Baking at home is one of the ultimate indulgent treats, but time is not always on your side. Don’t let this stop you, we’ve rounded up 3 of our favourite easy sweet treat recipes you can whip in 30 minutes or less. These easy recipes double up as tasty Valentine’s Day treats, as well as a fun half term activity to do with the kids.
Chocolate Bark
So easy to make and makes a wonderful gift. Ideal to make with the kids too.
Ingredients: White chocolate or white chocolate chips, and edible sprinkles or toppings of your choice (such as m&ms, freeze dried strawberries, mini marshmallows, dried fruit, pretzels)
- Melt the white chocolate and spread on greaseproof baking paper. Leaving it around ½ cm thick.
- Sprinkle over your chosen toppings and let the bark cool.
- Once set break into pieces.
Salted Peanut & Marshmallow Clusters
Sweet and salty at the same time. Super simple to make.
Ingredients: Dry roasted or salted peanuts, vegetable shortening (such as Stork), milk chocolate chips and mini marshmallows.
- In a heatproof bowl add the chocolate chips and 1 tbsp of shortening.
- Melt in the microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring occasionally. Repeat until fully melted.
- Add the peanuts and mini marshmallows to the melted chocolate and mix well, until everything is fully coated.
- Drop spoonfuls of the mixture on to greaseproof baking paper to form little clusters and leave to set in the fridge.
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie (serves 8)
A real indulgent treat, great warm with ice cream, custard or thick double cream.
Ingredients: 3 cups plain flour, 1 cup butter at room temperature, ½ tsp salt, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 ¼ sugar, ½ light brown sugar, 3 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract or paste, 2 cups milk chocolate chips.
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees and grease a 12 inch skillet with butter.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter with the sugar and light brown sugar.
- Add eggs one at a time and mix. Next add the vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add the flour and chocolate chips to the butter and sugar mixture and mix just enough until the dough comes together.
- Scrape the dough into the skillet and spread evenly.
- Bake in the oven for around 30-35 minutes. The centre should be soft and gooey.
Top Tip: If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you can use an oven safe pan or Pyrex dish.
For more recipes and baking ideas, take a look at:
Quick & Easy Canapes Ideas & Recipes
How To: Make Homemade Ice Cream
How To: Make Take-Away Style Coffee