Intro to Baking: March Syllabus

📌 Class topics are subject to change at the professor’s discretion.

Phase 2: Intermediate Skills (Weeks 5-8)

Focus:
Building on foundational skills by exploring ingredient substitutions, historical baking traditions, and seasonal flavors.

Goal:
By the end of this phase, students will have a deeper understanding of ingredient functionality, baking history, and new techniques that allow for creativity and adaptation.

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Week 5: Bundt or Pound Cake? Understanding the Differences 
(Week of March 2, 2025) *Joint class as I sub for Professor Shanice in her absence.
📖 Theory: We’ll discuss the historical background of a Pound Cake. 
Pound Cake: Dense texture, traditionally made with equal parts of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour.
Bundt Cake: Defined by the Bundt pan rather than specific ingredients, allowing for variation in recipes.
🍰 Recipe: Traditional Pound Cake & Classic Bundt Cake
🎁 Bonus: Pan Preparation Tips for the Perfect Cake Release
🎯 Key Skills: Ingredient functionality, cake structure, and presentation techniques.

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Week 6: No Eggs, No Problem! Lemon Wacky Cake 
(Week of March 9, 2025)
📖 Theory: Developed during the Great Depression and World War II when eggs, butter, and milk were scarce or expensive, Wacky Cake became a creative solution to ingredient shortages.
🍪 Recipe: Lemon Wacky Cake
🎁 Bonus: Exploring Variations: How to Customize Wacky Cake with Different Flavors
🎯 Key Skills: Egg-free baking, understanding chemical reactions in baking, and adapting recipes based on available ingredients.

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Week 7: Banana’s or Nah? The Tradition of Banana Pudding 
(Week of March 16, 2025)
📖 Theory: Cultural Origins: Banana pudding has deep roots in Southern cuisine, evolving from 19th-century layered desserts into a beloved classic.
🍰 Recipe: Simple traditional Banana Pudding
✨ Black History Highlight: Exploring the Role of Banana Pudding in Southern Hospitality and Family Gatherings
🎯 Key Skills: Layering desserts, understanding flavor development, and incorporating texture contrast.

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Week 8: Is It Springtime Yet? Incorporating Citrus in Baking 
(Week of March 23, 2025)
📖 Theory: The role of seasonal ingredients in enhancing the flavor and appeal of baked goods.
🍪 Recipe: Classic Lemon TeaCakes
🎁 Highlight: What other kinds of TeaCakes can we make? Let’s discuss. 
🎯 Key Skills: Balancing flavors and adapting recipes for seasonal ingredients.