15 Recipes Every Beginner Baker Should Master

By Maria Yagoda
Updated: October 04, 2018
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.
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Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

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

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Brown Sugar Cake with Ricotta and Blueberries

Jennifer Causey

File this under “Easier Than It Looks.”

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Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

Grace Parisi

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

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Devil’s Food Snacking Cake

© John Kernick

Because cakes are for snacking, too—not just dessert.

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Buttery Vanilla Shortbread

Lucy Schaeffer

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

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12 Recipes Every Beginner Baker Should Master

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7 of 17

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.

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8 of 17

Chewy Sugar Cookies

Abby Hocking

These soft-on-the-inside cookies make the perfect canvas for decorating, or simply eating as is with a cold glass of milk.

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Golden Cupcakes

Kana Okada

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

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Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake

Con Poulos

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

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Carrot Coconut and Zucchini Bread

John Kernick

Hey, this one has vegetables in it!

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Coffee Cookie Crumble

Eric Wolfinger

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

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Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake

Edward Pond

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

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Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Todd Porter & Diane Cu

Make sure to have milk on hand for these perfectly chewy cookies.

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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.

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Yellow Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting

Fredrika Stjärne

Remember to let the cake stand one hour before serving.

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