The best baking tools … now even better (2024)

We all know what it's like to work with imperfect tools: measuring cups that aren’t accurate, offset spatulas that don’t flex enough, whisks that are hard to hold. So, we made them better.

After two years of planning, testing, and plenty of baking, we’re launching a new line of King Arthur baking tools.It's meant to be a capsule collection of some of the most essential kitchen tools, all designed to make baking as simple, attainable, mess-free, and accurate as possible. And we would know: We use these tools in our Test Kitchen, our Baking School, and our homes. We know what works best for bakers, because we’re bakers too.

How we developed and tested (and tested, and tested …) our new tools

All of these tools are core baking items that we wanted to optimize. We started asking ourselves: What are things that bother us about existing baking tools? One employee-owner cited bristles that kept falling out of their pastry brush. (Ugh!) Another mentioned it was hard to get bulky round measuring cups into narrow containers.

Then we began designing: tweaking tool concepts and creating mockups that solved these problems. At this point, we were thinking about everything from the font size of measurements, to how comfortable the tool felt in our hands, to how well a cup balanced on a tabletop. We then ordered samples of our designs, and it was time to hit the kitchen to test!

We baked, baked, and baked again with these tool prototypes, compiling feedback and tweaking the designs accordingly, resulting in an extensive back and forth until we finally landed on the perfect version of each product.

Meet the new King Arthur tools

For each of these tools, we zeroed in on common complaints and pain points — maybe a tool was uncomfortable to use, or it was difficult to clean. Then we designed a new version that solved those problems, creating the best, most reliable, durable version possible.

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Offset Spatulas

Offset spatulas are one of our most indispensable kitchen tools — we use them to frost cakes, smooth batters, and even remove muffins from their pans.

The complaints:Blades can be either too stiff, making them hard to wield, or too bendable, so it’s difficult to stand up to heavy frostings or thick batters. If the blade doesn’t have just the right angle, hands sometimes touch the frosting while decorating — not ideal!

How we fixed it:We found that Japanese stainless steel provided the perfect amount of flex in the blade for maximum control and precision. The 4" blade on our small offset spatula and the 8" blade on our medium version are both angled exactly to prevent hands from touching batters and frostings.

Find the tools:Small Offset Spatula and Medium Offset Spatula

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Professional Pastry Brush

Whether you’re adding an egg wash to pie crust or a syrup soak to cake layers, a pastry brush is the tool you need.

The complaints:Many brushes shed their bristles, leaving them behind on the surface of your baked goods. But silicone brushes, which avoid the shedding problem, aren’t effective at providing a thorough yet thin coating. Oh, and these things are hard to clean!

How we fixed it:This brush has a fully sealed plastic handle with soft boar bristles — that don’t fall out. We also included a hole on the handle for easy storage on hooks. And perhaps best of all? This brush is dishwasher-safe, so cleaning is a breeze!

Find the tool:Professional Pastry Brush

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Lightweight Measuring Cups and Spoons

Everyone needs a set of measuring cups and spoons on hand, even if you bake with a scale.

The complaints:High-quality metal measuring utensils can be an investment, making them hard to access for beginner bakers or children — or even frequent bakers who simply want an extra set on hand. And cheap plastic versions are often inaccurate and unlikely to last long.

How we fixed it:These lightweight plastic cups and spoons are affordable but still extremely high-quality: The BPA- and PFAS-free plastic is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and safe for use up to 212°F. The tools also have embossed measurements that won’t wear off the handle with frequent use (and that handle is contoured for extra-comfortable use). And of course, these cups and spoons are all tested to ensure their accuracy.

Find the tools:Lightweight Measuring Cups and Lightweight Measuring Spoons

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Easy Scoop Measuring Cups

For frequent bakers, a reliable set of durable metal measuring cups is essential.

The complaints:Traditional round measuring cups are too difficult to fit into narrow container openings, and some options are so flimsy that the handles bend with too much use.

How we fixed it:The unique oval shape of these cups allows for easy access into bags and containers, even ones with a narrow opening. What’s more, the sturdy handles won’t bend with scooping — these are meant to last a lifetime.

Find the tool:Easy Scoop Measuring Cups

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Liquid Measuring Cups

When measuring liquid ingredients by volume, you need to use a special type of cup, which is designed for accurately evaluating and measuring liquid amounts.

The complaints:Most liquid-specific measuring tools can be inaccurate, and we didn’t carry any liquid measuring cups at all because we hadn’t found one that was accurate enough. They're also not always microwave-safe, a pain if you have to heat liquid for a recipe.

How we fixed it:We developed a regular-sized and mini liquid measuring cup and tested extensively to make sure both were the most accurate on the market. They’re made with heavyweight glass and have a weighted base to keep from tipping, and they're microwave-safe. The mini version is perfect for smaller ingredient amounts, like vanilla extract and other flavorings.

Find the tools:Liquid Measuring Cup and Mini Liquid Measuring Cup

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Measuring Spoons

You only need one set of measuring spoons, right? Except, what about if you lose one? Or you need an odd size, like 2/3 teaspoon? That’s where these come in.

The complaints:Measuring spoon sets are straightforward, but they aren’t tailored to our actual baking experience. For instance, it can be tricky to measure non-standard amounts. And their design is flawed — bulky round spoons can be hard to fit into small spice jars.

How we fixed it:We have multiple options for all your baking. Our spice measuring spoons come in seven popular sizes and are slim enough to fit into almost any container. We also have a set of odd-sized measuring spoons so it’s easy to measure amounts like 1/8, 2/3, 1 1/2 teaspoon, and more. We even have a specific yeast measuring spoon that measures 2 1/4 teaspoons, the amount most commonly called for in bread recipes. Lastly, we have a set of spare measuring spoons in the most common amounts, like 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon, so you never have to stop mid-recipe to wash your only spoon set.

Find the tools:Spice Measuring Spoons, Odd-Sized Measuring Spoons, Yeast Spoon, and Spare Measuring Spoon Set

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Photography and styling by Liz Neily

Dough and Batter Whisks

These odd-shaped tools are one of our biggest baking secrets. They’re perfect for sticky doughs and batters, as the open loop design allows for thorough mixing without overworking the dough. That design also makes it easy to clean off even the most stubborn doughs.

The complaints:The wooden handle wasn’t super comfortable to hold, making this tool difficult to wield. Doughs and batters had a tendency to get stuck in the gap where the handle and head of the tool were joined.

How we fixed it:We found a thicker handle more comfortable to hold, and we added a sealed collar to keep moisture and doughs out of the handle. We also discovered that a triple loop whisk works exceptionally well for loose batters, so we created the new batter whisk design to accompany our existing dough whisk.

Find the tools:Baker's Dough Whisk and Baker's Batter Whisk

Find our full set of tools in our Shop, and get ready for your best baking yet.

Cover photo by Danielle Sykes; styling by Kaitlin Wayne.

The best baking tools … now even better (2024)
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