DIY Food Pt. 4: Favorite Desserts

It was definitely baking desserts that got me started in cooking and now, baking is so therapeutic to me that if I have a few extra minutes, I’ll definitely spend them baking. For today, let’s focus on easy and accessible recipes that are sure wins and cheap to boot. Here are just four of my first favorites.

1. Soft Molasses Cookies

This recipe is from our good friend Betty Crocker and it’s my Christmas (and all the time) cookie go-to. Here’s the secret though: make sure you buy the yummiest molasses and dip half the cooled finished cookie into melted white chocolate for that indulgently sweet finish.

Cookie Recipe

2. Banana Bread

Next up is the easiest, most delicious banana bread you can make. Every time my bananas start to go brown I whip up a few loaves of this and gift them to whoever I’m seeing that day. It literally takes about 10 minutes of hands on time so it’s a great first baking step if you’re new here.

Banana Bread Recipe

3. Creme Brûlée (without a torch)

My grandma is a HUGE creme brulee fan, but often these are made with a kitchen torch and none of my family members are hard core enough yet to have a blow torch on hand. But when I found this recipe it was an instant home run! You just use your boiler setting on your oven to achieve the perfect crack-able crust. Bonus points here for looking extra fancy with your French dessert offering.

Creme Brûlée Recipe

4. Deep Dish Peanut Butter Cookie for Two

Often the perfect baking motivation is just wanting something delicious to eat right now! This is perfect for that. I bake these deep dish cookies in those little ramekins you can buy in packs of two for three dollars in the Target Dollar Spot. You quick mix the small portioned ingredients, bake for just a few minutes, and press in the Reese egg, or Christmas tree, or heart, or cup or whatever as soon as they come out. Ben and I usually have these during movie night with a big scoop of French Vanilla ice cream on top….it’s a dream.

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe