I cleared out my cooking cupboard and piled everything up on a table… I’m trying to make a point.  

I think it’s important you know that you don’t need cabinets full of fancy equipment to make glorious things happen in the kitchen.  

I think it’s important you know that I don’t have the most, biggest, nor the best equipment in my kitchen.  I do seem to have enough… and I’m scrappy enough to make things work.  

Let’s talk kitchen gear:  what you must have and what you might want to have on hand.  

Aaaand, go!

Joy the Baker Kitchen Must Haves:

A good mixer.  I have a fancy Kitchen Aid… but any good stand mixer will do.  You don’t have to drop hundreds on a mixer to get a good one.  

Half sheet baking pan… for cookies and roasting veggies and making blackberry pie bars.

Standard Muffin pan… for all the muffins and cupcakes you could ever want.

Loaf Pan… an 8×4 or 9×5 will do ya just fine. 

Bundt pan

Pie pan… glass or metal, whatever you prefer.

Round cake pans… either 8-inch or 9-inch. 

9×13 baking pan… brownies, please.

Metal nesting bowls… get these for super cheap from a restaurant supple store.  

Sifter… I use this one for just about everything from draining pasta to sifting dry ingredients.  

One good, soul saving spatula that is heat resistant, sturdy and brightly colored.  God bless this William Sonoma spatula of mine.  I love this thing.

A microplane.. for zest, for nutmeg, for Parmesan cheese, for garlic… for everything. 

Wooden spoons… preferable inherited from your grandmother.

Metal measuring cups.

Teaspoon and tablespoons spoons.

Tablespoon metal ice cream scoop… for perfect cookies. 

Candy thermometer.  

**  Here’s a fun secret.  When shopping for these essentials stay away from Crate and Barrel and other fancy shops.  Find a good (often dusty) restaurant supple store in your area and shop for the basics there.  Cheap cheap cheap and quality that can stand up to commercial kitchen use.  It’s where all of my metal bowl, sifter, sheet pans, loaf pans and measuring cups come from.  

Joy the Baker Might Wanna Haves:

Vintage Tube Pan.. thrift store shopping people… thrift stores.

French Press… I suggest baking only after you’ve had your morning coffee.

Mini muffin pan… for cuteness.

6-inch round cake pans.

Pretty glass storage containers… thrift store finds.  

Fancy casserole dish that can go from freezer to oven to dishwasher and back again.  

Box grater… my secret weapon when it comes to scones.

Metal tongs.  

Plastic bench scraper… the little flexible white kind, 

Pastry cutter… but I always end us using my fingers, don’t you?

Ice cream maker… if you’re really feeling fancy.

Pretty measuring cups… because pretty just makes you feel good sometimes.

With a few quality pieces, restaurant supply store finds, thrift store gems and some pretty and colorful touches, I’ve made my kitchen into a functional and pretty darling place.  It’s not supposed to be daunting… it’s just pans and spatulas!