Bakery Art Site

Shining a Light on Bakery Display Cases

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:14:08 +0000

Colorful trays of deliciously decorated pastries brightly line display cases waiting to be purchased and eaten by customers who want a sweet treat. Regardless of the flavor or filling, every pastry can put a smile on someone’s face. Simple ingredients, creativity, baking talent, and family recipes can amazingly yield mouth watering baked treats.

Bakery display cases play an important part in showcasing the appearance and preserving the freshness of these delicious and tempting treats. It is important to keep the baked goods inside a bakery display case to protect them until it is time to serve them. If the pastries need to be refrigerated, the refrigeration system in the display case will keep them cool and prevent the icing from melting.

The importance of using a well lit display case will help the customer see all the details of the fresh baked desserts. Many bakery display cases are equipped with top lights that shine down on the display shelves, however, some cases are not equipped with this vital feature.

Your baker devotes much time and skill to perfecting the perfect pastry and dessert. Whether it is baking their world famous cheesecake in their favorite cheesecake pan, or utilizing secret family recipes, their efforts should be displayed in the best light. Opting for a bakery display case with shelf lights will ensure that all of your customers will have the ability to view the fresh baked goodness your bakery is known for.

Aside from the importance of a well lit display case, the other imperative feature to consider is accessibility. If you want your customers to serve themselves, a self-serve case would be what you are looking for. This type of case would open in the front to give your customers access to the pastry of their choice. This type of case works well in fast paced restaurants, but it also has its list of drawbacks. Although a self-serve case will allow you staff to devote more time in other parts of your bakery, time will also have to be allotted to ensure that this case is kept neat and clean and free of germs at all times.

If you choose to focus on customer service and your customer’s “bakery experience” in your shop, you may want to have your staff serve the customers. This will provide quality interaction with your customer, create a nice experience, and hopefully set the tone for return business. A display case of this type will open behind the counter, and will also allow your employees to keep up with the arrangement and stock of your delicious baked goods.

Finally, the level of service you offer your customers and the type of case you choose is your choice. Just remember that whether you opt for either a self-serve case or a traditional style, it is important to keep the case clean, fully stocked, and well lit to showcase your delicious desserts.

Tips on Starting a Bakery Business

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:11:35 +0000

Before you think about opening your own bakery, it is important to create a business plan which will aid in running your new bakery business in the best efficient and effective manner.

Your business plan should begin with a projection of how the day to day operations such as interacting with the customers, and dealing with the vendors should be conducted. Consideration should also be given to how the financial records and receipts will also be managed.

The next step of the business plan should cover the bakery equipment and tools such as the professional baking pans that are required to run the bakery, also detailing how the daily operations and maintenance of the equipment will be handled.

The most important part of this business plan is going to be the financial aspect of it. The finances can be managed by the individual alone if able, or a loan can be taken from the bank. Typically the bank will require a cost effective and efficient business plan which shows the estimated growth of the investment made by the bank before the funds can be borrowed.

Lastly, do not overlook the key factor of a successful business plan – the location of the bakery. Usually people prefer to set up bakeries in the premises of their houses when the business is young. This will help to reduce the start up costs until the business becomes established. Buildings or shops can be rented or leased if the capital allows, or perhaps, purchasing a building is an option for some business owners.

Most importantly, before taking on this business venture, be sure to do complete and thorough research about the bakery industry before investing your time and money.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Bakery

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:08:52 +0000

If you are considering the opportunity of starting your own bakery, the information provided in this article will help you to get an understanding of the equipment that will be essential in this venture. Selecting the right equipment is vital for any business to succeed, and this is especially true if the business is a bakery. New bakery equipment will make the art of baking much easier and will help you to get the job done within a short amount of time. Time is money, and by implementing advanced equipment technology, such as the latest innovations in bakery equipment, you will be able to succeed much faster and rise above your competitors. There are a number of guidelines that must be followed to ensure you are getting a profitable deal from your vendor.

The first important piece of advice it so purchase all of your new equipment from a reputable company who has a proven track record for excellent customer service. If your purchases will be made from an online retailer, ensure that the online store can provide you with the support you will need.

A reputable company will always offer a warranty on their products. Read through their policies before making a purchase. It is important to have a clear understanding of their replacement guarantee, including money back policies and any other policy that is related to repairs and maintenance of the equipment.

Make sure the company will not charge you any hidden costs. It is vital to inquire about the rates, discounts and taxes imposed by the company you are going to purchase from.

Remember to compare the price on the website with the price on competitor’s sites. You should avoid paying too much for your new bakery equipment. A excellent idea would be to search for recommendations from other businesses who have purchased similar equipment. Reading customer testimonials and comments about the company or equipment you are looking to purchase will provide valuable insight about the online retailer, as well as the quality of the equipment you are trying to purchase.

Brownie Mixes Made Easy

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:06:10 +0000

Making a brownie mix from Sticky Fingers Bakeries will ensure that every brownie batch you make will be perfect. Instead of spending the time, hassle and mess that goes into traditional brownie baking, a brownie mix from Sticky Fingers will save you time and money.

Sticky Fingers Bakeries sells the finest brownie mixes available, delivering the joy of homemade baking without the time that goes into making a batter from scratch! The brownie mixes are available in gourmet flavors and filled with all natural ingredients with no preservatives or artificial colors. Simply get your square cake pan, and add water, an egg, and oil, and you are on your way to making one of the best brownies you will ever taste!

Sticky Fingers Bakeries has been known for making delicious scone mixes and yummy flavors like chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin, and blueberry. Muffin mixes and a unique Irish soda bread mix is also available.

To compliment these decadent mixes, Sticky Fingers Bakeries also features a line of fresh Northwest jams, in flavors like blueberry, and huckleberry-raspberry – and English curds in citrus flavors of lemon, orange and tangy cranberry.

All of the products found at Sticky Fingers Bakeries are packed with the finest all natural ingredients and are saturated and trans-fat free!

Enjoy delicious desserts and snacks knowing that they are made with only the best ingredients. Delight in the snacks that you love, and save the time in the kitchen!

The Bakery Ingredient List

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:58:40 +0000

Bakery owners and all bakers must have knowledge of the ingredients used for the products they are baking. Certain properties of these raw materials are distinct, and the quantity incorporated into each recipe is critical for a good tasting product.

Some of the basic ingredients found in bakery recipes are:

Flour – The major ingredient for any bakery product, it is known as the heart of all delicious baked goods. Wheat flour can be substituted for white flour when making batter and dough. Wheat flour is also desirable for most bakery products. Gluten is a protein like substance which provides resistance and structure to baked goods. As a rule, the moisture content in flour should typically be less than 10% for best results.

Sugar – Sugar is the ingredient that provides sweetness to the product, and it can also act as a preservative. Sugar can be used in crystal, granular, and powdered form, depending upon the recipe. Also available in a liquid form, this form or sweet sugar has an advantage over the granulated type as it can be easily mixed into dough.

Fat – The main function of fat, whether it is butter, vegetable oil, or margarine, is to retain moisture in the product you are baking. Fat also comes in other forms such as refined ground nut oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and many other varieties.

Preservatives – Preservatives help to increase the shelf life of a product and prevent oxidation of fat and sugar. Some types of preservatives apart from the sugar form are ascorbic or citric acid, tbhq, salt, calcium propitiate and acetic acid.

Emulsifier – An emulsifier is an agent that holds oil and water inside the dough or batter to retain moisture and also provide a softening effect. This will make the dough easier and more manageable when working with bakery tools to roll it out. Examples of emulsifiers are gums, glycol, monostate, and potassium bromate.

Leavening Agent – A leavening agent provides puffiness to bakery products. As the ingredients release gas, the dough lifts and creates spaces within the dough structure. Popular examples of leavening agents are yeast, eggs, ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate.

Improvers – Improvers are chemical agents which affect taste and texture. Examples of an improver can be an artificial color or flavor. Artificial colors are colors that are added to the product to give a tint to the dough or batter. Artificial flavors are select flavorings added to the dough or better to improve taste, such as vanilla, strawberry, or citrus.