Favorite: Parchment Paper & Silicone Baking Mats

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Occasionally, I will share a favorite item from my gluten-free kitchen: a book, cookbook, gluten-free food or kitchen gadget or a roundup of favorite things from around the web. Hopefully you’ll find some new favorites to add to your gluten-free kitchen! While they may contain affiliate links, all Favorites posts reflect my own opinion and are not sponsored by any individual or company.

I’m often asked for baking tips from people when their cookies just aren’t turning out right.  I feel like what you use on your cookie sheets is a huge factor in the success of your baking. Years ago, the “norm” in baking was to spray your cookie sheets so your cookies wouldn’t stick.  Nowadays, there are much better solutions: parchment paper and silicone baking mats.

Benefits of using parchment paper or silicone baking mats instead of cooking spray:

1. No pans to scrub.  The parchment paper you just throw away. The silicone mats you just wash gently with your hand or sponge and warm water. No scrubbing or soap!
2. Your pans don’t get that nasty build-up of cooking oils that comes from cooking spray.
3. You save the calories that the cooking spray adds.
4. No burnt cookie bottoms.  Cookies bake more evenly.
5. Your cookies don’t overspread like they can when you use cooking spray.

Where can you buy parchment paper?

• King Arthur – by the roll and my favorite: pre-cut sheets that are sized just perfectly for large cookie sheets or jelly roll pans!
• Costco – you can get this gigantic roll of parchment paper which should last you a long time!
• Your local grocery store – you should be able to find small rolls of parchment paper near where you find wax paper and aluminum foil.
• Your local restaurant/cooking supply store – you might be able to find the pre-cut sheets here as well. I found them at the Gygi store in SLC on a trip.

Where can you buy silicone mats?

• King Arthur – I use and love their brand of silicone cookie mats because they have spots to help you ensure adequate/even spacing of your cookies.
• Silpat brand silicone mats are also good and are available at Bed, Bath & Beyond (make sure you bring your 20% off coupon!), Fred Meyer, Amazon, and specialty cooking stores.
• There are also many off-brand silicone mats.  You can definitely save money by purchasing these, but I’d look carefully at the reviews first to see how they hold up.

If you want consistent results in your cookie making, I recommend you get yourself some parchment paper or silicone mats.  Happy Baking!

 

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