12 Recipes Every Beginner Baker Should Master

Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake
Photo: Con Poulos

So you're not an expert baker—maybe precise measurements scare you, or you prefer French fries to French pastry. But if you're looking to improve your baking skills and add some foolproof cakes, cookies, and muffins to your repertoire, try out any of these classic recipes, which we're pretty sure you'll make for the rest of your life.

01 of 12

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
© EMILY FARRIS

Start to finish, these cookies take only thirty-five minutes to make.

02 of 12

Brown Sugar Cake with Ricotta and Blueberries

Brown Sugar Cake with Ricotta and Blueberries
Jennifer Causey

File this under "Easier Than It Looks."

03 of 12

Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping
© James Baigrie

For soft edges, use liners; for crisp edges, use a well-greased, unlined pan.

04 of 12

Buttery Vanilla Shortbread

Buttery Vanilla Shortbread
© Lucy Schaeffer

Gail Simmons' five-ingredient shortbread can be stored in an air-tight container for up to a week.

05 of 12

German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake
Amy Neunsinger

All cooks should have a show-stopping German chocolate cake in their repertoire, and this is one of our favorites.

06 of 12

Golden Cupcakes

Golden Cupcakes
Kana Okada

Classic, iconic, beautiful, and delicious, these cupcakes can be frosted any way you like.

07 of 12

Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake

Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake
Con Poulos

Make extra of the milk-chocolate ganache to eat by the spoonful. Trust us.

08 of 12

Carrot Coconut and Zucchini Bread

Carrot Coconut and Zucchini Bread
John Kernick

Hey, this one has vegetables in it!

09 of 12

Coffee Cookie Crumble

Coffee Cookie Crumble
Eric Wolfinger

Crunchy, salty, and coffee-laced, this streusel topping is one of a kind.

10 of 12

Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake

Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake
Edward Pond

Equal parts flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, pound cake is a classic for a reason.

11 of 12

Chocolate-Pecan Shortbread Bars

Chocolate-Pecan Shortbread Bars
John Kernick

Bars are the unsung heroes of the dessert world, as the dough doesn't need to be molded into complicated shapes.

12 of 12

Old-Fashioned Banana Bread

Old-Fashioned Banana Bread
© Fredrika Stjärne

A great way to use up bananas that are past their prime and a delicious quick bread, banana bread is an easy recipe that anyone can throw together.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles