
Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Gluten-free cooking can be tricky at best, so if you are new to this type of baking we’d suggest trying a fool-proof recipe like this one from Gluten-Free Baking. (And if you find that you really love it, then check out this best-of list for gluten-free cookbooks.) Don’t pass up Elizabeth’s gluten-free cooking tips on this recipe either, she offers some really great insights that are especially helpful for newbies.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
For those of us who love the allure (and clout) of freshly baked bread sans the intensive labor, focaccia is the way to go. And there are so many variations — we love Gimme Some Oven’s with rosemary and flaky sea salt, but experiment with toppings and flavors. It really is hard to get this one wrong. Our favorite ways to enjoy it? With a hearty soup like lentil, or just keep it simple and serve it with burrata, tomato and fresh basil.
Easy Homemade Pretzel Bagels
Half Baked Harvest is a great go-to for healthy comfort food and this dreamy mashup of pretzels and bagels is a carb lover’s dream come true. It calls for double the salt and extra butter — need we say more? And the best part is you probably already have all the ingredients in your kitchen. Tiegan also suggests doubling the recipe and freezing the other half for later, and we couldn’t agree more.
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie (Pizookie)
We couldn’t possibly talk about baking and not include a cookie recipe, and this one by Joy Food Sunshine goes above and beyond. The process is as quick and easy as making regular cookies, but instead of cookie sheets, you spread it in a skillet, pop it in the over and voila! Done. Less time cleaning up and more time devouring. If you have kids they are going to love this giant cookie topped with ice cream (if you are trying to offset the naughty factor in these cookies, try this Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream). All we can say is you’re welcome.
Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Sometimes the joy of baking comes from taking really simple ingredients and making something really wonderful, and that is exactly why we love this recipe from Pinch of Yum. That and she’s managed to squeeze in 3 cups of zucchini into the recipe for an extra bit of nutritional goodness that kids (and adults) won’t object to. The recipe also says adding the nutmeg and fresh ginger is optional, but we say add it. Definitely.
Be sure and share photos of your creations — tag us on social so we can share in all your baker’s glory!
For more from Better:
If you love to cook, then be sure to try these home-cooking ideas as well.
5 California Wine Country Recipes — Plus Wine Pairings
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Casey Gillespie is the editor-in-chief of SPACES magazine, but she doesn’t only write about design. Fashion, beauty, art, culture, luxury and wellness are favorite topics as well. Her work has been featured in Elle, The Telegraph, Furthermore, London Evening Standard, Haute Living, Sphere, Belmond, Modern Luxury and more. And when she is not pounding it out on the keyboard, you’ll find her hiking the trails in Marin County with her husband and French bulldog, Henry, or drinking wine and eating cheese. But probably drinking wine and eating cheese.
