Baking through anxiety: from messy failures to calming wins

Thinking about how I baked ten years ago compared to now... back then, I'd rush through recipes after a long day, ending up with flat cakes or rock-hard biscuits. It was almost a form of stress baking, where the mess in the kitchen matched the chaos in my head. As I got older, I realized that baking could be a calm escape if I did it right. I started choosing recipes with whole ingredients, cutting back on refined sugars for my health. There was a phase where every loaf of bread I made would collapse in the middle... a total fail. But recently, I nailed a sourdough starter from scratch, and the pride I felt was huge. Now, when I feel anxious, I'll bake something simple like oatmeal cookies, and the routine helps me focus. It's funny how what used to be a source of frustration has turned into my little wellness hack.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_abby4d ago

Have you ever pulled a cake out of the oven that looked more like a pancake? I once made cookies that spread so thin they were basically lace doilies, and I had to laugh at myself. For a while, my kitchen was a mess every time I tried to bake, which just added to my stress. But like you said, slowing down and picking easier recipes changed everything for me. Now, mixing dough or waiting for bread to rise feels like a quiet break from my busy mind. It's nice how something so simple can turn into a real comfort.

the_jana4d ago

Were those lace doilies at least edible?

the_paige3d ago

Seriously! I love that baking turned from a stress into a comfort for you. How did you figure out which recipes were the right kind of easy to start with?