Last week, I walked into Mr. Bergan’s room with a carrot muffin in hand. When I saw his eyes crinkle as he smiled wide, I knew he was going to love it. He and I were connected in a new way, beginning from the day I brought him a tempting treat.

Baking. For me, this is a word that conjures up the scenery of white smoke spouting out of a chimney of a gingerbread house in Hansel and Gretel. Every time I hear the word, I can taste the sugary scent of vanilla, the caramel brown color of the treats, and the glittering unicorn-shaped sprinkles on my tongue. Whether I’m making croissants, baguettes, biscuits, or cookies, baking always makes me happy. I’m 200% sure this sensation is universal – these days, even pets have their own dessert menus at franchise cafes.

Eating these goodies is a total pleasure in its own right — once you put a piece in your mouth, neural fibers are going to fire the taste through your whole body, delighting your brain with the flavor. A Colby Community Website also addressed that ingredients such as chocolate “contains a key compound called tryamine… it has the capacity to [increase] our levels of dopamine.” 

Baking is also a creative pursuit; this simple task can even advance your intellectual abilities and communication as you learn from your mistakes, create new recipes, and problem-solve to make up for missing ingredients. Like any charity work, the altruistic act of baking for others can contribute to an overall sense of well-being and connection with other people in the world. However, you can benefit from baking for yourself, too… eating a slice of chocolate cake is a form of self-love, right?