King Arthur Flour -- Whisk, Rise, Shape, Bake!
The bakeware and tools used for baking bread and cakes are just as important as the recipes - they can be the difference between success and failure. We are fans of King Arthur Flour - their flour, cake mixes, baking accessories, not to mention their online resources and friendly service. This post may sound like a commercial, but we just can’t help ourselves. We have recently tried, tested, tasted and created with some of KAF’s newest introductions- what delicious fun we had!
Essential Goodness Baking Mixes
These mixes include “the best of everything you need along with the absence of everything you don't”…just the good stuff. There are no hydrogenated oils, no artificial colors, no preservatives…non-GMO, and they are all certified kosher. We mixed up a batch of Sour Cream Coffee Cake OU-D, and Ancient Grain Cranberry Bread Mix (OU parve). They are both convenient, and baked up moist, with a crumbly texture perfectwith our morning coffee! There are 10 convenient essential mixes including pancakes, cupcakes, cookies and frostings….all kosher.
Unbleached Cake Flour
We like to use cake flour when creating soft, delicate cakes – and like to use KAF because it is unbleached. Cake flour gives a lighter texture, for tender cakes with a fine, moist crumb.
Unbleached Bread Flour We have this in our pantry (or actually our fridge) 350 days of the year. It is only missing during Passover season. This is the star ingredient in our Shabbos and Yom Tov challahs and breads. It never disappoints. We think that it is the secret to better breads, with consistent, dependable results. Flours with a higher protein content create loftier yeasted breads. KAF bread flour is 12.7% protein - a full point higher than other national brands. It strengthens the rise. We use it whenever bread flour is listed as a recipe ingredient.
SAF Instant Yeast Of the thousands of products KAF offers in their catalogs and online, SAF Red instant yeast is their #1 top-seller. Use in any recipe calling for active dry yeast: artisan loaves, pizza, sandwich bread, bagels, rolls, and more. It’s fast-acting, dependable, and long-lasting, and it’s especially easy to use. This yeast requires no proofing or pre-dissolving. From France’s LeSaffre Yeast Corporation
Pans
In addition to using the best ingredients, the baking tools and pans make quite a difference. No one likes to spend 30 minutes mixing up a batter, baking it and then it sticking to the pan or unevenly baking. The KAF 9” round layer pans will prevent sticking and promote even baking. When we use these, we line each with the KAF 9” round parchment (so convenient) and our layers pop right out. “Make baking a piece of cake! “
The eco-friendly and easy-to-clean pans are manufactured from a mix of 65% recycled steel (for strength and durability), and aluminum (for superior conductivity). They are made exclusively for KAF by USA Pans, the gold standard in professional bakeware. The unique corrugated surface provides air circulation all around, for more even baking, and release. KAF customers, and test kitchen bakers, (including KosherEye) love these pans. Use them for layer cakes, rolls, cinnamon rolls, challah and more…
Party Bundt Pan
Nordicware is known for their iconic Bundt pans. King Arthur Flour sent us the limited edition Party Bundt Pan. The pan's shiny cast aluminum finish) reflects heat to prevent over-browning of cakes. The non-stick coating helps cakes release cleanly from the pan. We all know how disappointing it is to have part of the Bundt cake remain in the pan upon release. This pan offset that problem for us. Nordicware is made in Minneapolis, and is a family-owned company. The pan we have has a 10 cup total capacity. 
Bread Baking Bowl
This clay-baking bowl perfectly bakes dough into a round loaf. Dough rises and bakes up crispy in this pan. The bowl is made with porous clay and shaped into a round baking bowl We especially like it for no- knead bread. The bowl is also microwave-safe. It is custom made for KAF in the USA. Click here for our favorite no knead peasant bread recipe from the book Bread, Toast Crumbs by Alexandra Stafford.
Dough Whisk
Introduced in their very first catalogue over 20 years ago, this dough whisk has proven to be an extremely popular item--with thousands sold. The premise of the design is that it mixes yeast dough (stiff or soft) and the dough does not stick to the whisk wires. The whisk is 15-inches in size, made of beachwood and stainless steel. Once you try it, you will love it! It works perfectly in the recipe for no knead peasant bread.
King Arthur Flour often has discounts, specials and free shipping offers, and is a knowledgeable resource for thousands of baking recipes. It is simply our favorite place to purchase baking supplies. Many of their items are kosher certified.
See the entire baking collection at Kingarthurflour.com