The dos and don’ts of Christmas baking
Want to nail baking this Christmas with cakes, cookies and truffles your guests will love? Follow a few tried-and-tested rules and you’ll be set to impress.
Do what you know
If there was ever a time to avoid disappointment, it’s Christmas. Don’t bake a recipe for the very first time on Christmas Day – it’s not worth the risk. Either go for a favourite or squeeze in a practice round before the big day.
Don’t use ingredients that aren’t up to the task
A good bake is the sum of its parts, so make sure you use quality ingredients if you want quality results. Picking the right chocolate makes a huge difference when you’re cooking or baking with it, so opt for a product like NESTLÉ BAKERS' CHOICE Choc Melts, which is ideal for coating, dipping, molding and icing.
Do organise your recipes in advance
Have you ever visited the supermarket just days before Christmas only to find the shelves void of your favourite baking items, such as coconut, condensed milk and cranberries? Create your meal plan in advance and start buying a few extra ingredients each week and stashing them away for your Christmas baking session.
Don’t be too ambitious
Sometimes the excitement of Christmas can cause us to be a little too adventurous with our baking. Our advice is to pick one thing to bake that is out of your comfort zone, then stick to tried-and-tested favourites. Perhaps you could try your hand at building a gingerbread house this year? Or making a fruit cake from scratch? Or attempting a pavlova? But don’t try to make all three in one day if you haven’t baked any of them before.
Do make a range of baked goods
When planning out your Christmas baking, go for a variety of treats. It can be easy to get swept away in the wonderful world of Christmas cookies. But if you make only cookies you’ll be sick of rolling, cutting and frosting biscuits by day two. Change it up and try your hand at a rum truffles, rocky road fudge or triple chocolate brownies. The possibilities are endless!
Don’t leave your baking to the last minute
So many baked goods can be made before the big day and frozen, such as Christmas cookies and unfrosted cakes. Do whatever you can to minimise the stress leading up to Christmas. When you feel rushed or stressed, it can definitely show as you attempt to ice those cookies in a hurry or pull a cake out of the oven too early. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy the season! (Created with NESTLÉ BAKERS' CHOICE).
