Having the proper baking tools is important for success in the kitchen, and these 15 must-have kitchen tools are perfect for the everyday home baker.
Almost every item I will talk about here today was gifted to me and my husband when we got married a little over five years ago.
These baking tools are super important for the everyday home baker because of how frequently you'll use them in your own kitchen. So, if you don't have one of these items and you bake often enough, I highly recommend you get it!
Because I use these baking tools quite often, I am confident you'll really enjoy these too!
Please note: There are affiliate links on this post linking to the products that I have. If you make a purchase through any of these links, that means I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. 🙂
1. Glass Baking Pans
I recommend having two sizes of glass baking pans on hand: 9x13 and 8x8-inch.
Pyrex is the brand I use because not only do they last a long time, but I also love the overall quality of their pans.
What to use glass baking pans for:
2. Cookie Sheets
Cookie sheet pans (measuring at 12x17-inches) perfectly fit one dozen cookies and I recommend having two of these. Nordic Ware brand is my favorite because they do not rust over time, and with how frequently you'll use these, that's a game-changer!
They also have rounded edges to them, so you can use them for a multitude of recipes without worrying about spillage.
What to use cookie sheets for:
They're also great to use with savory cooking (meats, veggies, potatoes).
3. Muffin Pans
You'll use a 12-count muffin pan quite often. I have two, but having one is just fine too! I love my Wilton muffin pans because they're non-stick and super easy to clean.
Besides muffins, these pans are used for cupcakes, mini pies, and mini cheesecakes in my house.
What to use muffin pans for:
4. Cake Pans
I recommend having three 6-inch cake pans and two 8-inch cake pans at the very least. I've tried out many cake pans throughout the past few years and by far my favorite are Wilton's.
They cook evenly and they last a long time! A lot of my cake recipes are three layered 6-inch, but they can easily be converted to two layered 8-inch.
Having a bundt cake pan is also super important! These are easy and fun cakes to make for any occasion.
Check out all of my cake recipes here.
5. Bread Pans
I have two Good Cook bread pans and they are showing no sign of wear and tear.
Bread pans are perfect for making quick breads, loaf cakes, and even ice cream!
What to use bread pans for:
6. Cooling Rack
Having a cooling rack is so important for your baked goods! You never want your cakes, cookies, muffins, etc to cool completely in the pan they were baked in.
Cooling racks ensure that the baked goods cool evenly. I love my Ultra Cuisine cooling rack because it's the same size as my cookie sheets and they have raised feet on the bottom, which help even further for consistent cooling.
What to use a cooling rack for:
7. Measuring Cups & Spoons
I have stainless steel measuring cups and spoons because they last a lot longer than plastic (I know from experience).
I like these measuring cups from Cuisinart because it comes with the four sizes you'll almost always use: ¼, ⅓, ½. and 1 cup. And then I have these exact measuring spoons from U-Taste. I really like them because it's a seven-piece set: ⅛ tsp, ¼ tsp, ½ tsp, ¾ tsp, 1 tsp, ½ tbsp, and 1 tbsp.
Bonus: Pyrex Liquid Measuring Cup. This guy holds up to 4 cups of liquid, which is great!
8. Mixing Bowls
I love my stainless steel mixing bowls. There are six sizes, ranging from extra small to extra large, giving you a wide variety of sizes to work with. They also stack together, giving you more space in your cupboard.
I also really like Pyrex glass mixing bowls. They even come with lids. I use both types of mixing bowls all the time when I'm in the kitchen!
What to use mixing bowls for:
- Dry Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients
- Combining Ingredients
9. Silicone Spatulas
These are a MUST in the kitchen. So many recipes I use call for you to grab your silicone spatula to mix, fold, or even smooth out your batter.
I like these ones because they're fun and colorful. I also like the ones that have a wooden handle, like this one.
What to use rubber spatulas for:
- Mixing
- Folding
- Combining
- Smoothing
- Scraping
10. Donut Pan
Making donuts at home have become a regular thing in my house. No need for a fryer, all it requires is a donut pan.
I have both this silicone one and these Wilton non-stick pans. Both are great!
Check out all of my donut recipes here.
11. Whisks
Stainless steel and silicone whisks are both great to have on hand. I use my stainless steel whisks a lot with my stainless steel mixing bowls, since they won't harm one another. Then with my silicone whisks, these are great to use on non-stick items, as they are more gentle and won't scratch.
What to use whisks for:
- Combining dry and wet ingredients
- Whisking heavy cream
- Whisking egg yolks
- Pudding that's cooked on the stovetop
12. Parchment Paper
At this point, I prefer parchment paper over silicone baking mats because they can be used to line cookie sheets and also baking pans.
When baking cookies, I find they spread less on parchment paper, compared to silicone mats where they spread too much.
13. Cookie Scoops
This is one of those tools where I didn't realize I was missing out on it until I had one.
Cookie scoops are awesome because they help for every cookie to be the same size when baking. I also use it to evenly fill up my cupcake liners with batter for cupcakes and muffins.
I recommend this 3-pack from Jenaluca because it includes a small, medium, and large cookie scoop.
14. Pastry Blender
I like Spring Chef's pastry blender because it has a nice gripped handle, which makes it easier to hold.
Pastry blenders are perfect for making pie dough or even combining your cold butter into a streusel. You may think you don't need this tool (like I did for so many years), but it really is a game-changer in the kitchen.
What to use a pastry blender for:
- Pie Dough
- Anytime you need to cut in cold butter into dry ingredients (like a streusel topping)
- Crushing up large, dry ingredients (like graham crackers)
15. Electric Stand Mixer
Now, this is the most expensive kitchen tool on this entire list, but if you plan on baking a lot, it's definitely worth having.
I use my electric stand mixer probably about 70% of the time when I'm baking. It makes my life a lot easier! Kitchen Aid brand is what I use and recommend because of the quality. There are many colors to choose from, which is fun and allows you to be creative with your choice (I really like my black one!).
What to use an electric stand mixer for:
- Creaming
- Whisking
- Whipped cream
- Making cookie, cake, and cheesecake batter
Again, I highly recommend all 15 of these kitchen tools. As a home baker, I believe these are essential for success when baking.
Do you have any of these already? Which one(s) are your favorite? I'd love to chat about your kitchen tools. 🙂
Leave a comment below! Also, was this list helpful for you?
Such a complete and useful list! Thanks!
Very good list of baking tools. I could use some silicone baking mats. This might be a great gift to myself. 🙂
I'm so glad, Gina!
I love this list. It has a great description of what you use everything for. I need to get a good pastry blender.
This is exactly what I've been wanting! I think I'm going to be doing a lot of baking soon. 😀