3 Must Have Kitchen Items for Baking

I like cookies. Nope, that's a lie. I LOVE cookies.

If you are like me and love the taste of homemade cookies, but seriously dislike the cleanup, here are 3 simple things to add to your kitchen that will save you SO much time and mess.

Parchment Paper

This magical paper can go right on top of your pan and keeps the cookie dough from sticking to your pan or burning. Seriously perfect cookies every time. The other benefit is that you can just pick it up and put it directly onto your cooling rack so the cookies don't sink through the wire as they cool or get wire indentations on the bottom. But more importantly if you're careful, you don't have to wash the racks afterward because no food ever touches its surface. Rings true for the pans too, I suppose. And if you do opt for washing them, there aren't many messy crumbs to spend time soaking or scraping off.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Parchment Paper

Wire Cooling Racks:

We got these as wedding gifts 10 years ago and they are still kicking. Perfect size for pans, baking dishes, cakes, and as you can see, cookies. Similar ones can be found here.

YUM! The hardest part is waiting for them to cool.

Small Ice Cream Scooper:

This was a game changer when I purchased it on a whim a few months ago. Your hands stay mess free (read less back and forth hand washing) and your cookies are consistently sized every time. They also work great for cupcake batter too! Here's a link for a set that includes 3 different sizes.

This little scooper is a game changer!

And while I admit, I'm no Martha Stewart, I used her recipe found here for these cookies, and slightly altered it, making it Dairy Free by using Crisco Sticks instead of butter. The chocolate chips are the dairy free Enjoy Life brand (I've purchased at Target and Publix). I've also subbed Coconut Oil for butter before which are delicious as well, but sort of melty if left out on the countertop in Florida. And if you know what you like your cookies to look/taste like, I HIGHLY encourage you to check out the Handle the Heat blog - she tells you exactly what to do to your dough to make the cookies turn out cakey or chewy, etc. This time, I used baking powder instead of baking soda so they'd be more cakey and puffed up, and they were!

For the second half of the batch I added some Quick Oats, sweetened coconut, and Craisins, and they were super yummy! But then again, I've never really met a cookie I didn't like! Neither has this kid...

Happy Baking!

-kelly :)

#baking #foodie #nomnom #recipes #cookies, #dairyfree #cooking #kitchen #home