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These Are The 10 Best Baking Secrets I Learned Working In Professional Kitchens That Will Seriously Improve Anything You Bake

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Even if you're not a pro baker, downloading the free Tasty app can help you get there.

It’s officially fall, which means it’s finally baking season! Seasons passing can be a little sad sometimes (goodbye summer), but I always look forward to yearly traditions coming back around this time of year. Whether it’s baking pies for the holidays or sipping a pumpkin spice latte (are they still popular?), the last few months of the year are some of the best times to eat and drink. I’ve already gotten a head start and made a killer batch of cinnamon rolls (slathered in cream cheese frosting, of course).

A freshly baked cinnamon roll slab with creamy frosting on a plate, missing a few pieces, ready to enjoy

I know baking can be stressful for some of us, so to make things a little easier and teach you a new trick or two, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips and hacks I’ve learned. As a former professional baker, a lot of these were things we did in bakery and restaurant kitchens. Which ones do you already know?

Person in an apron playfully sticks out tongue while holding a tray of croissants outside a bakery

1. Make your own cupcake liners.

Muffin tin with unfilled, tulip-style paper liners on a wooden table

2. Use cookie scoops for effortless portioning.

Six scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough on a plastic-lined tray, ready for baking

3. Make your own buttermilk.

Pouring milk into a glass mug on a wooden table, with toast and a straw mat in the background

4. Get room-temperature eggs in two minutes.

Person cracking an egg into a mixing bowl in a kitchen, with a carton of eggs nearby. Green plants are visible in the background

5. Easily release sticky ingredients like honey and molasses.

Butter and honey are being mixed in a stainless steel bowl, likely preparing for baking or cooking

6. Amplify the flavor of chocolate baked goods.

Espresso being freshly brewed into a white cup from a metallic espresso machine

7. Use your oven as a makeshift proofer.

Bread rolls baking in an oven

8. Make your own self-rising flour.

A metal scoop rests in a bowl filled with fine white flour, ready for baking or cooking

9. Soften butter quickly.

A plate piled with cubes of butter

10. Make caramel sauce in five minutes.

Caramel sauce being stirred with a wooden spoon over a saucepan, ready to serve

Are there any baking hacks you swear by? Let us know in the comments!

Ready to put your new baking knowledge to the test? Download the free Tasty app to browse and save thousands of sweet treat recipes — no subscription required.

Close-up of a sliced banana bread loaf topped with chocolate chips, showcasing its moist texture and rich chocolatey appearance