Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 20:51     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
It’s funny you posted this because I was just thinking the same thing this weekend. I went to a cookie exchange and thought a solid 80% of the cookies were pretty gross. However, I have been an avid cook and baker my whole life, and so I am probably more judgmental.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 20:38     Subject: Re:Are most people terrible bakers?
I do not think most people are bad bakers. I think cookie exchanges are designed for failure. People complain of anyone brings a simple cookie, so people try to bake new recipes or recipes that look good but do not taste good. And why should they care if they do not taste good, they are giving them all away. Throw in the amount of cookies and as someone said, people bake them far in advance or bake and freeze.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 20:28     Subject: Re:Are most people terrible bakers?
I am a good cook but a bad baker. It really is a distinct skill, and I think it’s much harder. So that isn’t surprising to me at all!
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 20:20     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Agree with the observation that a lot of people bake only rarely and are using old ingredients that don’t bake the way they should. And lots of cheap butter.
Also, the scourge of really bad internet recipes is real.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 19:01     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
95% of people don't bake often.

It can be very difficult to bake if you don't do it often. It is very easy to say, mix your cookie batter too much thereby overdeveloping the gluten and cooking when the dough is too warm. End result are cookies flat and hard.

It's a lot of optimization that many people simply don't have time to do.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 18:41     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
I’m a really good baker and rarely enjoy anything baked by others. I notice people who don’t bake often use old ingredients, have poor technique (especially measuring) and rely on untested internet recipes. The flip side is that many of those terrible bakers are magnificent cooks while I’m a terrible one.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:50     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
I am not a fan of cookie exchanges. The OP just had her exchange and it’s Dec 17. Are you supposed to hold onto these cookies until Christmas Day?
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:45     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
I think americans are a step behind in baking, because of the measurements. Florida has way different baking conditions than Colorado. A cup of flour will weigh different in each location. How are you supposed to use the same recipe? Using weights is SO much easier, which is common in other places and very common to have a scale. Much less so in the US.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:42     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Many people ONLY “bake” at Christmas. So yes they are bad at it. Or they don’t scale it correctly for making 10 dozen. Or they are doing a new/fancy recipe and it just didn’t turn out. Or it’s all stale.

I’d just bake for yourself and skip the cookie exchange.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:41     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm a great baker. That being said, I am also very shy as a baker. I notice in the US people are often much more into looks than taste. I made great sugar cookies for a bake sale and they looked homely compared to most of the other cookies which looked fancy. They were better, but didn't sell as well.


Our school bakesale got taken over by cookies that look professional but taste blech. my ugly snickerdoodles are much better.


Mostly because they are appealing to kids so they need all the colors, frosting, sprinkles, m&ms etc. The homely sugar cookie gets looked over. It's all about judging the book by its cover.


That’s not even it! They just look like what you’d get in Safeway. I have no complaints about a sugar cookie filled with m&ms.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:40     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm a great baker. That being said, I am also very shy as a baker. I notice in the US people are often much more into looks than taste. I made great sugar cookies for a bake sale and they looked homely compared to most of the other cookies which looked fancy. They were better, but didn't sell as well.


Our school bakesale got taken over by cookies that look professional but taste blech. my ugly snickerdoodles are much better.


Mostly because they are appealing to kids so they need all the colors, frosting, sprinkles, m&ms etc. The homely sugar cookie gets looked over. It's all about judging the book by its cover.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:39     Subject: Re:Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I confess, I am a terrible baker. I can’t for the life of me make a decent chocolate chip cookie! Like I’ve tried many, many, many times and they always suck! But then again, I would never dare to take them to a cookie exchange because I know better.


Chocolate chip cookies are actually somewhat hard to get right. You have to find the right recipe, adjust for your oven, and then be consistent with it.

My DH tries out a new chocolate chip recipe every year and they are mostly quite bad. I've made the same chocolate chip cookies for 30 years and always get compliments. Baking is science.


They are surprisingly difficult! I’ve only been happy with a chocolate chip cookie cake (basically a blondie with chocolate chips) or the Cook’s Illustrated recipe where you brown the butter and stir three times.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:37     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:I'm a great baker. That being said, I am also very shy as a baker. I notice in the US people are often much more into looks than taste. I made great sugar cookies for a bake sale and they looked homely compared to most of the other cookies which looked fancy. They were better, but didn't sell as well.


Our school bakesale got taken over by cookies that look professional but taste blech. my ugly snickerdoodles are much better.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:37     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Baking is a science. Very different from cooking. Hardest part in baking is following the recipe. Folks want to throw in adjustments and haven’t mastered the recipe first.


That's the funniest part about reading recipe comments. "Recipe called for 8 tablespoons butter but I wanted to cut out the fat so I only used half. Instead of sugar I used Splenda and I didn't have walnuts so I used pine nuts instead. We don't like raisins so just omitted those but threw in some chopped up apple for sweetness. Family didn't like it so threw it all in the trash. Ugh, waste of ingredients!"


NP but this is so annoying. Not to mention the 5 star reviews from people who have never made the recipe, just to say “looks yummy!” Or “can’t wait to make this”. Why are you rating a recipe you haven’t made?


I read a lot of comments bc some are helpful or correct the recipe, but then there are the unhelpful ones which you can tell are baker error. I don't tend to make recipes unless they have a lot of comments and stars, just in case.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2024 17:35     Subject: Are most people terrible bakers?
Anonymous wrote:I expect pitchforks to come out for this comment, but could it also just be that Christmas cookies aren't that good?

I am admittedly a "meh" baker, much prefer cooking to baking. But when we are given assortments of cookies this time of year (for which I thank people profusely and am very much grateful for their kindness), there's honestly rarely anything I'd actually like to eat? I feel terrible because I know how much effort goes in, but I'd rather have your standard chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin than all these fancy-looking ones. It's like there's an inverse relationship between looks and taste.


Gingerbread that’s not too sweet but is i ed is really good!

rugelach are good too.