Favorite baking "base" recipes

[Anonymous]

Do you have a favorite simple base recipe that you like making and then altering lots of different ways? Mine is a basic shortbread cookie recipe. It's only got 6 ingredients and comes together in 10 minutes. I've refined my own version over the years but it's based on the America's Test Kitchen one and one from Sally's Baking Addiction. Foolproof.

I can make a plain version if I'm having company and just want something sweet to serve after dinner with coffee or I can mess around with it -- chocolate chips and salted caramel drizzled on top (DD's favorite) or grind almonds in with the flour and add some chopped cherries. A favorite is to cut some of the suguar and add a smidge of olive oil plus chocolate chips and rosemary -- great for people who don't like super sweet desserts.

Anyway I love that i can make it pretty much anytime and that it's so easy to adapt for the occasion.

Do others have a favorite base recipe that is their go to and that can be easily adapted? Would love to get some ideas here. What's the base recipe and how do mess with it? What are your favorite versions?

[Anonymous]

I use the epicurious basic butter dough as a basic shortbread that can be added to.

I also use the Cooks Illustrated Basic Bakery muffins as my basic muffin that I then alter. I decrease the sugar a bit, sometimes swap some of hte AP flour for the Golden Wheat Flour and/or almond flour, and then usually add chopped fruit and chocolate chips. I've also swapped the yogurt for sour cream or buttermilk if I don't have the yogurt, and have used different types or flavors of yogurt. Muffins are very forgiving as a recipe.

[Anonymous]

the amount of onions, celery, and carrots i go through to make my soups and stews and curries is impressive. Just fry up those three items and you got yourself the start to so many meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a favorite simple base recipe that you like making and then altering lots of different ways? Mine is a basic shortbread cookie recipe. It's only got 6 ingredients and comes together in 10 minutes. I've refined my own version over the years but it's based on the America's Test Kitchen one and one from Sally's Baking Addiction. Foolproof.

I can make a plain version if I'm having company and just want something sweet to serve after dinner with coffee or I can mess around with it -- chocolate chips and salted caramel drizzled on top (DD's favorite) or grind almonds in with the flour and add some chopped cherries. A favorite is to cut some of the suguar and add a smidge of olive oil plus chocolate chips and rosemary -- great for people who don't like super sweet desserts.

Anyway I love that i can make it pretty much anytime and that it's so easy to adapt for the occasion.

Do others have a favorite base recipe that is their go to and that can be easily adapted? Would love to get some ideas here. What's the base recipe and how do mess with it? What are your favorite versions?

Why would you start this post and not include your own recipe? You’re asking others for theirs; include yours. You talked all about it but nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a favorite simple base recipe that you like making and then altering lots of different ways? Mine is a basic shortbread cookie recipe. It's only got 6 ingredients and comes together in 10 minutes. I've refined my own version over the years but it's based on the America's Test Kitchen one and one from Sally's Baking Addiction. Foolproof.

I can make a plain version if I'm having company and just want something sweet to serve after dinner with coffee or I can mess around with it -- chocolate chips and salted caramel drizzled on top (DD's favorite) or grind almonds in with the flour and add some chopped cherries. A favorite is to cut some of the suguar and add a smidge of olive oil plus chocolate chips and rosemary -- great for people who don't like super sweet desserts.

Anyway I love that i can make it pretty much anytime and that it's so easy to adapt for the occasion.

Do others have a favorite base recipe that is their go to and that can be easily adapted? Would love to get some ideas here. What's the base recipe and how do mess with it? What are your favorite versions?

Please share your recipe! My DH loves shortbread; many years ago we had a little old lady neighbor from scotland who made the best shortbread and he STILL talks about it. All my shortbread attempts come out too crumbly so if it's foolproof, this might be the thing that saves my marriage

[Anonymous]

OP, don’t ask for recipes when you talk all about yours but don’t include it.

[Anonymous]

I do this with scones. I've got a cranberry orange scone recipe I printed years ago from Epicurious and just change up the fruits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a favorite simple base recipe that you like making and then altering lots of different ways? Mine is a basic shortbread cookie recipe. It's only got 6 ingredients and comes together in 10 minutes. I've refined my own version over the years but it's based on the America's Test Kitchen one and one from Sally's Baking Addiction. Foolproof.

I can make a plain version if I'm having company and just want something sweet to serve after dinner with coffee or I can mess around with it -- chocolate chips and salted caramel drizzled on top (DD's favorite) or grind almonds in with the flour and add some chopped cherries. A favorite is to cut some of the suguar and add a smidge of olive oil plus chocolate chips and rosemary -- great for people who don't like super sweet desserts.

Anyway I love that i can make it pretty much anytime and that it's so easy to adapt for the occasion.

Do others have a favorite base recipe that is their go to and that can be easily adapted? Would love to get some ideas here. What's the base recipe and how do mess with it? What are your favorite versions?

What’s yours?

[Anonymous]

There’s a lovely little book called Ratio with a bunch of baking recipes that are sort of “bases” and nice discussions of them.

[Anonymous]

Something wrong with op? She has been asked numerous times upthread for her recipe.
Why so secretive?

[Anonymous]

Shortbread.
Pound cake.
Biscotti.
Basic meat and veggie soup.
Quiche.