The essential tools you need for French baking and why each one is useful. With the holidays coming up, these would also make great gifts for anyone interested in French baking.
I think I fell in love with French baking the first time I made madeleines! Is there a more quintessential, delicious French pastry? Part of my love affair with France, and why I adore living here, is because of the fresh, seasonal, beautiful and delicious French pastries available around every turn. Bring a little bit of Paris home with you, or give a little bit of Paris as a gift to the French baking lover in your life, with these 25 essential tools for French baking success.
Our French Baking E-Cookbook!
We have gathered 15 of our favourite French dessert recipes from our Parisian kitchen and put them into this our e-cookbook, SUCRE, 15 French Desserts from Our Parisian Home to Yours!
Buy the e-cookbook here!
Silicone Macaron Baking Mat
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This is the perfect tool if learning to make French macarons is on your list of things to do.
Le Creuset spatula
In addition to being a lovely kitchen accessory, Le Creuset’s spatulas are the perfect size and will help you get the exact texture you are searching for when mixing ingredients. We collect Le Creuset items in red and so we have featured the red spatula here.
Buy on Amazon here
Silikomart Financier Molds
A silicone mold will make it easier for you to remove the financiers from the molds without breaking them.
French Toile de Jouy Paris Dish Towels
Aren’t these sweet?
Silikomart Madeleine Mold
As with the financier molds, silicone madeleine molds make it easier to remove the madeleines while keeping their sweet shape.
Le Creuset Ramekins
These Le Creuset ramekins are the perfect shape and size for baking and serving French desserts, making these a key tool for French baking. We love to use them to make soufflés, – and – .
Springform Pan
Perfect for making cheesecake, flan…
Adjustable Rolling Pin
This is such a fabulous tool for French baking. My mother in law gave us this rolling pin a few Christmases ago and it has been invaluable to making the French desserts on this blog. It will allow you to adjust the rolling pin to create the dough widths you want.
Le Creuset Stoneware Tart Dish
This may be one of the kitchen tools we use the most regularly. It is perfect for making cakes and sweet tarts, as well as quiches for dinners. We used it to make this pumpkin quiche and this Mediterranean quiche.
Copper Cannelé Molds
These are so beautiful and are necessary for making French cannelés but also a beautiful item to have on display in your kitchen.
Digital Kitchen Scale
Even the most experienced bakers will benefit from using a kitchen scale. Hugo swears by them and we have one we use for most of our recipes. When making more complicated French desserts, such as macarons, using a kitchen scale is absolutely essential to get the exact texture you want.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
This is our go to tool for everything baking. It is also so beautiful, it feels like decoration in your kitchen, which is valuable to us because our kitchen is tiny and we want to make sure that everything we purchase for our kitchen is both functional and decorative.
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
We love the Kitchen Aid hand mixer because it small, sleek and convenient. You can even travel with it if you like to cook on the go like we do!
Buy on Amazon
French Copper Mixing Bowl
This bowl is a bit of a splurge but it is from an authentic, traditional French brand and will provide a beautiful French touch to your kitchen. It is a lovely gift for a mom or friend who is an enthusiastic home cook and it is practical too. I am a firm believer that if you have beautiful tools that you love to use in your kitchen, you will be more likely to spend time cooking and baking. This would make a lovely housewarming gift or even a wedding gift.
Balloon Whisk
A balloon whisk is essential for French baking. I love this one with a light wooden handle.
Oven thermometer
An oven thermometer (or candy thermometer) is essential for making candy and caramels.
3 Tier Cooling Rack
The key tool for making perfect cookies every time. Pair this with the online cookie decorating class mentioned above. I love this particular cooling rack because it has 3 tiers which is the perfect amount of space for 16-20 cookies.
Copper Measuring Cups
I love this copper measuring cups! They are so chic. They are also an incredible deal and an awesome gift for under $10!
Microplane Pro Zester
This pro zester is perfect for testing lemons, limes, oranges, chocolate and more for all of the amazing French desserts you are going to make at home!
Baking beans
The fun little tool you need to perfect pies, tarts and even quiches!
Buy on Amazon
Valrhona chocolate 70%
This the BEST chocolate for French baking!
Le Saunier de Camargue French Sea Salt
A high quality sea salt is essential for flavor.
Silpat Silicone Baking Mat
This is a French baking tool that we use on the regular in our home.
25 Tools for French Baking Success
Did I miss anything? Let me know what you would add to this list for French baking success in the comments below!
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