There is an art to home baking. It is something that many people find hard to master but with a few simple 'tricks of the trade' it is possible to emulate professionals at home and create some superb pieces of home baking.

The Antique Touch

Many people like the old style look that comes on top of such things as chocolate cakes. This can easily be achieved with use of a lace paper doily. Placing the doily on top of your cake, sprinkling powdered sugar, and then removing the doily will leave a sugar outline that provides a stylish finish.

For the best results the powdered sugar should be sprinkled from a shaker, it tends to provide a much more even spread.

Baking Powder

In baking, freshness of the baking ingredients can have an impact on the final result. This freshness also applies to baking powder and yeast. Baking powder will stop having the same potency after about six months from when it was opened. Always mark the opening date on the baking powder container this will enable you to know how fresh the contents are.

It is equally important to store your baking powder, and any spices in an appropriate place. Heat will have a detrimental affect on the baking powder reducing its potency.

Getting the Consistent Results

The oven is the vital piece of equipment in home baking. It is essential that the oven is preheated before any bread is placed in it. Also when using the oven, place the bread in the center to ensure an even bake, as the air can circulate all around.

Biscuit Dough

It is very easy to overwork biscuit dough. To avoid this only mix the ingredients gently and only roll the dough once. Overworking the mixture will result in your biscuits becoming hard and tough, something that might be suitable for soup, but will find sparse appreciation elsewhere.

To ensure your biscuits come out perfectly when being cut, always dust the cutter with flour to prevent sticking.

Choosing between Butter or Margarine

If a recipe asks for butter, use butter, margarine should only be used a last resort. Margarine will normally end up as a runny mess, due to the fact that margarine is in the majority just water, oil and artificial colorings. Margarine is generally the more unhealthy option as well, as it is full of trans fats linked to a shortening of life expectancy.