'Ace of Cakes' star Duff Goldman shares the 3 things everyone should know how to bake

• Duff Goldman says everyone should know how to bake a cake and their favorite chocolate-chip cookie.
• He says someone at some point will need a cake and you should be able to whip one up in a pinch.

Duff Goldman made a career out of his knack for baking. He rose to television fame while starring on Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" and continues to share his expertise with the masses as a judge on several food-competition shows.

In an interview with Insider to promote his partnership with Sun-Maid, the professional pastry chef shared his go-to cookie recipe, his absolute favorite cake (it's Betty Crocker Supermoist yellow cake made from boxed mix), and the red flags he looks for when shopping at a bakery.

Goldman also shared the three baked goods he thinks everyone should know how to make, regardless of your skill level.

Everyone should know how to make a cake, according to Duff Goldman

While his personal favorite comes from a box, Goldman thinks knowing how to bake a cake is an important skill.

"Somebody in your life is going to have a birthday or a graduation or something and they're going to need a cake," he said.

Regardless of the event, Goldman says cakes are often the centerpiece. They attract attention and people — at least in his experience — are always trying to sneak a look at it when they arrive: "You go to a wedding and you're like where's the cake? I want to see it!"

For Goldman, cakes are so much more than just dessert. "They're these physical manifestations of the emotion that you're feeling," he added.

A chocolate-chip cookie is another staple for home bakers

"I think everybody should know how to make whatever their favorite chocolate chip cookie is," Goldman said.

He said it doesn't matter what kind of chocolate-chip cookie it is, but it's a recipe you should be able to access either for yourself when the craving hits, or to be able to share with others.

"It could be a thin and crispy chocolate-chip cookie, it could be a fat and chewy chocolate-chip cookie, it could be a white chocolate macadamia cookie, it could be anything you want," he said. "Milk chocolate and toffee — figure it out, it doesn't matter."

Last but not least, home bakers should at least attempt a loaf of bread

"I feel like every human should at least try to bake a loaf of bread, once in their lifetime," he said. "Just to see if you can do it."

Goldman says that when he thinks about the basic staples of an American diet, bread is one of them: "Pittas, Wonder bread, baguette, whatever, anything."

He says it's a little more complicated than making a cake or cookies because of the yeast factor, but said he believes that once you learn how it works, it's actually pretty simple.

The TV star and father of one also says baking bread is a fun activity for kids. "It's really educational," he said, talking about the science behind it all. But at it's core, Goldman said he believes that, just for your own sense of accomplishment, for the sense of feeling like "I am a functioning human and I can keep myself alive," everyone should know how to make some kind of bread.