3 Small Appliances to Simplify Your Baking Season

The weather's turning cooler, the days are getting shorter, and your urge to bake is rising! Filling your home with the sweet smell of homemade desserts is one of the best parts of the cold months, but maybe your schedule - or your skill level - isn't quite conducive to the confections you typically crave. Not to worry! Modern appliance technology makes it easier than ever to take some shortcuts to satisfying your sweet tooth. If you're ready to get in the kitchen and make some delicious homemade treats, here are three small appliances that will make your baking season as easy as it is delicious.

Air Fryer

Of course mozzarella sticks are great, but did you know that an air fryer can make desserts too? This speedy cooking method offers a safer and easier way to deliver that satisfying crispy crunch you'd get from fried foods, and it can just as easily be used for sweet stuff as it is for savory. There are plenty of recipes for air fryer cakes, cookies and muffins, but if you're looking for a simple way to venture beyond standard desserts, your air fryer can be used to make standouts like churros, donuts, or fried Oreos.

Bread Maker

There's nothing like the aroma of freshly-baked bread to make your home feel extra warm and cozy during the cold-weather seasons. When you've got a bread maker to do the labor, you'll enjoy it that much more! A bread maker takes care of all the steps of mixing, kneading, proofing, and baking while you tend to other priorities. All you have to do is pour in the ingredients, turn on the correct setting, and let the machine do the rest. What's more, bread makers don't stop at bread - they can also be used to make cakes, sticky buns, pretzel bites, and even fruit jams.

It's not just for rice! If you're looking for another low-effort way to get to the best part of baking season, a rice cooker is an excellent appliance for easily making delicious desserts. There are all sorts of sweet treats that can be made with a rice cooker. Of course rice pudding is on the list, but you can also use a rice cooker to make desserts like cakes, fruit cobblers, cinnamon rolls, and beyond. Some specialty desserts, like Japanese souffle pancakes, actually require a rice cooker in order to be made. The dessert possibilities are wide open (and fluffy)!

Homemade desserts don't have to be a big production. With any of these small appliances, you'll have a simple means to make the most of baking season with some seriously scrumptious delicacies!