Essential Baking Tools

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There are only a few tools that are essential for baking. While it may be tempting to purchase every kitchen gadget out on the market, it really isn’t necessary. Instead of filling the drawers and cabinets with needless equipment, focus on basic essentials.

Below is a list of the most useful baking equipment to get you started on your baking journey.

Overhead view of essential baking tools.

Essential Baking Tools for Home Bakers

There are so many gadgets and tools for baking but you really only need a handful of essentials. Avoiding filling your kitchen drawers to the brim with all sorts of baking tools.

Most people have a favorite brand or specific type of item they use more than others. I’m the same. I’ve tried various brands of the same tool and always end up going back to my preferred tools.

Each item listed below is the exact brand I own and love. And these are the basic tools needed to help you become a successful baker.

Mixer Attachments

Mixers come with different attachments and each one serves a purpose.

The paddle attachment is meant for general mixing and creaming. You will use it for basic cake batters, cookies, frosting, etc.

The whisk attachment adds air to ingredients. It is used for whipping egg whites or heavy cream.

The dough hook is used to knead dough with your mixer. I much prefer using my stand mixer with the dough hook when making bread.

Baking Pans

There are a variety of baking pans needed in every baker's kitchen.

Baking sheets (cookie sheet): Half sheet pans are multiuse pans. You can use them to bake cookies, biscuits, scones, free-form bread loaves, etc. I highly recommend having at least two of these on hand.

Muffin pan: These pans can be used to make muffins, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, and sweet rolls.

Loaf pan: A 9x5 loaf pan is standard for most quick bread recipes. You can also use this pan for small pound cakes, loaf cakes, and loaves of yeast bread.

Cake pans: Most of my cake recipes make a 9-inch two-layer cake. These pans are what I recommend. Avoid using nonstick pans as they tend to prevent the cakes from rising to their full potential.

Other baking pans: The pans below are great for baking brownies, cookie bars, coffee cakes, sheet cakes, etc.


Now that you have all the essential baking tools, which one do you find most helpful? For me, it’s my stand mixer. I honestly don’t know how I ever got along without one. I use it for literally EVERYTHING.

Happy Baking,
– Jen

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12 Comments

  1. Thank you Jen, you are making me fall in love with baking really especially bread baking,, am in Uganda and am following your u.

  2. LuAnn Raynes says:

    Love your site! Excellent info and delicious recipes!
    Thanks you!

  3. I use what is now called a fish spatula for folding in eggs. It allows me to get under the batter and gently fold over the egg whites not loosing all the air I just beat in.

  4. Tom Pollard says:

    I am loving your website, recipes and your baking basics series. I am concentrating on bread baking currently and am curious if you have a favorite baking stone.

  5. Gwenyth Luxen says:

    Found your site on Pinterest when looking for lemon curd filled cupcakes. I will be making your recipe for my granddaughters birthday next week. Her special request. I see you used some kind of cutter to make the hole in the cupcake. Can you enlarge on that cutter as it appears you put a cake lid back on. I looked at this blog but saw no mention of that equipment or technique.

    1. I used a cupcake corer to cut the well in the center of the cupcakes. This can also be done with a paring knife. It’s been so long since I purchased mine, I can’t remember where I got it from. But you can google “cupcake corer” to see where some may be in your area. You can also search Amazon if it’s easier to order online.

  6. Taking a minute of your time. I just want to thank you for taking time out to answer or offer advice on baking. Please take care and God Bless.

  7. Have you ever used silicone baking pans? I used some that were given to me and while baking my cake I smelled a heavy chemical smell in the air and I’m worried about eating it now.

  8. Those mixing bowls are just what I need. It’s so convenient that they have lids. Great list!