Pastry chefs and etiquette pros share their top holiday baking dos and donts.
Never lose sight youre cooking for an audience, addsAkilah Siti Easter, an etiquette and culture coach.
Especially when making something like a souffle, which requires precise instructions, says Grotts.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Its important to read the room.
Not everyone is a baker.
Your thoughtfulness in choosing the dessert matters more than whether its homemade, says Easter.
In fact, sometimes hard-to-make baked goods are best sourced from a bakery, says Grotts.
For example, when it comes to Honore or Princess cakes.
Then share you brought a semi-homemade treat!
Bringing something unplanned could inadvertently complicate things.
Ask about suitable replacements, advises Heather Dobson, pastry sous chef atPendry Washington DC The Wharf.
It’s better to overestimate rather than risk running out, says Grotts.
Harper takes the number of baked goods requested by the host and adds 20%.
Allow for creativity while preserving a connection to the past, advises Grotts.
And be sure to test out a modified recipe before serving to ensure it meets expectations.
Say something honoring the original like, Hard to top grandmas recipe, let me know what you think!
The holidays are all aboutnostalgic tastesand feelings you may only get to experience once a year, says Dobson.
Opening an oven door can ruin a recipe, says Grotts.
Its important to respect a persons kitchen as their personal workspace, agrees Easter.
Uninvited interference can disrupt flow and come across as impolite.
Having a little note as a backup is a thoughtful touch.
Always ask in advance.
Tailoring your approach to the occasion shows both thoughtfulness and practicality, says Grotts.
This includes dessert forks for cakes, tongs for finger foods, and appropriate plates and napkins.
For more formal holiday events, fine China is always an elegant choice.
If children are present, disposable options are perfectly acceptable for ease, clean-up, and convenience.
venture to wash and return your guests items before they leave your house, says Dobson.
you’re able to add a thank you note or treatlittle touches that show gratitude.
Ensure you have proper to-go containers, boxes, or disposable Tupperware nearby.
venture to pre-slice desserts to avoid messy cuts and allow for easier and more presentable leftover giftings.
Only take leftovers if the host explicitly offers, including what you may have brought to the party.
says Claire Santos Lopes, the pastry chef at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa.
