Many people turn to baking as a way to relax and soothe their minds. Measuring, combining, and mixing ingredients can be strangely therapeutic. One doesn’t have to be highly skilled at it either—amateurs, stress bakers, and veterans alike can benefit from whipping up something sweet in the kitchen. Besides, this stress-relieving activity yields delicious bakes that you can fill your own belly with or share with your friends and family, which, if you ask me, is the best part about it.
That said, it’s not always easy to find inspiration for what sweet treat to try next, so we compiled a list of them below from the r/Baking community to help you gather some ideas. Scroll down to see them for yourself, and don’t forget to upvote the most mouthwatering ones!
#1 I Made Squirrel Coffee Roll Cake With Vanilla Bean Chantilly Cream
Image credits: pinkastrogrill
#2 Tropézienne Cubes, Filled With Vanilla Diplomat Cream
Image credits: goodearscratches
#3 Son’s 7th Birthday Cake
Image credits: Jim-Pansy
You now might be wondering how a simple act of dumping a few ingredients together in a bowl and putting them in the oven has so many benefits. Well, psychologist Dr. Linda Blair says it might be because it engages all five of our senses, which in turn increases feel-good endorphins.
“When we bake, we can get in touch with all our senses—sight, taste, feeling, sound and, in particular, our sense of smell, which can reawaken happy memories that we wouldn’t have otherwise thought of.”
#4 I Made Dumpling Macarons Filled With White Chocolate Buttercream And Yuzu Ganache!
Image credits: Gibby5683
#5 Cursed Pie Before And After For My Husband’s Birthday
Image credits: ButterNutSquanchy
#6 I (15) Made My Dad A Birthday Cake!
Image credits: TurnerkBallet
Baking is also considered a form of meditation and mindfulness.
“Baking actually requires a lot of full attention. You have to measure, focus physically on rolling out dough. If you’re focusing on smell and taste, on being present with what you’re creating, that act of mindfulness in that present moment can also have a result in stress reduction,” associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University, Donna Pincus, told HuffPost.
It allows us to express our creativity, too. “There’s a lot of literature for connection between creative expression and overall wellbeing,” Pincus explained. “Whether it’s painting or it’s making music [or baking], there is a stress relief that people get from having some kind of an outlet and a way to express themselves.”
#7 Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Image credits: BardicConflagration
#8 I Turned 40 So I Decided To Make Myself A Mimic Cake
Image credits: Thimians
#9 I Made Some Vintage-Style Preserved Butterfly Sugar Cookies!
Image credits: Veeeeezy
Then there’s the finished product as well. “It’s either going to have carbs like bread, or it’s going to have sweetness like candies and cookies,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation for the American Psychological Association. “We know those have a neurobiological aspect where they trigger parts of our brain that then trigger happy feelings.”
#10 I Made Brown Butter & Sea Salt Ganache Sandwich Cookies
Image credits: inspiredtotaste
#11 I Wanted Strawberry Cake So I Made A Strawberry Cake
Image credits: F00dventures
#12 One Of Our City’s Most Highly Rated Restaurants Ordered 90 Cupcakes From Us For Their Guests Tonight, This Is Huge For Our Little Bakery! I Hope Everyone Has An Equally Wonderful, Beautiful And Delicious Valentine’s Day
Image credits: ohheysarahjay
Even if your bakes don’t come out picture perfect, they can still boost your mood, confidence, and sense of achievement.
“You’re not spending time ruminating over your thoughts, we know that rumination leads to depression and sad thoughts, if you’re doing something productive,” Pincus said. “And the nice thing about baking is that you have such a tangible reward at the end and that can feel very beneficial to others.”
#13 Celebration Of Life Cake Is
Image credits: Ill-Dipsy_Doodle
#14 Croissant Heart
Image credits: oatymilk_
#15 My Mom Passed Away On 12/23/2006 ….2/13/25 Would Have Been Her 50th Birthday. I Made Her A Cake. I Think She Would Have Liked It
Image credits: Saylemmoon333
And that’s not all! Additionally, baking can help express one’s feelings and foster connections. “It can be helpful for people who have difficulty expressing their feelings in words to show thanks, appreciation or sympathy with baked good,” said Susan Whitbourne, professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts.
#16 Baked This Chessboard Cake For My BF’s Birthday
Image credits: xsaratoninx
#17 Made My First Realistic Cake!!
Image credits: Caliandthemouse
#18 Was Craving Something A Bit More Savory Today. Made A Rosemary Garlic Cheesy Pull Apart Bread. Brb Gonna Go Eat This Entire Thing For Dinner. (Recipe Was From Sally’s Baking Addiction)
Image credits: F00dventures
“In many cultures, in many countries, food really is an expression of love, and it’s actually beautiful because it’s something we really all relate to,” added Julie Ohana, a licensed clinical social worker and culinary art therapist. “I think it could border on an unhealthy issue when it replaces communication in the traditional sense, but if it’s done along with communication, it is absolutely a positive and really wonderful thing.”
#19 Monster Cake I Made For A Friend’s Daughter’s Birthday. Took A Lot Longer To Decorate Than I Envisaged And My Arm Hurt For A Whole Day After
Image credits: faith_plus_one
#20 In Crust We Trust, But Pray For This One : Edit- After Photo
Image credits: J-bone95
#21 My Wife Wanted Cheesecake, So I Made A Lemon And Raspberry Cheesecake With Ferrero Rocher Filled Raspberries And Lemon Curd Ontop
Image credits: Widowshypers
However, baking isn’t an activity that is completely stress-free or compatible with everyone. If whipping up a sweet treat in the kitchen is something that stresses a person out, they lose all of the benefits that come with it.
“If someone has a phobia with cooking and baking, it’s not for them. It’s better for people who start off with a baseline comfort level in the kitchen,” says Ohana. Pincus adds, agreeing, “As long as it’s not stressful and not obligatory, it can be beneficial for all.”
#22 I Took A Class For This Roll Cake. Heartbreaking To Cut Into It
Image credits: AccordingDish3728
#23 Got Ghosted On A Cupcake Order, But At Least They’re Cute
Image credits: halfpinthoe
#24 I Made My Wife A Birthday Cake. It´s Not Pretty But She Loved It
Image credits: SirChesterfield
To maintain baking as stress-free an experience as possible, avid bakers recommend preparing for it beforehand. Organizing your area, choosing a recipe wisely, and reading it before starting prevent you from getting frustrated with clutter or getting surprised by a step when you reach the end of a recipe, like chilling the bake overnight, or realizing you don’t have a crucial ingredient.
#25 Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies! That Are Also Teddy Bears
Image credits: idk_honestly11
#26 Wisteria Cake For My Mate’s Mum’s 80th. It’s Vanilla Cake, Brushed In Yuzu Syrup, Filled With Lemon Curd And Yuzu Jam, And Shortbread Crumble, And Sudachi (Like A Japanese Lime) Buttercream
Image credits: rarerollingobject
#27 My First Bake After Brain Surgery!! Belated Birthday Cake For My Partner
Image credits: holderofthebees
Printing the recipe or propping up your cookbook is another useful tip that can help you to avoid getting annoyed unlocking your phone with dirty hands every time you need a refresher on the recipe. It’s all about organization and thinking about your baking process beforehand.
That’s it, folks! Happy baking.
#28 Cupcake Bouquets Are Our Absolute Favorites To Do, They Make For Such A Beautiful (And Tasty) Gift
Image credits: ohheysarahjay
#29 Cake For My Grandmother’s 90th Birthday
Image credits: LittleMsAce
#30 Snowskin Mooncakes!
Image credits: superkiwi25
#31 Making Cat Bread Has Brought Me So Much Joy
Image credits: abuelaconqueso
#32 Marble Cake
Image credits: Green-Cockroach-8448
#33 Rose Cake Made By Me
Image credits: cuteButDeadlyButCute
#34 I Baked My Most Successful Pie To Date!
Image credits: fruitfulendeavour
#35 My First Tart! Blackberry White Chocolate Ganache
Image credits: xspineofasnakex
#36 GF Is Beating Herself Up Over These, I Think They’re Awesome! (Not Even In A Supportive Way LOL) Any Thoughts Or Criticisms?
Image credits: spa21788
#37 I Made A Blackberry Chocolate Cake For My Husband’s Birthday
Image credits: viviana80sit
#38 Tried Making My Daughters 3rd Birthday Cake
Image credits: riiitaxo
#39 First Time Heart Shaped Cake For My Daughter’s 5th Birthday
Image credits: ChoccyOats
#40 Do Beignets Count As Baking?
Image credits: truebeliever08
#41 Alvin’s Chocolate Cake For My Birthday
Image credits: OneTwoOrangeJuice
#42 Sun And Moon *attempt*
Image credits: SelenaCybin
#43 Valentine’s Hedgies
Image credits: Green-Cockroach-8448
#44 I Made A 2-In-1 Dessert To Celebrate My Parents’ 52nd Anniversary
Image credits: inspiredtotaste
#45 How Do I Share My Baking With Strangers Without Weirding Them Out?
Image credits: DrcutiepieMD
#46 Valentine’s Cookie Box
Image credits: Green-Cockroach-8448
#47 My Valentine’s Muffins
Image credits: Cinnamoon23
#48 3 Tier Cinnamon Roll Cake For My Mil
Image credits: Mediocre_Cut9682
#49 Lucky Charms Cake I Made For A Going Away Party
Image credits: jfeinb88
#50 Made Tres Leches Milk Cake For The First Time
Image credits: mariazubair11
#51 Coffee Cake Is So Massively Underrated
Image credits: cupcakesobviously
#52 Pistachio Coffee Cake
Image credits: TheSaltyCooker
#53 Friend Wanted An Ice Cream Cake For His Bd. It’s Sorta Ugly, But I’m Still Proud!
Image credits: HazardHusky
#54 8+ Sticks Of Butter Later…
Image credits: Comfortable-Green713
#55 Super Mario Macarons
Image credits: cupcakkecat
#56 Gender Reveal Cake I Made For My Best Friend
Image credits: agaddiss
#57 My Blueberry Lemon Loaf!
Image credits: lexydelrey
#58 When Clients Send In Their Own Photos, It’s Always So Special To See How Our Cakes Are Displayed With All The Extra Decor – These Colours Are Amazing!
Image credits: ohheysarahjay
#59 Some Items From Easter Buffet At Work.. I’m Tired
Image credits: AliceInWanderlust__
#60 My Family Couldn’t All Be Together For Easter Last Sunday So We Celebrated Today. This Was My Lamb Cake Contribution- Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Icing
Image credits: Poe1031
#61 Banana Cake With Nutella Buttercream
Image credits: pragmatic_particle
#62 Dad Requested A Hot Dog Birthday Party
Image credits: scheerio
#63 Birthday Cake I Made For My Dad 🙂
Image credits: mg-baby
#64 Lunar New Year Snake Cake. Pillow Is Chinese Southern Sweet ‘Almond’ Cake, Mandarin Jelly, Caramelised White Chocolate And Southern Almond Ganache, Seedless Lychees And White Chocolate And Candied Ginger Mousse
Image credits: rarerollingobject
#65 Mandarin Sugar Cookies I Made For Lunar New Year
Image credits: MiddleZealousideal89
#66 I Made This Cake For My Niece’s 11th Birthday. She Was Over The Moon With Joy!
Image credits: MixRevolutionary4987
#67 First Try Canelé. I Think I Nailed It
Image credits: JuliaFuckingChild666
#68 Wife’s First Attempt At Making Pavlova (Lemon/Blackberry) After Seeing It On Bluey. Homemade Jam And Homemade Whipped Topping
Image credits: Jeremy623
#69 I Want To Show You The Inside Of My Cake. It’s A Small Cake That Is 12 Cm In Size
Image credits: Accomplished_Low_265
#70 I Had Some Blueberries To Use Up So I Made A Mini Blueberry Slab Pie. It Was Also An Excuse To Finally Try Making Pie Crust Flowers
Image credits: F00dventures
#71 My Little Daughter Asked Me To Make A Cake With Only Cream, So I Did. While Making It, I Practiced Piping The Cream. I Wanted The Cake To Have A Vintage Look. I’m Into Cake Decorating These Days. It Looks Very Similar To The Last One I Made
Image credits: Accomplished_Low_265
#72 Trying To Bake My Way Through Another Depressive Epi
Image credits: beatrice_arbor_day
#73 First Time Making A Heart Cake!!
Image credits: zinthebin
#74 My Family Forgot It Was My Birthday So Spent It Baking Myself A Cake
Image credits: internetfa1ry
#75 My Boyfriend Asked For A Lemon Meringue Pie Instead Of A Birthday Cake This Year. First Time Making It From Scratch!
Image credits: day_light_nl17