Most baking follows a simple process that transforms ingredients into finished products. The four basic stages are mixing, shaping, baking, and cooling. During mixing, ingredients are combined to create a dough or batter. The mixture is then shaped according to the product being prepared. Baking uses heat to cook the mixture and develop its structure, texture, and colour. Finally, cooling allows the product to rest and set before serving. In this lesson, you will understand these four stages and how they work together in the baking process.