Question 1

What is baking?

Accepted Answer

Baking is when you use the oven to cook food like cakes, cookies, and bread. You mix ingredients together, put them in the oven, and they turn into yummy treats.

Question 2

What ingredients do you need to bake a cake?

Accepted Answer

To bake a cake, you need flour, sugar, eggs, butter, baking powder, and milk. These ingredients mix together and bake into a delicious soft cake.

Question 3

Why do cakes rise in the oven?

Accepted Answer

Cakes rise because of baking powder or baking soda, which makes bubbles. When you bake the cake, the bubbles get bigger and push the cake up.

Question 4

What does flour do in baking?

Accepted Answer

Flour helps give shape and structure to cakes and cookies. It's like the skeleton that holds everything together.

Question 5

Why is sugar important in baking?

Accepted Answer

Sugar makes baked goods sweet and yummy. It also helps them turn brown and crispy in the oven.

Question 6

What's the purpose of eggs in baking?

Accepted Answer

Eggs make cakes and cookies smooth and help them stay together. They also add moisture to make the treats yummy.

Question 7

What does butter do when baking?

Accepted Answer

Butter adds rich flavor and keeps baked goods soft. It also helps cookies spread out when they bake.

Question 8

Why do we preheat the oven before baking?

Accepted Answer

We preheat the oven so it's hot enough to start baking right away. This helps cakes and cookies cook evenly.

Question 9

What is yeast used for in baking?

Accepted Answer

Yeast is used to make bread rise. It's a tiny living thing that creates bubbles in the dough, making it light and fluffy.

Question 10

What is the difference between baking powder and baking soda?

Accepted Answer

Both help cakes rise, but they work in slightly different ways. Baking soda needs something acidic (like lemon juice) to work, while baking powder already has an acid mixed in.

Question 11

Why do we need to mix ingredients well in baking?

Accepted Answer

Mixing well makes sure all the ingredients are combined and work together. This helps the cake or cookies bake evenly and taste good.

Question 12

Why do we use measuring cups and spoons in baking?

Accepted Answer

Using measuring cups and spoons ensures we get the right amount of each ingredient. This helps the recipe turn out tasty every time.

Question 13

What happens if we bake a cake too long?

Accepted Answer

If you bake a cake too long, it can become dry and hard. It's important to bake it just the right amount of time to keep it soft and moist.

Question 14

Why are some cookies chewy and others crunchy?

Accepted Answer

How cookies turn out depends on the ingredients and how long you bake them. More sugar and less baking time can make cookies chewy, while longer baking can make them crunchy.

Question 15

What is frosting made of?

Accepted Answer

Frosting usually has butter or cream, sugar, and sometimes flavors like chocolate or vanilla. It's the sweet, soft layer on top of cakes and cupcakes.

Question 16

What should I do if I don't have an ingredient?

Accepted Answer

You can sometimes swap ingredients, but check a recipe or ask an adult. For example, applesauce can replace eggs in some cakes.

Question 17

Why do we set timers when baking?

Accepted Answer

Timers help us remember to check on our cakes or cookies. This way, we don't bake them too long and they come out just right.

Question 18

Can I eat raw cookie dough?

Accepted Answer

It's not safe to eat raw cookie dough because it has uncooked eggs and flour, which can make you sick. It's better to wait until the cookies are baked.

Question 19

What is kneading dough?

Accepted Answer

Kneading dough means pressing and folding it with your hands. This helps mix everything well and makes the dough stretchy and ready to rise.

Question 20

Why do some types of bread have holes inside?

Accepted Answer

The holes in bread come from air bubbles created by yeast. These bubbles are trapped in the dough and make the bread light and airy.

The Science of Baking: From Ingredients to Deliciousness - 20 FAQs Explained Simply