10 life-changing baking hacks that are going to make a much cleaner, quicker, and more enjoyable experience in the kitchen!

Let’s face it, baking is bittersweet. Whether you’re new and still trying to decipher the difference between baking powder and baking soda…we’ve all been there haha. Or maybe you’re already a pro and could qualify as the next runner up for The Great British Bake Off. Regardless of the level of expertise, I think we can all agree that baking can be a fun, but frustrating process.

I may be known for my green smoothies and avocados around here, but believe it or not, I actually have a few genius hacks up my sleeve when it comes to baking! If you’re looking for ways to save time, mess and stress while baking (but keep your treats looking delicious in the process haha) these 10 life-changing hacks with be sure to help!

1. Dairy-Free Buttermilk

My first tip is to make your own dairy-free buttermilk. This will save you from buying an entire tub and throwing the rest to waste! All you have to do is add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar into 1 cup dairy-free milk of your choice. I like to use soy milk as I find it thickens up the best. Then, give it a quick whisk and set it aside for about 10-15 minutes to thicken and curdle. While you wait, you can go ahead and start mixing the rest of your ingredients depending on whatever recipe you’re making! I love using this hack in my Carrot Cake Muffins from the HealthNut Cookbook, but feel free to apply this hack to whatever recipe calls for buttermilk. It’s a quick way to make a healthier version in minutes!

2. One Bowl Wonder

Whenever I’m looking to create less mess in the kitchen when I’m baking (aren’t we always… haha), I turn to this “one bowl wonder” hack! Using a sifter, I mix all of my dry and wet ingredients together without having to use two separate bowls. Not only will this make the batter light and fluffy, but it will also help to distribute the dry ingredients more evenly as you sift. Oh, and fewer dishes when you’re done!

3. Picture Perfect Muffins

Ever thought about using an ice-cream scoop for muffins? Trust me when I tell you that this hack will get you picture-perfect muffins every time! Not only will all your muffins be the exact same size, but they are also going to rise and create that perfect “dome” shape at the top. I’ve tried making these Carrot Cake Muffins from the HealthNut Cookbook with and without an ice-cream scoop, and I swear it makes a huge difference! So, if you are looking for picture-perfect muffins, cookies or even energy balls, this hack will do the trick!

4. How To Measure Your Butter

If you constantly have odds and ends of butter lying around in your fridge and the measuring paper is nowhere to be found, this next hack will be your new best friend! Using water, fill a measuring cup with the amount of butter that you need, and then just drop in your butter until the amount is doubled. For example, for this New Fashioned Chocolate Chip Recipe from The HealthNut Cookbook, I’m using 1/2 cup of butter. So I filled the measuring cup with 1/2 cup of water, dropped my butter until the liquid reached one full cup! Pretty life-changing, right?

5. Grate Your Butter

Speaking of butter, my next hack is to grate your butter to soften it quickly! I don’t know about you, but every time a recipe calls for “softened butter”, I never have it just hanging around on my counter haha. So instead, I will literally grate my butter using a cheese grater. Sounds silly, but it softens instantly and is ready to be thrown into any recipe like my delicious New Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies!

6. Grease-less Cookie Sheet

Next time you’re baking, swap out your parchment paper for a reusable baking mat. I use this silicone baking mat from The HealthNut Shop and it’s been such a game-changer! Not only does it reduces the amount of extra oil or butter that you would use to grease the pan, but it’s eco-friendly too! Once your cookies or whatever recipe you’re baking are done, use a spatula to lift them off the mat with ease!

7. “Ripen” Bananas for Baking

Craving banana bread but don’t have any ripe bananas? No problem! This next hack will fulfill those cravings in minutes. All you have to do is place your unripe bananas on a cookie sheet, pop it into the oven at 300F and bake them for 40-45 minutes depending on how big your bananas are! Once they’re done baking, they should be a dark shiny black colour…and don’t worry, you didn’t burn them haha! Let them cool and your formally green bananas will be super soft, sweet and ready to mash up!

8. DIY Egg-Replacer

How many times have you been mid-recipe only to realize you’re short an egg. The next thing you know, you’re frantically knocking on your neighbours door asking to “borrow” one. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there… but did you know that you can use aquafaba (aka. chickpea brine) as an egg-replacer? I know it sounds crazy, but next time you’re draining chickpeas from a can, SAVE that liquid because it doubles as the most amazing egg-replacer! All you have to do is add 3 tablespoons aquafaba per egg to a bowl and using an electric mixer, whip for 3-4 minutes or until semi-firm peaks form. And voila! You have an egg-less egg that’s ready to be used to any baked good recipe!

9. How To Measure Wet Versus Dry

Did you know there’s a difference when you measure dry versus wet ingredients? Yes, it’s true and it actually makes a huge difference in baking! Next time you’re measuring a recipe, keep in mind that there are different cups for both the wet and dry ingredients. For example, in my One Bowl Hemp Banana Bread recipe, I’ll first scoop my gluten-free flour blend into a dry measuring cup and scrape any access off the top. I will then go ahead and measure any wet ingredients using these liquid measuring cups. Not only do they give me a more accurate read, but they’re also easier to pour out because of the spout! A simple, but often overlooked hack that will transform your baking from really good to DELICIOUS!

10. Non-Stick Measuring

I don’t know about you, but whenever I measure anything like honey, brown-rice or maple syrup, it always clings to the measuring cup and ends up being a sticky mess! Next time you’re baking, try measuring the oil first, and then measure your sticky ingredient. It slides right out, with no stickiness involved! Oh and cuts the cleanup process in half… who doesn’t love that? Haha.

There you have it, HealthNuts! 10 Life Changing Baking hacks that are going to make a much cleaner, quicker, and more enjoyable experience in the kitchen! What are your best baking hacks or tips that you swear by? Leave me a comment below with all of your secrets. 😉