Baking at Home: Tips from the Crunchie Meltz Kitchen

There’s something incredibly comforting about the smell of freshly baked treats wafting through the house. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, baking at home can be a joyful, rewarding experience, especially when you have a few insider tips up your sleeve.

At Crunchie Meltz, where every bite of brownie is crafted with love and precision, we’ve learned a thing or two about turning simple ingredients into irresistible delights. Here are some of our top baking tips to help you recreate that Crunchie Meltz magic in your kitchen.

1. Start with Room Temperature Ingredients
It may sound simple, but using ingredients like butter, eggs, and milk at room temperature can make a big difference in the texture of your baked goods. Room-temperature butter creams better with sugar, eggs mix more evenly into batter, and dairy binds ingredients more smoothly. If you're short on time, place eggs in warm water for a few minutes or slightly soften butter in the microwave, just don’t melt it completely.

2. Measure Like a Pro
Baking is a science, and precision matters. Use measuring cups and spoons designed for dry and liquid ingredients, respectively. For flour, don’t scoop directly from the bag — this can pack it down and result in more than you need. Instead, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a flat edge.

3. Know Your Oven
Every oven has its quirks. Some run hotter, others cooler. Invest in an oven thermometer to be sure your temperature is accurate. Preheating your oven fully before baking is also crucial; starting with the right heat ensures proper rising and texture.

If you're baking brownies or cookies, consider rotating your tray halfway through for even baking, especially if your oven has hot spots.

4. Don’t Overmix
Once you’ve added your dry ingredients to the wet, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to tough textures and deflated bakes. This is especially true for brownies, a few lumps are okay! A gentle hand keeps the final product soft and rich.

5. Use Quality Chocolate
If your recipe calls for chocolate, especially in brownies like our beloved Crunchie Meltz, the quality of chocolate makes all the difference. Choose good couverture or baking chocolate with a high cocoa content. Avoid overly sweet or waxy types, as they can dull the richness and depth of your bakes.

6. Line and Grease Your Bakeware
To save yourself the frustration of sticking and breaking, always line your baking tins with parchment paper or grease them well with butter. This makes it easy to lift out your brownies or cakes in one clean piece and keeps the edges perfectly formed.

7. Test for Doneness the Right Way
Timing matters, but so does the visual and tactile test. For brownies, insert a toothpick into the centre. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs, they’re done; don’t wait for it to be totally clean, or you’ll risk a dry, cakey texture. Cookies should have slightly golden edges and soft centres that continue to set as they cool.

8. Cool Before Cutting
It’s tempting to slice into your brownies or cakes the moment they come out of the oven, but patience pays off. Letting them cool completely (or mostly) allows the texture to firm up, making cutting cleaner and neater. For extra precision, chill brownies slightly before slicing with a hot, clean knife for that perfect bakery-style square.

9. Store Smartly
If you’re not devouring everything right away, store your baked goods in airtight containers. Brownies stay moist at room temperature for up to 4 days and can be frozen for longer. Layer parchment paper between stacked pieces to avoid sticking.

10. Experiment and Enjoy the Process
The best part of home baking? Making it your own. Try adding a handful of chopped nuts, a swirl of peanut butter, or a sprinkle of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavour. At Crunchie Meltz, some of our most loved creations started as simple kitchen experiments!

Final Thoughts
Baking at home doesn’t require fancy tools or professional training, just a bit of care, curiosity, and joy. From our kitchen to yours, we hope these tips help you create sweet memories and even sweeter treats.

Whether you’re baking for your family, surprising a friend, or just treating yourself, there’s always a reason to turn on the oven and enjoy the magic of homemade.

Happy baking!
With love, from the Crunchie Meltz Kitchen