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Category Making Food
Making Confectionery Fondant: Controlling Sugar Crystallization
You may have eaten it without realizing. The ‘sister’ of the famous fondant used to decorate cakes: confectionery fondant. Made with just sugar, it’s a scientific feat. A delicate balance between crystallization & utter stickiness. Confectionery fondant literally melts in…
Why and How to Boil Bagels – Science of Bagels
You boil pasta, noodles, and gnocchi. You bake cake, cookies, and bread. Bagels, on the other hand? You bake AND boil them. As a matter of fact, doing both is crucial for getting that chewy, characteristic bagel texture. And there’s…
How to Make Scones – Dough Do’s and Don’ts
Do you like to experiment with scones? Try to take shortcuts or make improvements whenever you can? If so, this article is for you. We’re going to tell you which steps are crucial (don’t skip the rubbing in of the…
How to Caramelize Sugar: Dry vs Wet Method
If you’ve caramelized sugar, you might recall there are two ways to do so: the ‘dry’ and the ‘wet’ method. The only difference? The presence, or absence, of water. But which is ‘best’? Does it even matter? We’re going to…
Science of Dulce de Leche – Comparing Preparation Methods
This rich, creamy, sweet, brown, milky sweet is downright delicious. Dulce de leche is immensely popular in Latin America and there exist a lot of ways to make it. We experimented with several methods: using a pressure cooker, oven, and…
The Complete Guide to Oliebollen – ‘Dutch Donut’ (+ Recipe)
Every New Year’s Eve, families all over the Netherlands grab their frying pots, oil, and flour. Ready to make, a lot of oliebollen – the ‘Dutch donut’, if you will. Best eaten with (lots) of powdered sugar, they’re an integral…
How to Make Apple Beignets
For some reason, staying up past midnight during New Year’s Eve and celebrating the new year has resulted in a lot of, once-a-year snacks all over the world. In the Netherlands, you’re bound to find a pile of oliebollen in…
What Are Papadums (Papads) and How Are They Made?
Crispy, spiced, papadums (or papads) make a great starter or side dish to a meal. But what is the best way to make these thin Indian ‘crackers’ – and why are they so crispy? Let’s figure it out! Aside from…
How Vanillin is Made
Vanilla beans are expensive and have been so for a long time. So, to satisfy our desire for vanilla-flavored foods, we humans have found a way to make our own vanilla. Or at least, something that tastes like it: vanillin.…
Troubleshooting Royal Icing
Trying to decorate cookies or a cake with royal icing? But having issues getting the icing just right? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Even though royal icing might seem to be finicky, it is actually quite a…
Unpeeling The Science of Cookies
Do you like your cookies crispy or chewy? With chocolate chips or maybe pieces of fruit? Do you like to decorate your cookies for the holidays? Do you enjoy making something special or do you prefer making a base recipe time and time again? Want to use butter or oil? Want your cookies sweet or maybe even a little salty? No matter what cookie person you are, understanding the science of cookies is going to help you in your cookie-eating & baking game! There are probably about as many cookie recipes out there as there are cookie eaters. Everyone has…
The Difference Between Royal Icing and Glacé Icing (+Scientific explanation)
If you’re into decorating cookies you’ve probably had to decide more than once whether you were going to use a Royal Icing or a Sugar Glaze/Glacé Icing* to decorate your cookies. Both can be used for decoration purposes, though they…