It wasn't really until this summer where I really got into baking. When you work full-time during the week, you want to make sure you don't waste your weekends. While I enjoy sitting around and relaxing on my days off, I also feel like I should be using part of my weekend to do something useful. I have a pretty large family, so I knew that baking for them would be something I could enjoy. Now, I feel like I'm...addicted. Not in a bad way, but I started to enjoy looking up recipes online, trying them out, and impressing myself! I've realized how beneficial baking can be not only for others around you, but for yourself too.

1. It's a stress reliever

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While creating new treats can be a challenge, it's a fun challenge! Sometimes, the things I make can take me hours, but it feels like I haven't even been in the kitchen for that long. For the most part, it's an activity that's pretty mindless and enjoyable. I've found it to be pretty therapeutic!

2. You know exactly what you're putting into your body

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One thing I love about baking my own creations is that I know exactly what I will be consuming. If a baked good calls for a large amount of sugar, you'll know that you shouldn't eat a lot of that treat in one sitting. However, it's easy to pick up a box of cookies from the store and not bother to look and the ingredients or nutrition facts. Of course, almost anything you bake isn't going to be good for you. However, it's all about the small steps!

3. It's a confidence booster

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I'm not going to lie, I love it when people complement me on my baking. There's nothing better than your dessert being eaten quickly, or people asking you to make it again. Recently, I made edible cookie dough balls for the first time, and my family was obsessed with them! I haven't seen every member of my family all love a dessert that much in a long time. When you bake something and it's a hit, it really makes you feel accomplished.

4. It allows you to be creative

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While you should always follow a new recipe, baking allows you to get creative with your baked goods. Adding cute little details to my treats is the closest I'll EVER be to artistic. Whether it's creating patterns with icing or adding cute candies, you're able to customize whatever you're making to make it your own.

5. The Internet has some amazing recipes

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Before I began baking often, I really only knew how to make a few things. However, the Internet has become my best friend when it comes to finding and learning recipes. For me, the best website I've found for baking recipes is Delish.com! Delish constantly comes out with new recipes to try, and I've found all the ones I've tried are super easy. I like how they tell you all the ingredients you'll need, instructions, prep and total time, and they include videos of people making the recipes. I've found myself to be a pretty visual learner, and sometimes reading instructions doesn't do it for me. The videos are super easy to follow along, and they show you exactly what you need to do. Recently, I made a cookie dough peanut butter cake that looked difficult, but it turned out to be the BOMB!

I think anybody has the capability to bake it they wanted to. I'm hoping that when I go back to school for the fall semeter, I'll have time to make treats for my friends!