5 Brilliant Baking Tips For Singles

An interesting statistic recently came to our attention: for the first time since 1976, when the statistic was first tracked, more than half of adults in the U.S are single. And it got us thinking--what does this mean for the baking business?

Well, in addition to the apparent benefits to society, the singles boom opens up a host of new questions for people cooking (and baking) for one. Like "Why do recipes force me to make 12 cupcakes? What I am I going to do with all those cupcakes?" So much of the time, we bake because there's a group event going on--company party, family gathering, book club meeting, etc. It's all about quantity, right?

Not for singles. When baking for yourself, you need to think small batch. Here are 5 brilliant tips for baking single:

1. Get the right equipment. You don't need one of everything, and you don't need to clutter your kitchen with lots of unnecessary tools. Use this list to get you started and add to your collection if necessary, as your skills grow.

2. Be organized. Baking for one requires finesse. Make sure you have your ingredients and tools organized and ready to go before starting your recipe. You don't want to be looking for them while in the middle of mixing the batter!

3. Use small bowls and pans. When making small batches, the batter can quickly become overworked if you're using a large mixer. Get in the habit of mixing by hand or hand mixer to avoid a tough cupcake or brownie. A carefully wielded hand mixer will do a better job than a powerful stand mixer on smaller amounts of batter or frosting.

4. Bookmark helpful sites. You are not the first person who ever pondered how to bake in small batches. There are many sites that specialize in the concept. Here's one we like.

5. Learn how to make one cupcake. Yes, it can be done. Here's how.

Baking for one can be fun and rewarding. Remember--it's all about the creative experience! Do you have any tips or experiences to share as a single baker? We'd love to hear them!