There’s something about the smells of summer, from freshly cut grass to scented flowers, add a sprinkle of baking into the mix and you’re in heaven. From sweet cookies and banana bread to lemon loaves and party pizzas, we love all forms of summer baking. If you’re a budding baker, then read our top 10 baking essentials for this summer.
Tea Towels
A baker’s best friend – the tea towel is a versatile baking essential. They are perfect for drying up, wiping hands, and having on hand for an unruly spillage. Choose from our practical cotton tea towels featuring Sophie’s summer prints from Bees and Dragonfly to Elephant and Poppy Meadows, or our lovely 100% linen tea towels add a high-quality and luxurious feel to the kitchen. Looking for tips on how best to wash your tea towels? Read our handy guide.
Double Oven Gloves
Pretty and practical, double oven gloves are a necessity for baking enthusiasts, whether you are cooking cupcakes or a casserole. They hang perfectly over the cooker rail once you’ve finished baking – Sophie’s designs will bring the outdoors in this summer. Prefer an oven glove mitt? Discover Sophie’s matching designs for coordinated cooking.
Apron
It goes without saying that an apron is a must-have when it comes to baking. Our Sophie Allport baking aprons will keep your clothes free from mess and spillages, and they have a practical pocket for keeping your utensils. If you are looking for a personalised gift idea for bakers, then why not have their name embroidered on the front? All of our aprons can be personalised and make a lovely gift idea – read all about our talented embroidery team and the process.
Bees Cake Stand
For those who love to bake cakes, then this white stoneware cake stand makes the perfect fit. You'll spot charming, embossed bees dotted around the edge, making a stunning statement centrepiece to any table setting, party, or home. Made from stoneware with a reactive glaze. It's perfect for cake decorating!
Bees Stoneware Serving Platter
Pretty and practical, this beautiful white stoneware platter is perfect for serving delicious dishes or it makes an excellent display dish in the home. Excellent for budding bakers, it’s the perfect choice as it is microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe, making it ideal for popping in the oven to warm up dishes. The timeless and elegant style features eight embossed bees around the rim.
Roller Hand Towel
A roller hand towel in the kitchen makes things much easier when baking and cooking. Instead of using your tea towel, you’ll have a dedicated towel for drying your hands. They look very effective hung over the over rail or cooking stove too. They are cleverly designed and secured with velcro, so the towel won't ever fall on the floor. They can also be used as a hand towel in a bathroom or utility room and come in various Sophie Allport designs.
Chopping Boards
Made from mango wood in a classic paddle shape, our chopping boards are charming and practical. They are excellent for bakers and chefs, from slicing bread to chopping vegetables or why not use to make a statement when serving sweet and savoury foods? Our Sophie Allport Bees Chopping Boards are available in two sizes, small and large. A beautiful golden bee is etched in the centre on the chopping board with a Sophie Allport logo on the reverse.
Mug
Every baker will need to keep hydrated when baking this summer, so a mug is a must-have. You can even use it for a measurement cup if you like! We’ve got plenty of different designs to choose from including our Home Grown which features a beautiful kitchen garden, ideal for those who love to grow their own veg, or why not choose buzzing bees or delicate dragonflies? All our mugs make excellent gift ideas and come in a variety of Sophie Allport designs! Please note our fine bone china mugs come in two different sizes, our standard mug is 8.3cm high with a 275ml capacity, whilst our large mug is 9cm high with a 425ml capacity. Looking at ways to keep your mugs free from coffee and tea stains? Read our top tips here.
Other baking equipment and essentials include:
- Rolling pin
- Cooling rack
- Baking parchment paper
- Mixing bowl
- Cake tins
- Measuring spoons
- Pot holders
- Loaf tin
Discover our wide range of kitchen accessories and essentials for baking. We’ve also got a beautiful selection of tableware for hosting and toasting dinner parties. Looking for cake recipes? These Pimm’s cupcakes make a delicious option.