When it comes to French baking, there are a few essentials you will truly need. Your répertoire should include a selection of essential tools—of course, you don’t need all of these at once, just buy the pieces as you need them!
I think I fell in love with French baking the moment my first batch of Macarons popped out of the oven and were a complete failure. They were missing the classic ruffle-foot and were hollow inside. That was the moment that I became obsessed with figuring out where I went wrong (I over stirred the meringue!). If you need more details on how to make French Macarons, I share some tips and tricks in this post.
When I began exploring the baking world, I had no clue what type of baking I liked, let alone what I was doing. Try baking French Macarons, if you’re not fond of the process (and believe me they can be tricky!) try French Madeleines. Whatever you do, have fun with it!
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, 5 Qt.
Okay, so the first item on my list is a little pricy. Technically, you can use a hand mixer (here’s a pretty Smeg hand mixer), but believe me, you will LOVE a standup mixer. And to complicate things even more, as I’m typing this…you’ll most likely benefit by having both if you decide to open a little French bakery. On weekends that I have pop-ups, it almost always crosses my mind that having an extra mixer would be handy.
Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini-Prep Food Processor
A Cuisinart food processor is a must, mon ami! Especially if you need to blend lavender for Lavender & Honey Macarons, or blend almond flour to a whole new level.
Jadeite Pedestal Cake Plate & Glass Lid
I’m a collector of vintage bakeware and display pieces and I have to say, The Pioneer Woman nailed it with the design of her jadeite pedestal cake plate and glass lid. It’s listed at a great price too, $49!
Microplane for testing
I’ve noticed that I use a lot of lemon zest when I bake. I’m not sure if I’m just naturally attracted to lemon in recipes or if that is a French staple, either way, you’ll definitely want to have a Microplane in your baking arsenal.
Non-Stick Tart Pan
You’ll never know when you will need to bake a delicious French Tart. This classic French Tart recipe is on my list to bake soon. It looks beautiful!
French Madeleine Pan
I love French Madeleine’s! They’re not as tricky to bake as French Macarons, however, they require the same amount of time. I’ll share my recipe and some tips on how to bake the perfect French Madeleine soon. Oh! And just a heads up, you’ll need the Microplane above for the recipe!
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet
You can never have too many sheets or trays in the kitchen, especially if you are baking French Macarons! I have 10 of these half sheets and they are wonderful!
Flour Sifter with a handle
A classic for a reason! When baking French Madeleines or Macarons, you’ll need a flour sifter. Both recipes call for almond flour and it has to be sifted very finely. I have this pink flour sifter with a handle and it’s my bff.
These items are a good start for your baking répertoire! Comment below if you have a favorite baking essential!
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