13 Basic Baking Recipes For Beginners

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake Redux1/13

Certain things in this world inspire lasting love. Like this cake. An old-fashioned American classic for a reason.

A broken slice of banana bread stacked on a white plate

Banana Bread by Cook’s Illustrated2/13

A superlative version of the classic American quick bread that everyone loves. And that everyone pretty much always has the ingredients for on hand.

Five coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate arranged on a floral-patterned china plate.

Coconut Macaroons Dipped in Chocolate3/13

Sweet, moist, tender, can't-stop-at-just-one coconut macaroons that are reminiscent of what's found at the loveliest bakery in town.

A slab of Katharine Hepburn brownies cut into 9 pieces, on parchment paper, with a knife nearby

Katharine Hepburn Brownies4/13

Who knew Katharine Hepburn was as agile at baking as acting? These brownies make us think maybe she missed her true calling.

A tray of twelve mini muffin financiers, each with two raspberries on top.

Mini-Muffin Financiers5/13

Don't let these delicate, diminutive cakes with the froufrou French name fool you. They're a cinch to toss in the oven--and even easier to toss in the mouth.

A pink bowl filled with flower-shaped sugar cookies topped with decorating sugar

Valentine’s Sugar Cookies6/13

Sure, you could say it with flowers. Although if novelty is what you're after, these sweet little somethings that are crisp at the edges and chewy in the center are the ideal answer.

A wedge of classic white cake and white frosting with a fork cutting in

White Cake7/13

This white cake has an understated elegance thanks to its tender crumb and lovely nuanced taste that everyone is calling unforgettable in the best possible way. Proof that basic doesn't mean boring.

A cake pan of golden brown cornbread with a slice removed

Cornbread8/13

An easy, foolproof, ever so slightly sweet corn bread that comes together as quickly as it disappears. Just watch it.

A person holding a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie broken in half.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies9/13

Shauna James Ahern, aka Gluten-Free Girl, divulges her decadent take on a childhood classic. You won't miss the gluten. Trust us.

New York–Style Cheesecake10/13

How do you define a true New York-style cheesecake? A sweetly crunchy graham cracker crust cushioning a rich, creamy, moan-inducing filling with a slightly lemony lilt. In other words, this recipe.

A woman's hand using a biscuit cutter on cream biscuit dough

Easy Cream Biscuits11/13

Scandalously simple. Ethereally airy. Magical. That's but a sampling of what folks are saying about these two-ingredient, Southern-style cream biscuits.

A stack of five old-fashioned peanut butter cookies, with crosshatch marks on top

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies12/13

Crisp at the edges. Chewy within. Peanutty through and through. A classic perfected. Pass the milk, please.

A classic apple pie with one-quarter missing, topped with a scoop of ice cream, and three forks in the empty pie spot.

Classic Apple Pie13/13

The secret to this classic? Could be the two types of apples, one tart and one sweet. Then again, the uber buttery pie crust ain't bad, either.