Baking | State of Mind

My name is Shruti Kale, and I'm a sophomore in high school. I love music, baking, painting, reading, and practically anything creative! I love State of Mind because these days there is a lot of stress especially for students during times like this. State of Mind can help you relax and ease yourself about your daily worries!

Beginner

Dalgona Coffee

This isn’t really a baking recipe, but it’ll help you get used to using a mixer and getting the hang of things! This coffee has become popular and was even trending a few months ago as the official “quarantine drink.” Learn how to make the easiest and best dalgona coffee right here, right now!

Prep time: 5 minutes

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp instant coffee
2 tbsp cold water
Ice
Milk

Instructions:

Combine the sugar, coffee, and the water.
Using a hand mixer or a whisk (the whisk will take you a long time and your hands WILL ache! I’m speaking from experience. It’s easier to use an electric mixer), whisk the mixture until it turns out silky and smooth.
Continue whisking. You will notice the color starts to get lighter, and the mixture starts to get fluffier and thicker. Keep mixing until stiff peaks form.
If you’re whisking by hand, it will take around 15 minutes, but if you whisk with an electric mixer, it’ll take 2-5 minutes.
Fill a glass with milk and ice (to your liking and taste)
Then put the coffee mixture with a spoon on top of the glass.
Enjoy your quarantine coffee!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t like a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven? These classic cookies will make you want more! Here’s the recipe:

Prep time: 10 minutes

Actual time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup melted butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.
Mix the baking soda, flour, and salt.
Whisk and set aside.
Beat the melted butter, brown guar, and granulated sugar.
Add vanilla extract and mix with a spatula.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well.
Slowly beat in the flour mixture into the mix.
Add chocolate chips and slowly mix them.
Take an ice cream scooper and make small balls with the cookies.
Space each cookie out on an ungreased baking sheet platter leaving 1-3 inches in between them.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
Grab your oven mitts and slowly remove the cookies onto an oven rack and wait a while for them to cool.
Enjoy your fresh home-made cookies!

Blueberry Muffins

These blueberry muffins are the perfect breakfast snack or just as a small treat to enjoy in the day.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Actual time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

Crumb topping:

1 cup all purpose flour
3 tbsp light brown sugar
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter

Muffins:

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup canola oil
¾ cup whole milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cup blueberries

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line muffin cups.
Combine flour with the brown sugar, the granulated sugar, the baking powder, and the salt.
Stir in the melted butter. Mix well.
Pinch the mixture until you get pea sized clumps.
Get another bowl, and whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt.
Combine sugar, eggs and canola oil together.
Beat with an electric mixer.
Once the batter is smooth, stir in blueberries.
After that step, spoon the batter into the cups, filling them about 3/4 full.
Sprinkle the crumb topping you made earlier onto each one.
Bake these muffins for about 30 minutes.
Get a toothpick and stick in a few places in the muffins. If it’s clean when it comes out, it means the muffins are done. If it’s still wet or sticky, you have to wait a little bit longer.
Once you take them out, let them cool for 10 minutes before you touch them.

Here are some recipes that aren’t super tricky but take a little experience to do!

Banana Bread

Banana bread is the perfect snack on the go or even as dessert sometimes. This banana bread is absolutely delicious, and I suggest you give it a try! If you have a couple of bananas that are going bad fast, this recipe is perfect for you.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Actual time: 1 hour

Ingredients

2 very ripe bananas, mashed (1 cup)
½ cup coconut sugar, or regular sugar
¾ cup almond milk, or any milk
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil, more for brushing
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour*, see note
½ cup almond flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F
Brush a loaf pan with oil.
Combine the mashed bananas with the sugar, almond milk, olive oil, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar.
Whisk until combined.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir.
Then fold in the walnuts.
Pour into the prepared pan.
Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts and oats.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake to check if it comes out clean.
Let it sit outside for 30-45 minutes so it can cool down.
Enjoy!

Brownies

These brownies are the perfect little dessert for kids (or for anyone honestly). They are small and sweet, and will surely be a great treat. Enjoy these classic brownies!

Prep time: 10 min

Actual time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar*
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3/4 teaspoons sea salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil or extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Lightly spray a pan
In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and salt.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, water, and vanilla
Sprinkle the dry mix over the wet mix
Pour the batter into the prepared pan
Use a spatula to smooth
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs attached (it's better to pull the brownies out early than to leave them in too long)
Cool completely before slicing. (They will be sticky when you take them out, just allow it to cool. If you like firmer brownies, then stick them in the fridge!)
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days

Carrot Cake

This carrot cake is perfect for the fall or even any time. It serves as a really yummy snack or dessert.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Actual time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

Cake:

2¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 large eggs
½ cup applesauce
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup almond milk, at room temperature
½ cup melted coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups finely grated carrots

Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese
1½ tablespoons butter
2 cups powdered sugar
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Grease a baking pan.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
Whisk the eggs and then whisk in the applesauce, maple syrup, almond milk, coconut oil, and vanilla.
Stir in the carrots.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients.
Stir until just combined.
Pour the batter into the baking dish.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
Make the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
Apply on cake with a frosting knife and spatula.
For best results, let the cake sit in the fridge for an hour or two!

Intermediate

For those of you who know your way around a kitchen, here are some more difficult (but delicious) recipes.

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Nothing says fall like apples and oatmeal! Enjoy this delicious apple oatmeal cookie!

Prep time: 20 minutes

Actual time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 4 tablespoons warm water
1½ cups oat flour, blended from 2 cups whole rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup very creamy almond butter
¼ cup melted coconut oil
¼ cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup Truvia Brown Sugar Blend or regular brown sugar
1 cup whole rolled oats
¾ cup finely chopped apple
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line a large baking sheet
Combine the flaxseed and water.
Stir and set aside to thicken for about 5 minutes.
Stir together the oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine the almond butter, coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla, and brown sugar.
Add the thickened flaxseed mixture and stir well.
Stir the whole rolled oats, apples, walnuts, and raisins into the bowl of dry ingredients.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well to combine. The batter will be thick and sticky.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.
Remove from the oven.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.

Cinnamon Rolls

Prep time: 15-20 minutes

Actual time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

Yeast:

½ cup warm water, 110°
1 (¼-ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon cane sugar

Dough:

⅓ cup melted coconut oil, plus more for brushing
½ cup almond milk, at room temp
⅓ cup cane sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
2¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading

Filling

½ cup brown sugar
1½ tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions:

Grease a baking dish.
Stir together the water, yeast, and sugar.
Set aside for 5 minutes
Make the dough: Combine the coconut oil, almond milk, sugar, and salt.
Stir in the yeast mixture.
Place the flour in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture and stir until combined.
The mixture will be sticky. Use your hands to roughly knead the mixture, then turn it out onto a floured surface.
Knead 3 to 4 minutes until smooth, sprinkle with more flour if needed, and form into a ball.
Brush a large bowl of oil and put the dough inside.
Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 60 minutes.
Make the filling: Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Brush with 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar
Roll into a log shape
Place the rolls into the baking dish cut-side up, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Make the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons almond milk, and vanilla until smooth.
Bake the rolls 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly golden on top.
Let cool for 10 minutes, then drizzle the glaze on top

Beginner

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Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced