everyone needs a little help getting through Mondays, so this week my gift to you is a list of my TOP 10 baking essentials! i feel like this has been a long time coming!
the top question i get is what is always in my pantry. a lot of people say they love my recipes but don't have the ingredients on hand. well friends, these are the essentials. these are the ingredients that i never EVER let run out. meaning if it’s getting low, i'm buying more if i don't already have a back-up. i can't bake without the items listed below. sure, there are other ingredients that i bake with, for example, unsweetened apple sauce, ripe avocados, bananas, tapioca flour, nondairy yogurt, but these are the ones i find to be the one's i'm grabbing for something every single day!
so here they are!....in no particular order as each is extremely important for a different reason :)
1. oat flour
2. almond flour
3. coconut sugar
4. cocoa powder
5. pure maple syrup
6. nut butter
7. cage free eggs
8. chocolate
9. pure vanilla
10. nut milk
WHY you ask? Look below!
Why Oat Flour?
Oat flour is a whole grain flour made from rolled oats. It is gluten-free and rich in nutrients. I love using oat flour because I find that it is the most similar to regular flour and has a 1:1 sub ratio, which makes baking with it a no-brainer. Oat flour is definitely my number one go-to.
Why Almond Flour?
Almond flour is next in line in my opinion! It is a paleo, gluten-free flour made from ground almonds. It is lower in carbs, higher in protein, and packed with additional nutrients.
Almond flour is not a 1:1 sub ratio though, as you usually need a little more since it is a finer flour. The difference is important in recipes where texture makes a big difference.
I love making recipes using both oat and almond flour as I think it creates the perfect blend!
Why Coconut Sugar?
Coconut sugar is my favorite sweetener. It is a natural sugar made from coconut palm sap, which is basically the fluid of a coconut plant - how cool?! Coconut sugar is refined sugar free
and has a 1:1 sub ratio to white sugar, which makes baking with it another no brainer!
Why Cocoa Powder?
Ok, brownie lovers, this one is for you. Every chocolate lover needs this in their pantry. Not only is it the way I make almost EVERY chocolate dessert, but it is also packed with fiber!
Why Pure Maple Syrup?
My second favorite sweetener. Yum! This makes everything sweet with the perfect "moist" consistency. I know this is not a popular word, however, it is a VERY important word when baking. I almost always use maple syrup when I am not using coconut sugar - pretty much one or the other. Why really depends on the recipe. I like using coconut sugar more for cookies, but I find that
maple syrup works like magic in cakes, breads, and brownies!
Why Nut Butter?
Ummm...is this a real question? Because DUH. Flavor, consistency, texture, basically every reason you can think of. ANY nut butter is always going to be a YES from me.
Eggs, Chocolate, Vanilla, Nut Milk?
These are all important ingredients when baking. I always buy organic OR cage free eggs, dairy free dark chocolate chips is a MUST (Hu Kitchen, Enjoy Life, and Lily's Sweets are my favorite clean brands). Vanilla is essential for extra flavor and any nut milk will do (almond, coconut, cashew - love them all!)
Basically what I love most about all of these products is that they are all real, whole foods, with no additives. I try to eat as clean as possible whenever I can, not for dietary restrictive reasons, but because I believe that your body is the greatest gift you were given and should be treated with as much care as possible. Eat better, feel better, perform better.
It really is THAT simple.
I hope you all have a happy Monday and make the best of it! & if you need an extra boost today, just remember, your effort and your attitude are ONLY controlled by you.
If you need to shift your perception, shift it. You are in control to the way YOU CHOOSE to react and let things affect you. Monday included. Don't ever forget that. :)
xoxo,
Taylor
