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Are you stressed out??? Do you get waves of anxiety thinking about different issues in your life??? Do you need a way to relieve stress and anxiety??? Baking may be a way for you to do just that!!! Think about when you were younger. Did you do any baking with your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or someone else special in your life? Did it make you happy and love this person even more? If so, thinking back to those times and reliving those times may help you calm your nerves and relieve stress and anxiety. Maybe that special person who you baked with is no longer with us. Maybe thinking about that special person and baking something that you baked together a long time ago will bring back happy memories for you and make you feel better and not so overwhelmed.
Baking works for me. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my Mom. My parents had a lot of dinner parties and holiday parties. It was not unusual for us to have a lot of people over for dinner or for a party. Whether it was a Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding Shower, or any Holiday including Christmas in July, we had a party. Everyone typically brought some sort of food to share but this did not stop my Mom from being in the kitchen whipping up something she loved to bake. I remember every year for my birthday, she made me some kind of special cake. One year, she was even brave enough to make me a Miss Piggy cake because I loved the Muppets and especially Miss Piggy. This cake was not a 13×9 cake with a Miss Piggy on top. I am talking about a standing Miss Piggy complete with her purple dress, long hair, and her cute piggy face! These memories bring me comfort and make me happy. It makes me want to bake something myself and make my kids happy. This could be the same for you!
By definition…. Baking reduces stress by acting as a form of mindfulness, requiring focus that quietens mental chatter, and providing a sensory, creative outlet that fosters control and accomplishment. It combines repetitive motions like kneading, the comfort of familiar scents, and the satisfaction of a tangible, rewarding result, which lowers cortisol and boosts mood.
Here is how baking helps manage stress:
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Mindfulness and Focus: Baking requires following precise steps, which forces the brain to focus on the present moment, similar to meditation, and reduces anxiety.
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Sensory Experience: The process engages all senses—smelling ingredients, feeling dough, listening to baking, and seeing the finished product—which helps ground you.
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Sense of Control:
When life feels chaotic, the structured, predictable nature of baking provides a sense of mastery and control.
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Repetitive, Calming Action: Kneading dough, stirring batter, or decorating can be repetitive and soothing, lowering stress hormones.
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Creative Outlet: Decorating and baking allows for creative expression, which has been shown to improve mental health and increase feelings of flourishing.
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Nostalgia and Comfort: The aroma and act of baking often trigger positive, warm, and comforting memories.
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Sharing and Connection: Sharing baked goods with others fosters social connection, which can increase happiness and reduce feelings of isolation.
Self-care note: Choosing recipes that make you feel happy and empowered—not overwhelmed—is key to using baking as a positive coping tool.
Are you worried about having too many sweets around if you bake? Are you worried about your kids consuming too much sugar? Share your baking with family and friends! Do you know someone who is going through a hard time? Maybe someone you know has been sick and hasn’t been able to be in the kitchen…. give them something to make them feel better. It will not only make them feel better but it will make you feel good to share something you made. You will make someone’s day better and bring a smile to their face. A small act of kindness can truly make someone’s day if they are going through a hard time or not feeling well.
You don’t have to be a pastry chef or master baker to bake. You can make something simple and delicious. Even beginners in the kitchen can start with something simple like cookies. Whether it is chocolate chip , sugar , oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, or even brownies, you can bake! Even if you buy a brownie or cookie mix at the supermarket and put some on a paper plate & share them with a neighbor, friend, or family, you will make their day!
Here is a simple chocolate chip recipe you could start baking with:
Ingredients:
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3 1/4 cups flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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3/4 teaspoon salt
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1 1/3 cups butter, softened
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1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
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1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
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2 eggs
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4 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1 package (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
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1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts, if desired.
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Drop by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
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Bake on cookie sheets 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
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I hope you give baking a try the next time you are feeling stressed or are experiencing anxiety. Treat yourself with a sweet treat paired with your favorite beverage. Maybe it’s milk, iced coffee, freshly brewed hot coffee, hot tea, iced tea, or whatever makes you happy. Take a deep breath and know everything will get better. I hope this makes your day and gives you some stress relief and peace. Have a great day and stay tuned for my next post. Thank you for visiting!
