Recipe for success: best baking equipment

Coronavirus lockdowns have given rise to a trend that has added a welcome slice of comfort to countless peoples’ live.

As Reuters reported back in April, Britain has been home to a “baking frenzy”, with online recipe searches hitting all-time highs and flour stocks running low.

Not everyone is going to make it into the tent as a contender for The Great British Bake Off, but we can all create tasty breads, cakes and sweet treats in our own kitchens using a few key pieces of kit.

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Here we pick out some of the best baking equipment on the market...

InnoGear 32-Pieces Cake Piping Nozzles Tips Kit

This extensive collection of cake piping nozzles in a great-value buy to help you take your cake decorating to the next level. Ideal for techniques from writing names to icing on zigzags, stars and more, the 32 nozzles come with a special case for tidy storage.

£7.99; amazon.co.uk

KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM125BLT Stand Mixer

Beloved by seasoned bakers, this stand mixer is a versatile piece of kit that includes a dough hook for kneading, a whisk, and a flat beater for mixing heavy ingredients. Smaller models are also available.

£349; currys.co.uk

Salter Disc Electronic Digital Kitchen Scales

Baking is a precision science and these Salter scales will weigh out your ingredients in exact qualities in both imperial and metric measurements. The “Add and Weigh” function allows you to measure multiple ingredients in the same bowl or pan, and the sleek design is compact, with an easy-to-clean stainless steel top.

£20; salterhousewares.co.uk

Breville Hand Mixer with HeatSoft Technology VFM021

This clever new tool is like a hand mixer and a hairdryer combined. It blows warm air through the ingredients as you mix, which can cut down on preparation time if you’re using cold butter.

£50; lakeland.co.uk

Round Homemade Bread Dough Proving Basket

When making bread, a breathable proving basket to hold the dough while it rests will allow the outer skin to dry out, helping the loaf keep its shape and forming the foundation of the crust.

£11; lakeland.co.uk