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With shows like The Great British Bake Off at the heart of British culture, it’s unsurprising that many of us enjoy getting creative in the kitchen.
Baking isn’t just a great form of creative expression, but it can also help us relax, stay present, and keep anxiety at bay. Plus, you’ll have a tasty treat to enjoy at the end!
Several members of the Rest Less team enjoy baking in their spare time, and we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite recipes below.
From cheesy scones to millionaire’s shortbread and the ultimate gooey brownies, here are 12 baking ideas for you to try.
1. Millionaire's shortbread
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 1 hour
Try this when…
…you’re bored of your usual biscuits or fancy treating yourself to something a little different. To make yours, check out the recipe below from BBC GoodFood.
2. Healthy blueberry muffins
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 35 minutes
Try this when…
…you’re in the mood for a sweet snack that packs a fruity punch! They also make a quick and easy breakfast.
These blueberry muffins from Cookie + Kate use wholewheat flour and can be made with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
3. Classic cheese scones
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 35 mins
Try this when…
…you’re looking for something savoury to have for brunch or lunch. You can treat cheese scones similarly to bread. For example, top with salad, ham, or chutney. BBC GoodFood have a simple but tasty recipe, which you can find using the button below.
4. Cinnamon rolls
Difficulty level: Hard
Total baking time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Try this when…
…you fancy a soft, fluffy treat. These cinnamon-spiced rolls are best enjoyed for breakfast. You can also freeze them to eat later.
If the thought of enjoying one of these doesn’t get you out of bed in the morning, we don’t know what will! Have a read of Ambitious Kitchen’s recipe below if you fancy making some.
5. Lemon drizzle cake
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 1 hour
Try this when…
…you fancy something light and citrusy. This moist and spongy loaf cake pairs well with a cup of tea. Check out BBC GoodFood’s recipe by using the button below.
6. Banana bread
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 45 mins
Try this when…
…you’re looking to make something quick, comforting, and not too sweet. Or if you just have some bananas to use up!
We recently shared our own banana bread recipe, but you can easily adapt it by adding or swapping out ingredients depending on what you have in your kitchen cupboards.
7. Butternut squash pie
Difficulty level: Moderate
Total baking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Try this when…
…you’re looking for a hearty, meat-free dinner. Sara, our chief techy, tried this veggie pie recipe and was really pleased with the results. She highly recommends this Beautiful Plate recipe and wanted to share her photos (above).
8. Old-fashioned sour cream doughnuts
Difficulty level: Hard
Total baking time: 2 hours
Try this when…
…you can’t get hold of yeast, but you’re looking for a doughnut fix. These old-fashioned doughnuts are soft and cakey on the inside, and crunchy and cracked on the outside. The cracks are perfect for soaking up the sweet glaze. We recommend the Handle the Heat recipe below.
9. Classic carrot cake
Difficulty level: Moderate
Total baking time: 1 hour
Try this when…
…you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing sweet treat. This family favourite is characterised by flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg, and walnuts. Try our very own recipe below!
10. Ultimate brownies
Difficulty level: Easy
Total baking time: 45 minutes
Try this when…
…you have a chocolate craving that needs satisfying, or you’re looking to really indulge.
These brownies from Handle the Heat are soft and gooey, with a thick layer of chocolate and sweet condensed milk in the middle. They’re not exactly diet-friendly, but we all need a treat sometimes.
11. Croissants
Difficulty level: Moderate
Total baking time: 14 hours prep time, 24 minutes cooking time
Try this when…
…you’re looking for a tasty breakfast. These can be enjoyed on their own or with a range of toppings and fillings – from butter and jam to ham and cheese. But, in any case, they’re best eaten warm.
This recipe from Jo Cooks also explains how to freeze them.
12. Sourdough bread
Difficulty level: Hard
Total baking time: 50 minutes, plus proving and fermentation time
Try this when…
…you’re looking for an alternative to conventional bread. Sourdough is easier to digest and higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
The baking process is a bit lengthy and consists of a lot of watching and waiting, but it’ll hopefully be worth it. If you fancy giving it a go, we recommend the Jamie Oliver recipe below.
Alternatively, for more inspiration, check out our article, 10 of the best bread recipes. It includes everything from bagels to French baguettes.
Final thoughts...
From brownies and doughnuts to bread and pies, we hope you’ve found some baking inspiration in this article.
If you want to up your baking game by mastering some new skills, you might also like our article: 8 technical baking skills you can learn at home. Or, if you’re short on time, why not try making one of our no-bake dessert recipes? You can also check out our article, 9 baking ideas with a healthy twist, for some more nutritious baking ideas.
Do you have a baking recipe that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear about your creations and baking experiences in the comments below.
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