Quick & Easy Bakes & Recipes

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)

1. Melt the white chocolate and spread on greaseproof baking paper. Leaving it around ½ cm thick.
2. Sprinkle over your chosen toppings and let the bark cool.
3. 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.

1. In a heatproof bowl add the chocolate chips and 1 tbsp of shortening.
2. Melt in the microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring occasionally. Repeat until fully melted.
3. Add the peanuts and mini marshmallows to the melted chocolate and mix well, until everything is fully coated.
4. 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.

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees and grease a 12 inch skillet with butter.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together butter with the sugar and light brown sugar.
4. Add eggs one at a time and mix. Next add the vanilla and mix until combined.
5. Add the flour and chocolate chips to the butter and sugar mixture and mix just enough until the dough comes together.
6. Scrape the dough into the skillet and spread evenly.
7. 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

Six Simple Salads

Cocktail & Mocktail Recipes

How To: Make Homemade Ice Cream

How To: Make Take-Away Style Coffee