Anyone with a sweet tooth likely has a love for all things baked goods. Desserts hold a special place in people’s hearts with many recipes holding sentimental value and being passed down through generations. But baking isn’t exactly easy, as so much of it requires careful measuring, knowing how ingredients interact with one another, and how to reach the perfect level of flavor without going overboard. To say baking is a science seems rather accurate.
World Baking Day takes place on May 19 and this is a great opportunity to enjoy your favorite baked treat. But rather than pick it up at a store or restaurant, why not try making it yourself?
For those who aren’t avid bakers but want to take part in World Baking Day, here are 10 of the easiest and most delicious things you can bake. You are almost guaranteed results with these.
Brownies
When you hear the word “dessert” does something with chocolate in it automatically pops into your mind? If so, brownies are the ultimate treat to bake. What may surprise you is how few ingredients are needed, making this one a beginner-friendly recipe.
A few specifics you’ll need include cocoa powder, dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, and vanilla extract to help add depth to the brownies. These bake in an 8×8 inch pan and you need to be careful you don’t overcook them. Using a toothpick to check for “doneness” is always advised.
Lemon Squares
If you like your sweet with a bit of tart, then lemon bars are going to be a huge hit. The lemon gives it just enough acidity and tartness to pack a punch, but then the sugar helps to cut through and give a smooth finish. The only problem you’ll run into with lemon bars is that the results will be so delicious that you’ll want to eat the whole batch.
A couple of tips to keep in mind when baking lemon squares include using fresh-squeezed lemon juice, adding enough granulated sugar, and topping them with a little powdered sugar.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Cookies are a staple in many kitchens and nothing compares to the homemade variety. There are plenty of recipes to choose from but if you want a moist, tasty, and satisfying cookie – peanut butter cookies are the way to go. This is a combination of sweet and salty, which many crave.
Many of the recipes you’ll find online call for just a small handful of ingredients, ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. If you like texture in your cookies, try using crunchy rather than smooth peanut butter.
Orange Pound Cake
Pound cake is similar to a regular cake except it has a denser consistency and is baked in a loaf pan. It can be enjoyed as a dessert or the perfect pairing to a cup of coffee or tea. Rather than the standard yellow pound cake, why not level up and bake an orange pound cake? The level of difficulty doesn’t change, but the flavor profile is much more interesting.
To achieve its signature flavor you’ll need one orange that you can freshly squeeze. This also ensures the pound cake stays moist.
Sugar Cookies
Here’s another cookie recipe that offers lots of versatility. Conquering a basic sugar cookie recipe is quick and easy, and then you can start to add mix-ins and experiment with different decorations. These cookies are especially enjoyable during the holiday season since they work exceptionally well with cookie cutters.
Banana Bread
Banana bread is wonderful in that this doesn’t have to be enjoyed just as a dessert. It can be eaten at breakfast, as a snack, or anytime really. The key to banana bread turning out well is making sure your bananas are ripe, which means they have plenty of black spots on them. The riper they get, the more sweet they are – which works perfectly for banana bread.
Many like to add mix-ins to their banana bread like chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter chips, dried fruit, and even berries like blueberries or raspberries.
Vanilla Cake
The cake is a much-loved dessert but it can get pretty elaborate and frankly, pretty difficult to bake and decorate. So rather than get yourself bogged down with the options, why not aim to master an easy vanilla cake recipe? Vanilla cake requires few ingredients but does rely heavily on a good quality vanilla extract. If ever a time to splurge on ingredients, this is it – and look for the non-artificial variety.
A few other tips for baking vanilla cake include not over-mixing, adding more flour if the batter appears watery and thin, and being careful not to bake it too long. As for decorating it, you can make a simple buttercream icing and top it with fresh sliced berries.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks
If you’re expecting to see traditional chocolate chip cookies on this list we’ve got a surprise for you. How about taking that standard recipe and making chocolate chip cookie sticks instead? Believe it or not, this is easier and faster than cookies yet you aren’t sacrificing in the flavor department.
Rather than drop the batter in a spoonful on a baking sheet, you put all the batter in an 8×8 inch pan and bake it. Be careful not to overcook them, as you don’t want them crispy. When they are done, let them cool for about 10 minutes and then cut them into thin “sticks”.
Blueberry Muffins
Muffins are another popular baked item and blueberry is one of the freshest most flavor-filled options. You can find any standard muffin mix recipe online and then add fresh or frozen blueberries. Often, the more blueberries you add the better so don’t be shy.
Once you feel a bit more confident in the blueberry recipe muffin, you can then add a crispy sugar topping like a streusel topping.
Apple Crisp
Wondering how to turn a basic apple into a scrumptious dessert – how about apple crisp? Everyone is familiar with apple pie, but apple crisp elevates the apple experience. It’s warm, comforting, and filled with bold flavors. Apple crisp is known for its signature crisp topping, so you don’t want to go light with it. Some even prefer doubling the crisp topping recipe so they can layer it on thick.
If the basic apple crisp recipe seems a little too safe for you, try adding a concoction of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.