Bake Off 2026 Week 8: Connie Out, Moyin Wins Star Baker
Connie, the last woman in the tent, left The Great British Bake Off 2026 in week 8. Moyin won Star Baker for Caramel Week. How each challenge went.
Baking Muffins — Muffins, quick breads and the science of home baking.
Why Is My Cake Crumbly? Causes and Fixes for Cake That Falls Apart
A crumbly cake usually has too much flour, too little fat or moisture, or too much baking time. Causes, fixes and ways to save a cake that falls apart.
Bread Flour vs All-Purpose Flour: Swap Rules for Bread and Pizza
Bread flour and all-purpose flour swap 1:1 by weight in most recipes. See how protein changes chew, rise and crust in bread, pizza dough and muffins.
Muffins
All Muffins
Why Are My Muffins Crumbly? 8 Causes and How to Fix Each One
Crumbly muffins usually come from too much flour, too little fat or egg, or overbaking. See the 8 common causes, the fix for each and how to cool them.
Mixed Berry Yogurt Muffins: Fresh or Frozen Berries, Greek or Regular
Mixed berry yogurt muffins bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18 to 22 minutes. Recipe in cups and grams, plus Greek vs regular yogurt, frozen berries and storage.
Donut Muffins: Cinnamon Sugar Recipe Plus Jam and Maple Variations
Donut muffins are nutmeg-scented muffins dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Get the recipe, jam-filled and maple versions, and storage tips.
Substitutions & Conversions
All Substitutions & Conversions
Yeast Substitute in Baking: 3 Options and What Changes
Sourdough starter is the closest yeast substitute; baking powder or baking soda with acid make a quick, denser dough. See ratios and what changes.
Corn Syrup Substitute in Baking: What Works and When It Matters
The best corn syrup substitute is 1 cup sugar dissolved in 1/4 cup water, or golden syrup. See when the swap fails, plus honey, maple and dark syrup options.
350°F to °C Fan Forced: 160°C Setting and Oven Conversion Chart
350°F is 177°C, rounded to 180°C in recipes, so a fan forced oven should be set to 160°C. See a full chart from 300°F to 450°F with gas marks.
Baking Basics
All Baking Basics
How to Tell If Eggs Are Bad: Float Test, Smell and Carton Dates
Eggs that float, smell sulfurous or show pink or green whites should be thrown out. The float test, smell test and carton dates explained for bakers.
Can You Freeze Pie? What Freezes Well and How to Thaw It
Yes, you can freeze pie: apple, pumpkin, pecan and pie dough all freeze well when wrapped tightly. See how long they keep and how to thaw them safely.
Sweet Potato Pie vs Pumpkin Pie: Standard Recipe and How They Differ
Sweet potato pie is usually sweeter, more buttery and lighter in texture than pumpkin pie. Here is a standard recipe, plus how the two custard pies differ.
Equipment
All Equipment
Stand Mixer Buying Guide: Bowl Size, Power and Mixer Type
Most home bakers need a 4.5 to 5 quart tilt-head stand mixer. See when to choose a bigger bowl-lift model, how to judge power and which attachments matter.
Gift Ideas for Bakers: Useful Tools by Budget and Skill Level
The best gifts for bakers are tools they use every week: a kitchen scale, oven thermometer and good pans. Picks by budget, up to a stand mixer.
Non-Toxic Baking Sheets and Pans: Every Material Explained
Stainless steel, cast iron, glass and stoneware are the most inert baking pans. How aluminum, nonstick, ceramic and silicone compare.
Cookies & Bars
All Cookies & Bars
Why Didn’t My Cookies Spread? Causes of Puffy Cookies and 8 Fixes
Cookies stay puffy and domed when the dough has too much flour, is too cold or uses little butter or sugar. Find each cause and how to bake flatter cookies.
Why Did My Cookies Come Out Hard? Causes, Soft Storage and Rescue Tips
Hard cookies usually come from overbaking, too much flour or dry storage. Learn the causes, how to keep cookies soft and how to soften ones gone hard.
Pecan Pie Bars With a Shortbread Crust and a Filling That Won’t Crack
Make pecan pie bars with a buttery shortbread crust and a gooey filling that sets cleanly. Includes amounts, steps, storage and fixes for common problems.
Holiday Baking
All Holiday Baking
Soft Dinner Rolls From Scratch: Standard Recipe, Make-Ahead and Freezing
Soft dinner rolls need flour, milk, butter, egg, sugar, yeast and salt, about 3 hours start to finish. Plus overnight make-ahead and freezing steps.
Classic Pumpkin Pie With Canned Pumpkin and Evaporated Milk, and How to Tell It Is Set
A standard pumpkin pie recipe using canned pumpkin and evaporated milk, with baking temperatures and the jiggle test that shows when the custard is set.
Thanksgiving Pies Ranked Easiest to Hardest, and Which to Bake Ahead
Pumpkin, apple, pecan and sweet potato pie compared by difficulty, with clear advice on which pies you can bake ahead and which are best fresh.