10 Highly Recommended Baking Tools

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A collage image featuring "Top 10 Recommended Baking Tools" text. The image displays a stand mixer, digital thermometer, cake decorating turntable, round cake pans, a muffin tray, and a loaf pan. The tools are arranged around the text in a dynamic layout.

Since 2017, I’ve been exploring baking on my website, trying out more than a thousand recipes. About 250 of those were desserts. Along the way, I’ve learned that being a great baker doesn’t mean having tons of tools. It’s about having a few reliable ones that really make a difference.

I love everything about baking (well, almost everything). So, I’ve put together a list of my top ten baking tools. Why? Because I think you’ll find them interesting and super helpful. I use these tools all the time, and I believe they’re essential for any baker.

A man with short dark hair and a beard is sitting at a wooden table, resting his head on one hand, and looking to the side. The table is covered with various kitchen utensils, including a mixing bowl, whisks, a hand mixer, and baking pans.

Top 10 Recommended Baking Tools

What’s great about these ten tools is that they’re simple and easy to get. Whether you bake now and then or you’re a pro, these utensils are not just handy—they’re crucial. From getting precise measurements with a kitchen scale to whipping up perfect peaks with a hand mixer, each tool plays a key role in making baking a success.

1. Kitchen Scale

A sleek digital kitchen scale with a brushed stainless steel surface, featuring a glossy blue backlit LCD display showing "0.00." There are three buttons below the display labeled 'ON/OFF,' 'TARE,' and 'UNIT.' Two AAA batteries are shown next to the scale.

  • Why Recommend: In my opinion the most important tool in the kitchen. Ensures precise measurements for consistent results. Crucial for accurately measuring ingredients, especially in recipes were precision matters like cakes and desserts.
  • Our top pick: Ultrean Digital Food Scale
  • Important tips: Calibrate your scale regularly to ensure accurate measurements. Use the tare function to zero out the weight of bowls or containers before adding ingredients for precise measurements.

2. Hand Mixer

A sleek, silver KitchenAid hand mixer with two attached beaters and an additional whisk attachment placed beside it. The mixer has a comfortable handle and a modern design, suitable for various mixing tasks in the kitchen.
  • Why Recommend: Versatile, easy to store, easy to use and efficient for mixing batters and doughs. Provides ease and speed in blending ingredients without the bulk of a stand mixer.
  • Our top picks: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer or KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer
  • Important tips: Start at a low speed to avoid splattering ingredients, then gradually increase speed as needed. Also, periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

3. Ice Cream Scoop

An ice cream scoop with a cream-colored ergonomic handle. The scoop features a high-quality stainless steel bowl and a strong thumb trigger for easy use. Text highlights the durable stainless steel, a design that reduces hand fatigue, and the thumb trigger mechanism.

  • Why Recommend: Doubles as a consistent portioning tool for cookies, muffins, and more.
  • Our top pick: Restaurantware Met Lux
  • Important tips: Use an ice cream scoop to portion out cookie dough for evenly sized cookies. This ensures that all cookies bake at the same rate, resulting in a uniform batch with consistent texture and appearance.

4. Rubber Spatula

Three red-handled, white silicone spatulas are arranged side by side, each with a hole for hanging at the top of the handle. The spatulas have rectangular, flat heads.
  • Why Recommend: Ideal for scraping bowls, folding ingredients, and ensuring no batter goes to waste. Offers flexibility and precision in handling delicate mixtures without damaging them.
  • Our top pick: Rubbermaid Commercial Products
  • Important tips: Invest in high-quality heat-resistant spatulas to avoid melting or warping when used with hot ingredients. Silicone spatulas are ideal for scraping bowls and pans without scratching surfaces.

5. Pastry Bag and Piping Tips

A comprehensive cake decorating set featuring 48 icing tips, two couplers, a reusable piping bag, 20 disposable bags, a flower nail, a cleaning brush, a pair of scissors, a storage box, and an instructional book. Ideal for detailed and creative cake designs.

  • Why Recommend: Essential for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and pastries with precision and flair. Allows for creative expression and professional-looking finishes.
  • Our top picks: 74 PCs Icing Piping Bags and Tips Set and 12PCS Large Piping Tips Set
  • Important tips: Practice consistent pressure when piping to achieve uniform shapes and sizes. Also, keep the pastry bag twisted at the top to prevent any filling from leaking out while piping.

6. Stand Mixer

A teal KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer with a stainless steel mixing bowl attached. The mixer features a tilt-head design and a speed control knob ranging from stir to 10.

  • Why Recommend: Offers power and efficiency for mixing heavy doughs and batters with ease. Saves time and effort, especially for frequent bakers or large batches.
  • Our top picks: For beginner Aucma Stand Mixer or the high-end version KitchenAid Artisan Series 
  • Important tips: Use the paddle attachment for creaming butter and sugar, the whisk attachment for whipping cream or egg whites, and the dough hook for kneading dough. Adjust the speed according to the recipe for optimal results.

7. Round, Square Cake Pans and Other Pans

A set of five nonstick metal baking pans is displayed. The set includes a muffin tray with 12 cups, a rectangular cake pan, a square baking pan, a round cake pan, and a flat cookie sheet. Each pan has a smooth, dark surface designed for optimal baking.
  • Why Recommend: Essential for baking cakes of different shapes and sizes. Allows for versatility in baking various types of cakes, from layer cakes to sheet cakes. Every baker should have at least one these: 8-inch round baking pan, 9-inch round baking pan, 8-inch springform pan, 9-inch springform pan, 8-inch square baking pan, 9-inch square baking pan. If you like tall cakes with several layers, then you should have 2-3 of each pan.
  • Our top picks: 8-inch round cake pan, 9-inch round baking pan, 8-inch springform pan, 9-inch springform pan, 8-inch square baking pan, 9-inch square baking pan, Muffin pan, loaf pan
  • Important tips: Grease and flour cake pans thoroughly, paying extra attention to the corners of square pans to ensure easy release. Allow cakes to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Cooling Rack

A rectangular metal cooling rack with a grid pattern and slight notches on the edges, designed for cooling baked goods. The rack has an elevated design to allow air circulation below.

  • Why Recommend: Facilitates even cooling of baked goods and prevents sogginess. Ensures proper airflow around baked items, preventing condensation and maintaining texture.
  • Our top pick: cooling rack 
  • Important tips: Allow baked goods to cool completely on a rack to prevent sogginess. For items like cookies, transfer them to a cooling rack as soon as they are firm enough to handle to prevent them from overcooking on the hot baking sheet.

9. Baking Thermometer

A digital meat thermometer featuring a red body with a metallic probe. The device shows a temperature reading on a small LCD screen and includes buttons for features like a backlight. The brand name "ThermoPro" is displayed on the front of the thermometer.

  • Why Recommend: Ensures accurate baking temperatures for perfect results. Prevents undercooked or overcooked baked goods by monitoring internal temperatures.
  • Our top pick: ThermoPro TP03 Digital or Rubbermaid Commercial or No Touch Thermometers
  • Important tips: When making sweets like custards, caramel, or fudge, use a thermometer to accurately monitor the temperature during cooking. This ensures that your sweets reach the precise temperature required for the desired texture and consistency, whether it’s the soft ball stage for fudge or the firm stage for caramel.

10. Cake Turntable or Cake Stand

A stainless steel rotating cake turntable with a circular design on the surface, sitting on a round, sturdy base. The turntable appears to be designed for decorating cakes with precision, providing smooth rotation for easy access from all angles.
  • Why Recommend: Facilitates easy frosting and decorating of cakes from all angles. Allows for smooth and precise application of frosting, ensuring professional-looking results.
  • Our top pick: 12 Inch Rotating Cake Turntable
  • Important tips: Use a turntable or stand to easily rotate cakes for smooth and even frosting. Start with a crumb coat to seal in any loose crumbs before applying the final layer of frosting for a professional-looking finish.

If you are not only a cook but also a baker, check out my article about: Top 20 Kitchen Essentials Every Home Cook Needs

Now that you have all the required baking tools to bake desserts, cakes, and cookies, you can try one of my many recipes: cake recipes, cookie recipes, or dessert recipes.