Two common mixing methods in baking are the creaming method and the muffin method. Once you come to understand both, your recipes will turn ...(UpdatedfromMay10,2014)Wanttobecomeabetterbakerandfeellikeaprointhekitchenwhenyoucanrecognizeexactlywhichmethodofmixingwillbeusedjustbylookingattherecipe?Thisarticlewillhelpyoutodojustthat.Whiletherearescoresofmixingmethodsusedinbaking,manyrecipesforcakes,muffins,cookies,andmoreutilizeoneoftwomethods:themuffinmethodorthecreamingmethod.Onceyouunderstandthesetwomethods,youwillquicklyrecognizethemethodinanyrecipeandinstantlyknowwhatyoumustdotomixthebatterordoughproperly.Understandingthesemethodsandhowtheyworkwillmakeyouabetterbaker.TheDifferenceBetweentheTwoMixingMethodsInthecreamingmethod,wecreamthefat(butterorshortening)withthesugaruntillightandthenaddtheotheringredients.Youmightrecognizethismixingmethodfromyourfavoritecookierecipes.Inthemuffinmethod,wemixtheliquidsandthedryingredientsseparatelyandthenstirthemtogetheruntiljustcombined.Youmightrecognizethismethodofmixingfromyourwafflerecipes.TheCreamingMethodInthecreamingmethod,placethebutterorshorteninginthemixingbowlofyourelectricmixer.Addthesugar,spices,andsalt.Creamthemixturetogetherwiththepaddleattachmentforthemixer.(Ofcourse,recipesthatcallforoilinsteadofbutterorshorteningcannotbecreamedunlessyousubstitutewithbutterorshortening.)Theobjectiveistodrivethesharpsugarcrystalsthroughthebutterorshorteningcreatingtinyvoidsofairinthemixture.Thisentrainedairwillhelpthemuffinsrise.Thecreamingmethodhastwoadvantages:Thesugarandfatarewell-dispersedinthebatterandtheentrainedairtendstomakeforalight,finecrumbinthemuffins.StepsintheCreamingMethodWiththepaddleattachmentofanelectricmixer,creamtogetherthebutterorshorteningandsugars,spices,andsaltuntillight.Addtheeggsoneatatime,creamingaftereach.Addtheliquidingredientsandstirthemin.Donotover-stiroryoumayreducetheentrainedairinthecreamedmixture.Mixtheflourandleaveningstogetherandthenaddthemtothecreamedmixture.Mixuntiljustcombined.Placeintinsora