Tips to elevate your baking from Canada's top amateur bakers

Season 8 of The Great Canadian Baking Show features some of the most talented amateur bakers from across the country. 

We asked them to share their favourite tools, ingredients and music that inspires their baking. And they give us the tea on the hottest tips and tricks you can use to create swoon-worthy treats at home. 

What is one baking tool you can't live without?

Pamela: I cannot live without a scale. It's the single most important tool for guaranteeing consistent and reproducible results.

Patty: Girl needs a whisk. All sizes. Good for a quick whip of a small amount of egg whites or a large amount of whipped cream if you have the arm power. You can also mix your dry ingredients fairly effectively if you forgot to sift.

Marcus: The one baking tool I cannot live without are my silicone spatulas. I admit I am a bit OCD when it comes to using up all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. I do not like to waste any amount of batter / ingredients if I do not have to. So the silicone spatula scoops them all nicely and leaves a clean bowl to wash.

Jen: The stand mixer is so versatile and just allows me to bake more without as much elbow grease.

What is one premium ingredient you splurge on?

Réjean: I would have to say chocolate. Chocolate comes in many forms, from dollar-store chocolate (with a higher wax content than tapered candles) to a spectacular Fjak chocolate from Norway. I usually go for a McGuire chocolate, which is not only delicious, but Canadian as well!

Marcus: If I could splurge on one premium ingredient it would be edible gold. I love finishing off my desserts with some edible gold. My family and friends call it my signature look to have it on my desserts.

Guillaume: The miracle berry! I heard about it a few years ago and it still obsesses me to this day. I would love to try it to feel how it alters the flavors.

Elora: Saffron. I think saffron can be used for both sweet and savoury. And it tastes incredible.

Pamela: Vanilla. I have a strong dislike for most artificial flavours and really appreciate the taste of true vanilla. A little goes a long way and makes all the difference, either when baking with few ingredients or where vanilla is the star flavour.

What's your best tip for beginner bakers?

Erica: Don't get scared by the details and the fancy words. Be brave and try anyways.

Christine: Research something you'd like to make. There are so many resources online. Find a recipe that has clear instructions and WEIGH your ingredients.Buy yourself a decent digital scale, it makes all the difference it achieving a good quality bake. 

Jen: I think the best thing beginner bakers can do is to learn how to bake the things you love to eat. Start with simple things and make them the way you like them and that confidence will help you move on to other bakes. The best thing about baking is making the things you love and to be able to bake for others.

Marcus: The best tip for beginners is when it comes to baking something in the oven is do not just trust the time shown in the recipe. Always use your eye to see when the baked good becomes a nice golden colour that for most baked goods indicates it is nicely baked. 

Patty: Ingredients should be at room temperature.

Réjean: Everybody makes mistakes when baking. So take a deep breath and see how you can make this mistake work for you. As they say in theatre, "it's all about the recovery." 

What's the best gift for a new baker?

Pamela: The best gift for the baker in your life is that fancy butter they won't buy for themselves. 

Patty: Your favourite cookbook with tips and tricks you have learned while making the recipes your own.

Christine: Good quality, light coloured aluminum cake pans and a digital scale. 

Réjean: Support! You may not be able to buy this in aisle seven at Walmart, but supporting the baker in your life is the best and it's absolutely free!  When I was practicing for the show, my spouse told me to focus on practicing and he would focus on cleaning. That support meant that I could spend more time creating and less time scrubbing. That meant the world to me. 

What song do you bake to?

Christine: I tell Alexa to put Taylor Swift's new album on. 

Marcus: I've been listening to some of her songs on that album, so I just keep that on repeat.

Jen: I don't usually bake to music. I bake to podcasts and you probably wouldn't expect it, but I'm listening to running or obstacle course racing podcasts.

Guillaume: I'm a millennial who loves girl groups. I'm baking to the Pussycat Dolls or Ariana Grande. I'm a huge pop fan.

Erica: I bake to an entire album by Canadian singer songwriter musician Cindy Lee. They have a two hour album called Diamond Jubilee and I will listen to it start to finish. Maybe multiple times.

Patty: It's the Biebs all the way. I'm 1,000% a Belieber and it's always Justin Bieber blasting in the background. Always. Forever. 

Réjean: I bake to ABBA, but my favorite song is Mamma Mia! Because I'm constantly starting over and over until I get it right. And sometimes that song plays a very long time.

Watch Season 8 of The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Gem free now.