Are You Hesitating in the Kitchen? How Bake a Plan Can Reignite Your Confidence

What immediately comes to your mind when I say: baked goods?

Warm, cinnamon-y apple pie with a flaky crust, topped with vanilla ice cream? Fresh-from-the-oven, crusty with a touch-of-tang sour dough bread? A sweet blueberry muffin that is somehow light yet dense and immediately melts in your mouth? No matter what it is, if you’re reading this article, you have at least one core memory tied to baked goods (shout out to Disney Pixar’s masterpiece, Inside Out).

Here’s mine: Sunday mornings before church my mom would pop open a can of cinnamon rolls with a spoon, and those warm, gooey treats created a lasting sense of comfort. And as much as I loved those canned Pillsbury creations as a child; as an adult, I've loved even more figuring out how to replicate the recipe in a way that doesn't come from a can. Now that same lasting comfort comes from time spent in the kitchen, hands in dough, flour on the counters, warmth and delicious smells coming from the oven.

What about you? How would you feel if I challenged you to create your favorite, most beloved baked good from scratch? Have you ever considered this as a viable possibility? Have you ever considered that you might get just as much, if not more, joy from creating this treat as you do from enjoying it? If you’ve ever felt unsure about tackling an intricate recipe, or you’re intimidated by the words “from scratch"...you’re not alone. Bake a Plan exists not to make baking easier or dumb it down for you, but to make you a more skillful and confident baker, no matter how ambitious the baked good. You can do this!

Yes, you can bake.

Even seasoned bakers can experience moments of self-doubt, especially when attempting something involved (like sourdough bread). I’ve encountered my fair share of baking misadventures. From bread that didn’t rise and tasted like chalk to brownies that you could use as bricks to build a house, each trial has helped shape my baking experience. Even with recipes I've baked a million times, I still run into issues. Just recently, a cupcake recipe I've made multiple times before (I have 4 kids, so I make it at least 4 times a year) called for milk to be brought just to a simmer. Somehow, I brought the milk to a full boil, ruined the milk, and had to start over. Even after years in the kitchen, I still have moments of shaken confidence that tempt me to run to the grocery store last minute for pre-made cupcakes. And companies will use self-doubt to their advantage, making baking from scratch seem too hard or unachievable. Don’t let that cute little Pillsbury Dough Boy make you feel like you don’t have time for something humans have been doing for centuries! The more you convince yourself that baking is unreachable, the less likely you are to experiment in the kitchen and the more you lean on commercial products to satisfy your baking cravings. It's frustrating that so many people think baking is too complicated or confusing.

Yes, you can enjoy baking.

This mindset leads to a loss of satisfaction and joy that comes with crafting something from scratch. It’s pretty cool when a tube of cold beige circles become cute yummy cinnamon rolls. It’s even cooler when milk, flour, sugar, yeast, and cinnamon become giant, perfect, pillowy cinnamon rolls (oh, and don’t forget butter…insert drooling emoji). Don’t let self-doubt separate you from the opportunity to reconnect with cherished memories and the time-honored tradition of baking. Don’t miss out on sharing those homemade creations with friends and family! With the right guidance and support, you possess everything you need to bake any ambitious recipe, and thoroughly enjoy the entire process.

Yes, you enjoy baking.

Here at Bake a Plan, we want to help you (re)connect with the joy of baking, so that you don't lose the chance to create new memories inspired by the old ones. We’re here to combat self-doubt with practical guidance that tackles various aspects of baking (like selecting the right tools or methods).

Then the next time you hear “baked goods”, you won’t just picture the end result. You’ll picture yourself, in your kitchen, apron on, favorite tunes playing, enjoying and savoring the whole messy, creative, wonderful from-scratch process.

We want you to feel supported every step of the way—so use the form below to join Bake a Plan’s email list today to receive updates and guidance for your baking adventure.

Cinnamon Rolls Created Using the Tangzhong method