20 Baking Tools Under $20 Every Baker Needs
Updated: Jan. 31, 2024
The sweetest part about baking is that it doesn't have to hurt your budget. Here are 20 budget-friendly tools you should have on hand for better baking results.
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Silicone baking mats
Nothing can replace parchment paper entirely, but silicone baking mats sure come close and are one of the best non-stick baking tools a home baker can have in their arsenal.
This clever set of two Amazon Basics silicone baking mats fits on 11×16-inch pans to prevent sweets from sticking post-bake. They’re among the most popular kitchen gadgets on Amazon, and they’re eco-friendlier than other options—simply wash and reuse bake after each bake.
Oven thermometer
Aside from proper measuring, oven temperature is one of the most important factors for successful baking—but it’s harder to control. Maybe you’re baking in an oven you’re not used to, testing a new recipe or you need to find out if your oven is working properly.
This Rubbermaid oven thermometer averts any heat crises and hangs right on the oven rack for easy viewing. A difference of 25 degrees is a big deal in baking!
Cooling rack
While most baking fails happen behind closed oven doors, others happen during the cooling process. These Wilton stackable cooling grids give you enough space to cool dozens of cookies or a few cakes all at once and prevent soggy centers.
Here’s a pro tip: they’re also ideal for presenting homemade pizzas so your hard-earned crispy crust doesn’t turn to mush.
Measuring Cups
In cooking, the amount of salt you add is based on preference. In baking, the amount of sugar and flour you add is a strict measurement that completely alters texture. Stop estimating and get this set of OXO Good Grips measuring cups to properly measure ingredients for better baking and consistent results. The unique snapping feature keeps the cups together for easy storage.
Running out of space to store all your baking essentials? The bakers rack is a perfect fix.
Decorating tips
Cutting a hole in a plastic bag is one of the best kitchen hacks for decorating, but the results are usually sloppy. Invest in real decorating tips like this affordable piping and decorating set. Your cursive happy birthday lettering will be more professional-looking and your rosettes will even look like real flowers.
Measuring Spoons
It’s funny how something as small as an eighth of a teaspoon can make or break a whole cake. Get baking soda measurements just right with this six-piece NorPro measuring spoons set. Skip the estimating process and use their flat rims to easily level the product, or go for an adjustable measuring spoon set if you like baking tools that seem almost futuristic.
Mixing Bowls
Using serving bowls or random Tupperware to stir your wet and dry ingredients in can get frustrating. Instead of trying to whisk cake batter in the bowl you also use for salad, try this sleek white set of Glad mixing bowls to ensure ingredients don’t spill over the edge. The set includes three different sizes (from 1.2 liters to 2.3 liters) so you can find the perfect match for every batter.
Digital scale
You’ve probably seen the difference in scones and cookie texture when you add too much flour or not enough sugar. Heck, even the humidity in the air can change how much flour goes into a cup. Which is why you should try weighing your ingredients. This GreaterGoods digital food scale is sleek, cheap and accurate—a definite plus in the science of baking. Here’s how to weigh baking ingredients like a pro.
Sifter
A common baking mistake is scooping the flour into the measuring cup and then leveling off the top. No, no, no! To properly measure flour, use this NorPro hand-crank sifter. Using this in conjunction with a food scale will ensure professional-level chocolate chip cookies every time. If we just made you hungry, try these ultimate chocolate chip cookies.
Whisk
Cheaper than a stand mixer and more functional than a fork, a good whisk is your best friend in the baking department. It smooths out the texture of batter and aerates your mixture. This sturdy KitchenAid whisk combines all your ingredients with little elbow grease on your end. It’s one of the best dishwasher-safe baking tools, and makes a nice add-on to your collection of KitchenAid appliances.
Classic Wood Rolling Pin
While there are a lot of items you can creatively use in place of rolling pins, owning one makes things much easier when it comes to baking those homemade pizza crusts and pie doughs. The cool part is, the design and job haven’t changed much since its first patent in the late 1800s. Add this Farberware classic wood rolling pin to your lineup of ever-useful baking tools.
Spoonula Set
Is a rubber spatula used for anything other than licking off the extra chocolate? Yes! The silicone heads of Rachael Ray’s Spoonula Set curve easily against the rounded part of your mixing bowl to scrape every last yummy drop into the pan. This set comes in multiple cheery colors and is like a spatula with a spoon shape on one side for easy scraping.
Speaking of chocolate, get a load of these fudgy brownies.
Non-stick Parchment Paper
Even though baking mats will suffice for most of your baking needs, trusty Reynolds parchment paper should always be on hand. For example, you can line a flat cookie sheet with a silicone mat, but you can’t line a cake mold with it. Here are other nifty ways to use parchment paper.
Pastry Cutter
We’ve all been there. You get all the ingredients together to make delish cranberry orange scones, and then you read that the cold butter needs to be cut into the dough. Sure, a fork can sort of do the trick, but pastry cutters like this Spring Chef dough blender are much easier on your hands and wrists. And they make the job faster, which means you’ll be actually eating those scones sooner. A baking win!
By the way, you might like this Spring Chef vegetable peeler, too. It’s an Amazon bestseller and another must-have tool under $20.
Scraper
Kneading thick dough is an upper-body workout. Thankfully, portioning the dough and cleaning it up doesn’t have to be. Bench scrapers like this multi-purpose OXO Good Grip chopper and scraper make it easy to get excess dough off the cutting board.
Use it as a chopper to section off chunks of dough for multiple batches—essential for marathon holiday baking.
Baking sheets
Of course, you need something to bake those delicious cherry bars on. Or cookies. Or coconut-almond bark. These Taste of Home non-stick baking sheets feature an embossed geometric design that strengthens the baking sheet while increasing the airflow to food. Our Test Kitchen approves!
Mini muffin pans
One of the fun parts about mini muffin pans is how creative you can get. Personal cheesecakes, mini pizzas, one-bite frittatas, brownie bites—you name it. The Wilton Bake It mini muffin and cupcake pan is ideal for baking 24 bite-sized treats at once. It’ll come in handy when you make baby shower finger foods.
Square pan
If you love whipping up gooey brownie recipes, a square pan is a total must-have. Our Taste of Home 8-inch non-stick baking pan is perfect for coffee cakes, fudgy treats and so much more. The best part? It’s a breeze to wash thanks to its non-stick surface and dishwasher-safe design.
Ramekins
Soufflés, crème brûlée, pudding, personal pies—what are ramekins not perfect for? This set of six Bellemain porcelain ramekins is an always-useful addition to your collection of baking tools. They make it easy to create individual portions, or you can use them to divvy up your dry ingredients before adding them to the mixture. Truly, the options are endless!
Baking Mitts
This one sounds like a no-brainer but seriously, don’t just settle for the hand towel hanging by your oven. Avoid any potential burns to your hands or forearms with heat-resistant oven gloves. Go for baking mitts like this silicone-surfaced pair, which have non-slip silicone grips for a more secure hold and added heat protection. Soft cotton interiors feel cozy.
