I joined Williams Sonoma last weekend to spruce up my Easter baking skills and what a treat it was. Easter is one of those holidays where desserts can become fabulous party highlights. For example, fruit crepes are a delish backyard brunch option or a classic carrot cake would make a yummy end to a dinner party. Therefore showing guests some handy baking tips and tricks, Williams Sonoma Los Gatos head chef Elliot whipped up a simple Bundt cake worthy of any Easter occasion.
Watching the process as well as taste testing the goods (YUM!), here are the top three tips I learned from Williams Sonoma’s Easter Baking class.
1. Starting with a good base is key: Great quality ingredients, kitchen tools and bakeware are key when executing a recipe for all will impact your final product’s flavor and consistency. Williams Sonoma makes this step very easy for they carry excellent pre-made cake mixes in basic and fun flavors, which even the most inexperienced baker can use. Chef Elliot used Williams Sonoma’s Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake Mix for his demonstration. Williams Sonoma also carries a bevy of baking tools like baking pans and baking instruments that are high grade quality so make sure to stop by your local store to check out their selection.
2. Technique is very important: Unlike cooking, baking is an exact science. Make sure to pay attention to details like measurements and temperatures. One major tip Chef Elliot gave while baking his Bundt cake was MIX, MIX, MIX. A cake needs to be well mixed, thus even when using an electric mixer take the extra step to manually mix your ingredients one last time before placing in baking pan.
3. Give it your own twist: Baking should be fun so why not add your own custom flavors. Chef Elliot first added a hint of Cardamom directly to the Williams Sonoma pre-made mix for a savory touch. He then gave it a layer of citrus soaking the cake, after it had cooled, with simple syrup infused with orange zest. Simple syrup is a trick many restaurant chefs use to not only add some flavor to their cakes but to also keep them moist.
Williams Sonoma offers many FREE classes at a number of there stores so make sure to check out your local store for details.
Keeping these tips in mind, I challenge you to try some baking experiments this weekend and of course make sure to let me know how they go!
Also stay tuned to the blog to see the Easter inspired ensemble I wore to the Williams Sonoma event later next week!
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