Baking skills

Learn about the best baking tools, ingredient substitutions, and tips for baking perfect cakes, cookies, bread, and more!

Cream of Tartar on spoon

Cream of Tartar Is the Secret to Lofty Meringues and Light, Chewy Cookies

round yellow cake in parchment paper lined cake pan

Why You Should Always Line Cake Pans With Parchment Paper—and the Right Way to Do It

Slices of pumpkin pie

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Pumpkin Pie

powdered milk with a glass of milk

Why Chefs Always Have Powdered Milk in Their Kitchen

baking soda and baking powder

Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder: The Differences Between These Popular Leavening Agents

pumpkin pies with crimped crust

How to Fit and Crimp a Pie Crust

cupcake flowers made of candy

How to Make Candy Flower Cupcakes in 3 Different Ways

Basic Pie Dough

Basic Pie Dough for Apple Pie

basic pizza dough

Quick Basic Pizza Dough

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Broccoli-Cheddar Quiche

Close up of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on plate from above

Here's Why You Should Refrigerate Cookie Dough Before Baking

martha in kitchen holding cake surrounded by desserts

8 of Martha's All-Time Best Baking Tips, According to Our Readers

vanilla-bean sugar cookies

How to Freeze Cookies and Cookie Dough the Right Way

lemon-ginger cookies recipe

The 10 Most Common Cookie-Baking Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them

Adding the Icing on Baked Christmas Cookies

How to Plan a Cookie Decorating Party, According to a Baker Who Hosts One Every Year

making sugar cookies

Test Your Cookie Skills With Our Cookie Week Quiz

Honey, maple syrup, molasses, coconut sugar

How to Replace Sugar With Honey, Maple Syrup, and Other Unrefined Sweeteners in Baking

Custard Creme Caramel dessert cooked in a bain marie of water

When to Use a Bain Marie—or Hot-Water Bath—When Baking

New York Style Cheesecake

No Cracks or Soggy Crusts: These 4 Tips Will Help You Make a Perfect Cheesecake Every Time

The Most Important Rules for Baking a Perfect Batch of Holiday Cookies, According to Our Food Editors

holiday sugar cookie varieties

6 Tips for Decorating Martha-Level Holiday Sugar Cookies

lemon cranberry meringue pie on table with white tablecloth

Making Meringue Is Easy—All You Need Are 2 Ingredients and Our Expert Tips

sunflower ladybug cupcakes martha bakes

18 Creative Cupcake Decorating Ideas for Holidays, Parties, or Just Because

sourdough starter

Everything You Need to Know About Making a Sourdough Starter From Scratch—Including the Best Flour to Use

cutting board with citrus ginger cucumber beet oranges

30 Kitchen Skills to Master Before You Turn 30

Perfect Pie Crust

Perfect Pie Crust

Basic Pastry Dough

Basic Pastry Dough

Bacon Cheese Quiche

Cheese and Bacon Quiche

pie crust filled with rice beans

Blind Baking a Pie Crust Is the Best Way to Avoid a Soggy Bottom—Here's How to Do It Right

woman using spoon to mix butter and sugar

No Mixer, No Problem: Here's How to Cream Butter and Sugar by Hand

lemon snack cake with raspberry cream cheese frosting

Put Down the Piping Bag and Try These Low-Stress (but Beautiful!) Ways to Decorate a Cake

Red stand mixer on kitchen counter

Here's Why You Should Be Using the Reverse Creaming Method for Cakes

nordic ware cookie stamps

Cookie Stamps Are the Quick and Easy Way to Make Decorative Treats—Here's How to Use Them

devil's food cake on cake pedestal

How to Cut Perfect Cake Slices, Just Like a Food Stylist Does

sliced devils food cake pieces

Our Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Ultimate Devil's Food Cake

What Are Hamantaschen? Here's What You Need to Know About This Delicious Purim Pastry

almond flour pancakes served with fresh strawberries

Everything You Need to Know About Baking with Nut Flours

gluten free oatmeal

Here's How to Check If Your Baked Goods Are Done Without Opening the Oven

butter and sugar in bowl for baking

Why Do We Cream Butter and Sugar When Making a Cake or Cookies?

buttermilk biscuits with whipped honey

Bake These Small Batch Treats to Satisfy a Sweet Craving or Celebrate Any Little Occasion

Hummingbird Carrot Cake Recipe

How to Assemble a Layer Cake

Greasing baking pan with fingers

What's the Best Way to Grease a Cake Pan?

white painted wedding cake

50 Beautiful Wedding Cakes That Are (Almost!) Too Pretty to Eat

bowls of strawberry cobbler

17 Easy Easter Desserts, Including Cheesecake, Cobbler, Cookies, and More

Your Most Common Cake Baking Problems, Solved

Orange Almond Cake batter topped with orange and blood orange slices in a springform baking pan

A Springform Pan Is Essential for Making Cheesecake, Mousse Cake, and Quiche—Here's How to Use One

martha stewart piping frosting

Learn How to Make Martha's Heart-Shaped Cakes Two Ways for Valentine's Day

Orange-Cardamom Bundt Cake

Our Very Best Tips for Making a Perfect Bundt Cake, Including How to Properly Grease the Pan

3 pizzas

Chris Bianco's Pizza Dough

corned-beef egg cups

25 Brilliant Bite-Size Meals and Snacks You Can Make in a Muffin Pan

Here's Why Kransekake, the Stunning Scandinavian Dessert, Wins at Christmas

cookie press cookies

Cookie-Press Cookies

vanilla extract in small bowl

5 Vanilla Extract Substitutes to Use in a Pinch (Plus One You Should Avoid)

Old Fashioned Apple Pie

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

macaroon vs macarons

Macaroons and Macarons Are Not the Same—Learn the Difference Between These Popular Cookies

heart cake pink frosting

How to Make a Heart-Shaped Cake—No Special Pan Required!

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

The Ultimate Frosting and Icing Glossary: Get Our Best Recipes for Everything from Buttercream to Ganache

When and How to Substitute Gluten-Free Flours in Baking

decorate cookies sprinkles sugar

Want to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies with Kids? Our Time-Saving and Mess-Reducing Tips Make It Easy and Fun

RBV Birkmann Holiday Cookie Cutters

Our Favorite Christmas Cookie Cutters for Holiday Baking

baked alaska cake

easter chick and egg cookies

18 Easter Cookies That Are Perfect for Your Holiday Brunch or Baskets

Vanilla Bean Paste

How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home