Real butter, fresh eggs, and good flour taste better, plain and simple. You notice it in every bite, especially shortbread.
Fresh ingredients help dough rise properly and bake evenly. The result is a tender, light crumb, not a dense one.
Ripe fruit brings its own sweetness, so you need less sugar. Fresh berries and apples make pies taste much livelier.
Freshly ground spices and real vanilla fill the kitchen with a warm smell. Stale ones barely register, leaving bakes flat.
Careful bakers buy small and bake often, so nothing sits around getting tired. Fresh ingredients work when they're used quickly.