Baking
How to fold ingredients into a batter
Combine a light mixture (whipped cream, beaten whites) or chunky add-ins into a batter gently, so it stays airy.
Step by step
- Put the lighter mixture on top of the heavier one, or add the flour or chips.
- Cut a rubber spatula straight down through the middle to the bottom of the bowl.
- Sweep it across the bottom and up the side, then turn it over on top.
- Turn the bowl a quarter turn and repeat.
- Stop as soon as no streaks remain.
How you know it's done
There are no dry streaks or white blobs, and the mixture still looks light and puffy.
Common mistakes
- Stirring or whisking, which knocks out the air.
- Folding too long, which makes muffins and cakes tough.
Simmerbee recipes that use it (27)
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Baked Mac and Cheese with Crispy Topping
- Bakery-Style Blueberry Streusel Muffins
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Caramelized French Onion Dip
- Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread
- Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
- Classic Chunky Guacamole
- Classic Creamy Potato Salad with Eggs
- Classic One-Bowl Banana Bread
- Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
- Creole-Style Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya
- Crisp Classic Waffles
- Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta
- From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole
- Fudgy One-Bowl Cocoa Brownies
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins with Sugar Tops
- Moist Cinnamon Walnut Zucchini Bread
- No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
- One-Pot Hoppin' John for New Year's Day
- Slow-Cooker Beef and Broccoli
- Spiced Pumpkin Bread
- Two-Layer Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Warm Dijon Herb Potato Salad
In those recipes the word is underlined in the steps; tap it for the short version. In hands-free cook mode, ask “How do I fold?”
Related techniques
More baking
KneadProof (let rise)Cut in butterRub in butterSiftCrimpEgg washGrease and flour a pan