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What’s Your Baking Personality?

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Slice of classic white cakeCornell University researchers studied nearly 800 family cooks and determined five distinct types of cooking personalities, types which supposedly influence the types of dishes that you make and what your “food biases” are. The study was done mostly to show that what we think we’re eating – healthy, tasty home-cooked meals – isn’t necessarily what we’re putting on the table because homemade doesn’t necessarily mean health food (although it certainly can). The quiz is fun to take, if nothing revolutionary, but I did notice that they really seemed to overlook baking – even though there are distinct types of bakers out there, as well! I tweaked the quiz a little bit. Take it and post your “baking personality” in the comments!

1) When I bake, I typically:

a) Opt for one of a handful of very familiar recipes that I make all the time.
b) Pick a recipe and follow it step-by-step.
c) Tweak the ingredients of a recipe to cut down on fat or sugar.
d) Go all out and create impressive, professional-looking delicacies.
e) Rarely use recipes as written and like to experiment with ingredients and flavors.

2) Some of my favorite ingredients are:

a) Chocolate, butter and vanilla.
b) Flour, eggs and sugar.
c) Applesauce and brown sugar.
d) Scratch puff pastry and browned butter.
e) Herbs and edible flowers.

3) In my free time I like to:

a) Visit with friends and family with baked goods in tow.
b) Organize the house and clean the kitchen.
c) Exercise or take a fitness class to burn off those extra cookies.
d) Read cookbooks or take cooking classes.
e) Watch cooking shows and read food blogs to stay ahead of the food trends.

4) My favorite things to bake are:

a) Classics, like chocolate chip cookies and brownies.
b) Cakes, because there is a lot of variety in the flavors, but the technique is always similar.
c) Recipes that include whole grains, or cut down on the added fat.
d) Breads, where I can try to achieve the perfect crumb.
e) Ethnic sweets and desserts from other countries.

5) Other people describe me as:

a) Really friendly.
b) Diligent and methodical.
c) Health conscious.
d) Intense and passionate.
e) Curious or innovative.

Which letter did you choose most often? Don’t worry about overlap – most of us fall into more than one category, and the quiz is just for fun. Here’s what your answers say about your baking style:

a) Giving: Friendly, well-liked and enthusiastic, giving bakers seldom experiment, love baking and like to serve tried-and-true family favorites that they know are crowd pleasers, rather than risk experimenting with the unknown.

b) Methodical: Talented bakers who rely heavily on recipes because baking is considered to be a science for a reason! They know that they’ll get the results they want that way. And usually, their creations look just like the picture in the cookbook.

c) Healthy: Healthy bakers love to be in the kitchen, but worry about the side effects of eating too many treats. They experiment with alternative ingredients to cut down on the “unhealthy” parts of recipes, usually white flours, sugars, eggs and fats. Health comes first, even if it means making a few compromises with taste and texture.
d) Competitive: Pros do it, so there is no reason that the competitive bakers shouldn’t be able to do it, too. Competitive bakers have dominant personalities, are perfectionists who are always trying to improve their own skills, and love to impress their guests.
e) Innovative: Creative and trend-setting, innovative bakers seldom use recipes and like to experiment with ingredients, cuisine styles and methods.

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47 Comments
  • Sugar Duchess
    March 17, 2009

    Hmm… I’m a pretty even split between A and B. No surprise there! What a fun quiz 🙂

  • Jodi
    March 17, 2009

    Interesting! I’m an A, with a smattering of B. I was surprised that the questions didn’t ask about regional/ethnic cooking at all.

  • Dani
    March 17, 2009

    pretty slipt between A and B… what a neat little quiz 🙂

  • Collette
    March 17, 2009

    I’m evidently a schizophrenic baker; 1 (a), 1 (b), 1 (d) and 2 (e)s. Everything except healthy! 😉 It actually makes sense since there are somethings I make over and over to give away, somethings I research so I can try and get it “right” and some that I like to experiment with. So, I guess it’s pretty accurate!

  • Sandie
    March 17, 2009

    Even though I only scored 2 B’s—it was the only letter I answered more than once so I guess that make me methodical, which in the end is fairly accurate.

    Fun quiz—I enjoyed it!

  • Jennifer
    March 17, 2009

    2 b’s, 1 a, 1 d, 1 e… but that d could have easily been an a too, so I guess I’m mostly methodical, and partly giving 🙂

  • Angela
    March 17, 2009

    I’m surprised that I’m one of the first to say I’m definitely not A or B- well, I love to bake for people, but usually I try to broaden their horizons just a tad with some interesting ingredients.

    So…I’m C and D, for sure!

  • BRIAN DUBS
    March 17, 2009

    I love to bake for people.

  • Caitlin
    March 17, 2009

    Hee – C, with a sprinkling of D. Actually, probably about half and half. Makes sense to me 🙂

  • Carole
    March 17, 2009

    I am A!! 2A’s, a C, a B and a D.

  • Susan
    March 17, 2009

    3 As, 2 Bs. But a lot of the questions I was torn.

  • Shoshana
    March 17, 2009

    Mostly d, with 1 a and 1 b.

  • Katie
    March 17, 2009

    I’m an A with a little bit of B too. Thanks for the super fun quiz. I would say that most people would agree with my baking style.

  • Kim
    March 17, 2009

    I’m definitely a B baker.

  • Becca
    March 17, 2009

    I’m a D…with a handful of E thrown in for good measure! Thanks for the fun. 🙂

  • Brownies for Dinner
    March 17, 2009

    Split down the middle between A and E… with a pinch of D (2-A, 2-E, 1 D). I think it just depends on my mood 🙂

  • shannon
    March 17, 2009

    when it comes to baking i’m very methodical and won’t stray, unless it’s interchangeable flavors. if it turns out like the picture is argueable though!

  • Sarah
    March 17, 2009

    I’m an even split between E and C – even the people I polled couldn’t pick an answer for the last one between the 2 haha.

  • lesley l
    March 17, 2009

    B=methodical! it’s very seldom i attempt a recipe unless i have a picture of the final product so i can compare what the result looks like vs the pic. But do tend to share with friends & family! I bake to destress from the day.

  • Morgan
    March 17, 2009

    Well i am in B. I like to cook step by step professionally and don’t like hassels.

  • kitchen corner
    March 17, 2009

    Thanks for sharing this. It’s interesting. I’ve got (C)

  • Leslie
    March 18, 2009

    really weird~~i got Bs on every single answer!

  • Krissy
    March 18, 2009

    I’m an A baker with a smattering of B and E. 😀

    I love baking and having friends come over. It’s such a nice feeling to have made something tasty and to share it with others.

  • Morgan
    March 18, 2009

    I don’t know how to cook. But whenever i want to cook something i take a cooking book and use the tips of cooking. I like clean kitchen so i think in in B category.

  • mrsblocko
    March 18, 2009

    im an E and an A.
    Fun quiz! thanks for posting it.

  • Catherine
    March 18, 2009

    Mostly A, with a little of B.

  • Cupcake
    March 18, 2009

    I am A and E LOL. I blogged about this on my site (and linked) I hope you don’t mind 🙂

  • Sarena
    March 18, 2009

    Fun quiz…I was a C all the way!

  • Laurel
    March 18, 2009

    I have a split personality. For others, I am an A (giving). For my family, especially me, I am a C (Healthy Baker). And for question #3, I picked all of the above!

  • Brenda
    March 18, 2009

    I am also not one to be placed in a “cookie cutter”!!! I scored 2 C’s and 2 A’s, and one E! Part of my healthy cooking is out of necessity: My husband has diabetes, so I am always changing things to use either whole grains and/or Whey Low sugar/Agave nectar/Splenda Brown sugar. It’s SO hard because we have two younger children who love to eat what children love to eat! But they have to eat what my husband can eat because we’re all in this together!

  • marci
    March 18, 2009

    I picked A,B,C,D, and E! A little bit of everything… I don’t think it means I’m balanced, though – probably more that I get bored easily.

  • suzie
    March 18, 2009

    I am 3 A and 3 E. Yes, on a 5 part quiz, I got 6.

    Thanks for putting it up; your oatmeal chocolate bar things I love and my family doesn’t so I get them all!!!!

  • Tamara
    March 18, 2009

    Hm..2As, 2Bs, a C, and a D.

    Everything but Innovative.

  • Julia
    March 18, 2009

    I was pretty evenly split between Innovative (e) and Competitive (d). That’s a little surprising to me because I wouldn’t have thought I was either, but I guess it’s true. 🙂

  • Judy (Judy's Gross Eats)
    March 18, 2009

    Interesting quiz. I ended up with 3 Ds and 2 Bs, although one D could easily change to an E. Competitive and methodical. hmmm

  • Felicity Bramble
    March 18, 2009

    2 b’s. Thanks for the quiz very innovative

  • Steph (I am Bee)
    March 19, 2009

    i am an A and C …yeah, they most definitely describe me.

  • Katie
    March 20, 2009

    Hmm I’m a mix of b and d. I must use recipes for my innovative ideas which i guess is kinda true 🙂 Interesting.

  • Katie
    March 20, 2009

    opps meant b’s and e’s

  • Very nice. This was fun to do (and I usually don’t do quizes).

  • katherine
    March 21, 2009

    well i did it and i’m A! haha kindda true coz i dont really venture into the unknowns when it comes to cooking. anyway its really interesting and thanks for sharing!!

  • sally599
    March 26, 2009

    Funny I split evenly between B and E which completely contradict each other. I like to try new things but I always follow the recipe exactly the first time which is especially important if its something that you’ve never seen or tasted before.

  • krókusz
    April 5, 2009

    Wow… I am competitive in the kitchen… Thanks for the quiz!

  • Lexy
    June 19, 2009

    I tested as a healthy baker but on another given day I’d probably be a giving baker, as I do tend to prepare goodies for loved ones quite often. I don’t really give material gifts for Christmas and birthdays. I bake!

    This was a pretty accurate assessment however. Indeed whatever I do prepare is almost always sure to have some nutritional benefit!

  • kiwi
    November 20, 2010

    I’m an A, B, C, D, E…? :S so, i guess i have a split personality..

  • carolyn
    March 1, 2011

    i guess i am in between c and b

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