The Joy of Baking at Home: Try These Easy Homemade Desserts!

For dessert lovers, there’s never a wrong time to enjoy “মিষ্টি কিছু”—whether it’s for breakfast, after a meal, or a mid-day craving. When it comes to desserts, there’s always more room in our stomachs and fridge!

According to Clinical Psychologist and Nutritionist Nicole Beurkens, “Baking provides a sense of control, reducing anxiety”

Baking at home has many benefits. To top it off, there's something truly magical about freshly baked desserts. Whether it's the comforting scent of cookies or cakes, warm, homemade desserts uniquely bring joy and comfort to our lives. Baking with family adds an extra layer of happiness. It transforms the kitchen into a space for laughter. 

Healthier Ingredients, Happier You

Baking your own desserts means you get to choose exactly what goes into them, making it easy to create healthier treats that fit your needs. Swapping refined sugar for honey, using whole wheat flour for extra fibre, trying a healthy chocolate spread instead of melted chocolate and adding fresh fruits for natural sweetness and vitamins are just a few ways to boost nutrition without losing flavour. By adjusting sugar levels and selecting your ingredients you can enjoy guilt-free treats. 

Therapeutic Effect

Engaging all 5 senses, baking serves as a creative outlet that boosts self-esteem & confidence, transforming a “chore” into something enjoyable.

Budget-Friendly Indulgence

Who says delicious desserts have to be pricy? Store-bought desserts often come at a big price, but when we make them ourselves, we have full control over the ingredients and quantities. Plus, we can make larger batches and store them for later.

Quality Family Time in the Kitchen

There's something magical about gathering in the kitchen to create delicious treats together. Family baking time is more than just making desserts; it's about creating lasting memories. When we bake as a family, we're not just following recipes – we're sharing stories, laughing, and learning together. 

Easy Homemade Dessert Recipes to Try

Who says evening nasta can't be sweet and nutritious?

We've brought to you 3 simple dessert recipes to transform your evening nasta with these healthy homemade desserts. These easy homemade desserts are not only tasty but also healthier than store-bought alternatives. From comfort desserts to healthy homemade desserts, our DIY recipes will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping things simple and fun. So let's get baking!

Choco/Vanilla glazed doughnuts 

Level: Medium               Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups plain flour
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• ½ cup lukewarm milk
• ¼ cup oil
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp dried instant yeast
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Nucella+ chocolate/vanilla spread 

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough:

• Mix lukewarm water, milk, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of flour and stir. Cover and let rise for 10 minutes.
• Add oil, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix in the remaining flour until a dough forms.
• Knead on a floured surface until smooth, about 2 cm thick.

2. Shape and Fry:

• Use a round cutter to cut out doughnut shapes and a smaller cutter for the centres. No need to rise again.
• Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and fry doughnuts until golden brown on both sides.

3. Glazing:

• Mix powdered sugar and vanilla. Roll fried doughnuts in the mixture to coat.
• Dip one side in a healthy chocolate spread like Nucella+ chocolate or vanilla spread ( as per your liking)

2. Choco-Frosted Muffin

Level: Easy   Preparation Time: 15 minutes + 18-20 minutes baking time  Servings: 5/6 people

Ingredients

• 1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• ⅓ cup (67g) sugar
• ¼ cup (60ml) oil
• ¼ cup (60ml) milk
• 1 tsp (4g) baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar
• ⅛ tsp salt
• Nucella+ chocolate/vanilla spread 

Instructions

1. Mix the egg and sugar in a bowl until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add the oil and milk, mixing well. 
3. Gradually add the flour, salt, vanilla sugar, and baking powder, stirring until you have a smooth batter.
4. Line a muffin tray with muffin cups and fill each cup about ¾ full with batter.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 18-20 minutes.
6. Once cooled, decorate your muffins with a healthy chocolate spread like Nucella+ using a piping bag. If you like Vanilla, you can use Nucella+ vanilla spread as frosting. 

3. Choco-glazed basic cookies

Level: Easy          Time: 20 minutes           Servings: 6 cookies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour (65 g)
• ⅓ cup white sugar 
• 3 ½ tbsp unsalted butter, melted (50 g)
• 1 egg yolk
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp vanilla
• ¼ tsp salt
• Nucella+ chocolate/vanilla spread 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  
2. Melt butter in the microwave in 20-second intervals until just melted.  
3. Mix in sugar, then add egg yolk and vanilla, whisking until smooth.  
4. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until combined.  
5. Scoop dough into 3 tbsp portions and place on the baking sheet.  
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are golden and centres are set.  
7. Once cool, glaze your cookies with Nucella+ chocolate spread, then serve. Enjoy!

Savour your sweet success!

Remember, baking is an art and a science – don't be afraid to experiment and make each recipe your own. Happy baking! 🍪🧁🎂