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Since so many of us have been baking to pass the time while social distancing, today I’m sharing some of the best vintage baking tips I’ve learned that are worth knowing today. These tidbits of baking wisdom from vintage cookbooks are still being passed down from generation to generation, so they’re worth adding to your kitchen repertoire.
I’ve been baking a lot while under the stay-at-home order; a 1920s Peanut Butter Bread and a 1960s Orange Walnut Bread are just two of the many retro recipes I’ve tried lately. Baking has always been a way for me to unwind, and it is now more than ever. While looking through my vintage cookbooks for recipe ideas I’ve come across a lot of useful baking tips, many of which are still shared today in books, by baking experts and through friends and family members.
Vintage Baking Tips That Are Still Helpful Today
I’ve learned a lot of baking tips from vintage cookbooks, like how to keep cookies fresh, how to make a boxed cake mix better, creative ways to decorate desserts and more. These are some of the best baking techniques I’ve picked up from vintage cookbooks that are still used today.
Basic baking hacks
To keep a cutting board from slipping, place a wet cloth under the board. This will come in handy when you need to roll dough on the board.
Baked apples are a great fall dessert. To keep them looking their prettiest in the oven, prick the skin of the raw apples to prevent them from splitting.
How to store baking ingredients
How to store brown sugar
Lumpy brown sugar is a common baking problem. To prevent lumping, try adding piece of rye bread to the container with the brown sugar.
How to store egg whites
When you have leftover egg whites after baking, store them in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator. They’ll stay good for up to ten days.
How to store nuts and dried fruit
Keep nuts fresh by storing them in covered packages or jars in a cool, dry place. Candied fruits do well in the refrigerator, if you have room.
How to keep cookies fresh
Soft cookies and crisp cookies are both delicious, but they shouldn’t be stored in the same container. Keep soft cookies tightly covered so they stay moist, and store crispy cookies in a jar with a loose-fitting lid.
Vintage cake hacks
How to remove air bubbles in cake batter
There’s a simple trick for removing air bubbles in your cake batter. Before baking, tap the cake pans lightly on the table to break up the air bubbles.
How to tell if a cake is done baking
Sometimes baking feels like a guessing game, like when you’re trying to decide if a cake has baked for long enough. A cake is done baking if you insert toothpick or cake tester in the cake’s center and it comes out clean. Other signs a cake is done baking are if the edges have slightly shrunk away from the sides of the pan and if the cake springs back when you press it lightly in the center.
How to make a box cake mix better
No shame in using a box cake mix! You can easily spruce it up by mixing 1 package angel-cake mix with spices like cinnamon and a little cloves and nutmeg.
Easy decorating tips for baking
How to avoid crumbs in frosting
To prevent crumbs from ruining the appeal of your frosted cake, wait until your cake has cooled before frosting. Then add a thin frosting layer to the sides and top edge of the cake. Now you’re safe to add more layers of frosting without crumbs getting mixed in. Save the top for last.
How to make chocolate curls
Add fancy chocolate curls to your desserts for extra wow factor without extra work. You can use a vegetable peeler on a bar of bittersweet chocolate to make chocolate curls.
How to tint coconut flakes
Make “grass” for Easter desserts by tinting coconut flakes green. Place 1⅓ cups of coconut flakes in jar then add a few drops of food coloring. Screw on the lid and shake until the coconut is evenly colored.
How to frost cupcakes faster
Prepping for a bake sale? To frost cupcakes in record time, dip the top of each cupcake into a bowl of frosting, give it a little twirl and set it upright.
How to decorate a cake with nuts
Run out of sprinkles? No worries! Decorate a frosted cake by pressing chopped nuts against the sides. Then sprinkle nuts on top in a swirl shape.
—Sources: ‘Thoughts for Buffets’ (1958) and ‘Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book’ (1962 edition)
Get more fun retro recipe ideas and vintage style and beauty tips by following The Dapper Dahlia on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
If you love baking retro recipes, try this Orange Nut Bread recipe from a 1960s cookbook!
