Most pastry chefs would agree that baking isn’t that different from art. It soothes the mind and encourages bakers to be creative and step out of their comfort zone.
Well, just like art, baking can also be intimidating. New bakers might fear starting their baking session, fearing failure.
I like to call it baking anxiety. I understand where these people are coming from, and I want to help them overcome their fear. Let’s get right to it!
Normalize Your Feelings
I know no one likes to deal with fear and anxiety, but everyone does at one point, even professional chefs. Do you think the legendary pastry chef Duff Goldman walks into his kitchen every day feeling confident that he’ll make incredible food?
Of course not! He’s faced days where he thought he couldn’t get to where he is today. It’s not just Goldman, though.
Every chef/baker you love and follow has probably had to deal with anxiety at one point. They just learned to understand and manage them.
These emotions are part of the human experience. So, don’t fight them too much, or they might get worse.
Start Baking Anyway
If you’re anxious about baking, you might think: “I’m not in the zone today, so I should probably wait until I feel better.” Don’t do that. Why?
Because people can’t get rid of doubt or anxiety 100%. Like I said, it’s part of the human experience.
As long as you have a heart in your chest and a brain inside your skull, you’ll feel these emotions to an extent. They won’t always be as extreme, but they’ll be there.
So, you might as well learn to face them and prevent them from taking over. If you wait until you feel confident enough, you’ll have to wait a long time.
Remember, you can’t control anxiety, but you can control whether it stops you from baking or not.
Tackle Small Projects
So, you’re afraid to start your baking session. You know what people say when they’re afraid to do something: Baby steps.
Yes, you don’t have to start with a Michelin star-level croquembouche. Why don’t you go for the traditional cookie recipe or sponge cake?
These require simple ingredients/utensils and shouldn’t be hard to make. Starting with beginner-friendly recipes will teach you the fundamentals of measuring, mixing, and working with batters/doughs.
With time and repetition, these steps will be second nature, and you’ll build enough confidence to tackle more complex recipes.
Accept Your Imperfections
As humans, we always strive for perfection, ensuring that every part of our work is refined to its maximum potential. Well, the truth is that no matter how good you are, your work won’t always be perfect.
That’s particularly true in baking. You’ll make big and small mistakes, whether it’s adding more flour than the recipe calls for or using the wrong ingredient altogether.
That’s part of the learning process. You can’t avoid it and shouldn’t be afraid of it. In fact, you should welcome it. You see, imperfections make our work human.
They give it a unique sense of authenticity and individuality. By accepting them, you lift the perfectionism burden off your shoulders, making the process more enjoyable. So, don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
Learn from Your Mistakes
Just because you should embrace your mistakes doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to avoid them in the future. After all, learning from your mistakes is the fastest way to improve and optimize your baking process.
So, if your previous recipes didn’t turn out the way you wanted, review your process, identify the mistake, and understand how to avoid it. That’s not so scary, isn’t it?
Ultimately, mistakes are all about discovery and growth. While most people view them as scary monsters they want to avoid at all costs, you can view them as a learning opportunity.
Set Realistic Expectations
William Shakespeare once said: “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” I know we want to master any recipe we tackle right away, but that’s not a realistic mindset to approach any project with.
Do you see these professional bakers making exquisite pastries that no one else could? They dedicated their entire lives to their craft, ensuring they mastered every aspect of it to the teeth.
So, if you’re new to baking, don’t expect to be instantly as good as these people. I’m not trying to discourage you or anything. It’s the opposite.
By setting realistic expectations, you’re allowing yourself to understand that you won’t be good at baking right away. You’re giving yourself a break, preventing potential disappointments.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to build confidence to overcome baking anxiety. Of course, the process won’t be that simple.
It takes time to discipline the mind to embrace imperfections and accept mistakes. However, once you reach that point, you won’t be afraid to grab your ingredients and make the baked goodies you want.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.