You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
So, I was thinking…
In my future recipe posts, would you be interested in seeing more photos of the process, as opposed to just the final product? Would that be at all helpful?
I’m warning you: the recipe-process photos won’t be pretty. I usually cook in my very tiny and very dark kitchen. And if I’m not there, I’m in my parents’ much bigger—but just as dark!—kitchen.
You know those gorgeous white kitchens you see on Pinterest?
Yeah, so not my kitchen.
Above, unfinished Copycat Peanut Butter Eggs.
And by “unfinished” I obviously mean “not yet covered in chocolate.” However, this didn’t stop me from eating one two of the eggs straight off the piece of parchment paper. Really, can you blame me?
And what’s this?
Why, it’s a giant ball of unshaped peanut butter dough.
Did I say my “in process” photos were ugly? I take it back! 
This looks like a painting.
An edible painting.
Peanut butter art?
Oh Van Gogh, you know you’re jealous.
I also made this for you:
If you get a chance, please do check out the above link and let me know: Are the step-by-step photos helpful? Would you like to see more of them in future posts? Or are they as ugly as I cautioned and you’d rather use your imagination? (Be honest!)
And sorry about all my weirdo commentary in this post. One too many glasses of wine last night.
Or perhaps it was all the reeses eggs…
Jeana says
Since some want and some don’t, why not just show the finished product and a link with the step by step? I cook GF/DF so pictures are helpful to me when the consistency isn’t like normal mixing. For example, what batter looks like to you vs. batter to me would be different. Some would be runny looking and others clumpy looking. When you posted the gingerbread man in the cup, I couldn’t figure out how you had eyes and details on the little guy. You did tell in a post that it was the cutter you used, but a picture of the process would have shown that.
Katie @ Nutrition in a Peanut Shell says
Oh pleaaase no! A bunch of bloggers do this and it drives me up the wall! Unless it’s for something particularly difficult (making caramel, rolling a jelly/pumpkin roll, etc.) I don’t need to see it! I guess every once in a while it’s okay though. And a step or two (mixing something, the chocolate being poured on) is okay. I just don’t need to see a picture of flour and other dry ingredients mixed together, I’m pretty sure I know what that looks like 🙂
I think Jessica at How Sweet Eats does a good job at balancing this.
Sadie says
I love step by step photos! I seem to always have difficulty following recipes, so they help me out a lot!
Sabrina @ Nutritiously Sweet says
Any kind of photos are good! I like step by step in complicated and multi step recipes. Like when you make homemade nut butter, if nice to see what’s suppose to happen step by step. Can’t wait to see!
Mara says
I love photo tutorials! And I thought your pictures were pretty good, so no complaints here. =]
And some of your recipes are so easy (my favorite part about them!!) that they don’t necessarily need step-by-step photos. But in case you’re counting, my vote is for picture tutorials when it is convenient for you.
Casey says
Perhaps not STEP by STEP, like not EVERY step, but show a complicated step? Or if you need to blend until a particular consistancy, perhaps a picture showing the proper consistancy? I don’t believe pictures are necessary for every step. Also, your commentary is helpful! Especially when you describe how something should look/taste/feel etc. Or for blending purposes, saying it usually takes 2-3 minutes, vs “blend for a little while” those kind of things are helpful!
Side note, I made the sugar-free cookie dough dip with homemade cashew butter as my nut butter and coconut milk as my non-dairy milk. SUPER delicious. I used gala apples and cut them into slices which I dipped in (well, really used to SCOOP up the dip.) SOOOO good! HIGHLY recommend!
lisa says
You’re recipes so easy to followand uncomplicated already. I just think step by step instructions is necessary for your posts.
merry says
i really like the idea of the step by step pictures! 🙂 it’s a lot more helpful.
Kristin @ Treat. Eat. Repeat. says
Well, you got me. I subscribe to you by email and when I saw it as the subject line I thought “Well that is interesting!” I wholeheartedly believed it.. I mean until I saw the picture 😉
Anyway, I’m not a fan of step by step pictorials but if there is a particularly difficult or hard to explain step, I always appreciate an accompanying picture.
Kristin @ Treat. Eat. Repeat. says
Whoops – I commented on two posts on one. First comment is about your april fools joke 🙂
Kristy says
Oh, Katie,Katie,Katie….just finished eating these. So good! Thank you! The step by step really helped. Wow. I need to make there with almond butter next.
Cat W. says
A lot of times seeing step-by-step pics can help me decide if I want to try a recipe. This is mostly for complicated, multi-step ones, which most of yours AREN’T, but I still do like picture tutorials!
ann-marie says
Hi Katie!
I so need to try this recipe, even the naked eggs look delicious!
I’m a visual person and love to look at step by step pictures, but then again I know how much work that is, I wouldn’t want you to have less fun in the kitchen because of the extra pictures 🙂 If you enjoy it, go for it!
Sara Dane says
I love wine…but I heard that not much of it is “vegan’ 🙁 What types/brands do you drink?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Go to barnivore.com! It’s awesome 🙂
Saliah Kako says
I love the step-by-steps!
connie says
Katie,
I’m fairly new to your blog and have been trying to catch up on all the reading, that’s why I’m so late in replying to your question.
I really like the step-by-step photos and instructions. This help me to see what the process is suppose to look like as I go along.
Also, I have a quick question…I keep noticing in your recipes the use of scant…what is this?…never heard of it before.
Thanks again for all you hard work.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
scant = barely 🙂
so “just under level”
heather w says
While I do think step by step photos are helpful, I also think that some food bloggers take it too far. Inevitably you find yourself scrolling down for fifteen minutes before you finally reach the recipe! I also think would be very coolto see photos of a recipe in progress. Not every single one, obviously, but every once in a while being able to see the actual creative process of your baking would amazing for me! I can create a traditional cookie, but I always wonder what the trial and error of non traditional ingredients is like.
P.S.
My mother came to visit this week and so far I have made her your chocolate chip Blondies and your secret peanut butter cookies. She was thouroughly impressed! Her biggest weakness in life is pb cookies and I would consider her quite the conissuer. She said it was the best pb cookie that she has ever eaten. Lol if you could have seen her face when I told her what the recipes consisted of! I think she officially loves you.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw lol thank you!!!