Baking is a culinary technique that involves cooking food through dry heat, typically in an oven. This process enhances the flavors and textures of various ingredients, transforming them into baked goods such as bread, pastries, cakes, and cookies. Baking relies on precise measurements and the chemical reactions of ingredients, such as flour, sugar, fats, and leavening agents, to achieve the desired results. The process often includes steps like mixing, kneading, shaping, and setting a specific temperature and duration for cooking. Baking can vary in complexity, from simple recipes to intricate pastries, and it is both an art and a science, requiring attention to detail and an understanding of how ingredients interact during the cooking process.