Baking your family’s traditional Christmas treats is made easier by using modern, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances.
‘Tis the season for visions of sugarplums and all other manner of cookies, cakes, and puddings to dance in your head. But before you start indulging, why not try out some new kitchen appliances to whip up your favourite recipes? By using steam, convection or induction heat, you may find an easier and better way to bake up those traditional Christmas treats passed down by your family.
1. Bring us some figgy pudding!
Anyone with British heritage knows that it isn’t Christmas without a steamed pudding. But did you know there is an easier cooking appliance to make these sweet or savoury treats that you cook in a bowl? Rather than steaming them for hours in a pot of boiling water or possibly drying them out in a microwave, why not try cooking your pudding in a steam convection oven? Available as a countertop or wall-mounted unit, this is one of the best appliances out there for making the moistest puddings, cakes, and breads, as it uses steam, circulated by a convection fan, to generate heat.
2. As good as your grandma’s shortbread
One of the most popular items on any baking tray is crumbly and buttery shortbread. If you’re looking for a way to make this traditional cookie that melts in your mouth, you need really soft, but not melted, butter and consistent heat when baking. And the best way to bake with even heat is by using the latest top-of-the-line electric or gas ranges that can heat quickly and efficiently without scorching. If using a gas oven, make sure to rotate your trays for more even baking, and increase the temperature by 25 degrees for crisper shortbread. If using an electric oven, use the middle tray for even baking and use a ceramic shortbread pan for the best looking and tastiest cookies.
3. Don’t trifle with your trifle
You can’t beat cook ranges that have induction cooktops for creamy custards. Unlike radiant heat from a traditional ceramic or coil burner, induction cooktops can be controlled that much easier. This way you won’t overheat your custard or cause your eggs or cream to split or curdle, making for an off-putting trifle. Other delicious deserts that will cook perfectly using an induction cooktop include:
- Smooth pastry cream
- Velvety mousse
- Unforgettable fudge
- Golden caramel
4. Seriously good stollen
This traditional yeast bread is typically made from dried fruit and then glazed. As many who bake bread know, proofing and baking dough can be a long and tedious process. However, there are new appliance reviews that suggest dual oven ranges that offer a baking drawer are a great way to allow the dough to rise faster, as it acts as a proof box. Unlike a microwave, which can’t hold large metallic loaf or sheet pans, you can set your baking drawer at 200 degrees to proof your dough and use the other oven to bake the bread. This also allows you to bake more than one loaf at the same time.
Genier’s in Vernon offers the kind of appliances Kelowna homeowners are using for perfectly baked and cooked creations this Christmas. Visit us to see, and taste, why.