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The Flavor Bender ย ย โ€บย ย  Recipes ย ย โ€บย ย  How to Recipes ย ย โ€บย ย  Baking Basics ย ย โ€บย ย  38 Easy Baking Recipes For Beginner Bakers

38 Easy Baking Recipes For Beginner Bakers

Author:

Dini Kodippili








Posted: 5/13/2026
Quick and Easy Recipes
Baking Basics
Collage of baked goods featuring banana bread, cream puffs, sandwich bread, with text that reads: Easy Baking Recipes For Beginner Bakers.

This curated collection of easy baking recipes with few ingredients is PERFECT for beginner bakers to master with easy to follow step by step instructions, tips, and visual cues.

I also include information on beginner baker essentials including tools and basic pantry ingredients you’ll need to set you up for baking success!

Collage of baked goods featuring homemade bread, cream puffs, sliced butter cake, banana bread, and the text reads: Easy Baking Recipes For Beginner Bakers.
contents
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  • How to start baking as a beginner
  • Beginner baker essentials
  • More tips for beginner baking success
  • Cookies and bars
  • Cakes and cupcakes
  • Pastries and breads
  • Quick breads, scones, muffins, and custards

Growing up, I was always an “assistant” to my mom in the kitchen, from as far back as I can remember. Sure, the position was strictly voluntary and not very coveted. Compensation included “licking the beaters and spatulas” at first, but I soon graduated to assistant mixer and assistant baker, and then eventually to head baker (with minimal supervision).

The first time I baked something from scratch all by myself was this Sri Lankan butter cake. It was my mom’s turn to be assistant as she helped me take the cake in and out of the oven, and guide my through some steps. The end result was not quite perfect, but still absolutely glorious to that 6 year old. (Just don’t ask me about my first time baking cheesecake though!)

I also loved baking chocolate cake and shortbread cookies. Choux pastry was also a beloved treat in our household, and making Sri Lankan-style cream puffs (with vanilla buttercream as the filling!) was a regular feature too.

All those lovely experiences and memories helped me fall in love with baking, and the fact that it’s a core part of my livelihood now is just the cherry on that black forest cake. And I’d LOVE to pass on those tips to beginner bakers out there too!

How to start baking as a beginner

heart symbol

They say that cooking is an art and baking is a science, but I think baking is both.

Food chemistry and science play a big part in baking basics, and understanding this will help you succeed and be more creative!

Here are a few simple tips that I think should be a starting point for every novice baker.

  • Start with a quality recipe to follow. In this age of AI slop and Frankenstein recipes put out by AI chatbots that cannot taste or smell, this is ever more important. That’s why I write my recipes with detailed, easy to follow, step by step instructions, to make them more approachable, and to make sure you know if you’re on the right track with visual cues to follow.
  • Fully read the recipe first – ideally multiple times. This way, you get an idea of how much time you’ll need and what to expect. And if there’s anything that’s unfamiliar to you, you can read about it or research before starting.
  • Preparation is key. (Remember the five Ps maxim we learned in school?) Make sure you have all the tools and ingredients you’ll need to make the recipe. Get the ingredients ready by weighing them out and making sure they are all at the correct temperature.
  • Don’t change the recipe or substitute any ingredients, if you’ve never made it before. Making that quality recipe you picked as written will let you see how the recipe is meant to work at each stage. Be patient and keep an eye on things like time and consistency of the batter or dough.
  • If you do make substitutions after trying a recipe first, do a test run first to see if the substitutions work. Or look for a recipe with said substitutions or ingredients.
  • Start with easy baking recipes with few ingredients as a beginner. A cake or cupcake or brownies or cookies can be very straightforward. For yeasted recipes, a waffle or simple bread recipe is perfect.

Beginner baker essentials

Tools

To measure ingredients

Baking tools on a wooden table including digital scale, red thermometer, parchment paper, glass bowl, metal measuring cups and spoons.
  • Kitchen scale – For accurate, replicable success, measure the ingredients by weight whenever possible.
  • Cup measurements or measuring jug – Perfect to measure liquids. But keep in mind that a cup in North America is about 240 mL, and about 250 mL in other places in the world.
  • Tablespoon / teaspoons – To measure smaller amounts.
  • Parchment paper – While you don’t NEED parchment paper, I HIGHLY recommend it. It just makes clean up a breeze, and prevents baked goods sticking to the pans. Otherwise, you’ll have to butter and dust the sides of the pans instead.
  • Digital thermometer – OK, so you don’t need this as a beginner. But a digital thermometer is going to be SO beneficial if you want to go beyond basic baking. Plus, it’s useful when cooking too.

Tools to mix ingredients

Stand mixer and baking tools to mix ingredients on a light countertop. Various rubber spatulas and whisks are also present.
  • Stand mixer – If you’re really serious about baking, then a stand mixer is non-negotiable. It can be extremely difficult and time consuming to have to whisk everything by hand, or with an electric hand mixer.
  • Electric hand mixer – This can be a great start for beginners who maybe don’t want to bake frequently. However, note that mixing can take longer with these mixers, and I definitely don’t recommend these for bread making (especially for enriched dough such as brioche bread).
  • Spatulas – Silicone spatulas are perfect for mixing and folding ingredients.
  • Whisks – Hand whisks are great to mix dry ingredients and to combine wet ingredients as well.

Baking tools

Baking pans on a wooden surface including half sheet pans, round cake pans, muffins pans, square and rectangle pans.
  • Half sheet pans – These are super versatile, as they can be used for baking sweet things or used to make savory meals as well (sheet pan meals).
  • Round cake pans – The standard in the US is a 9 inch round pan, but I grew up using an 8 inch pan more frequently.
  • Rectangle pan – A 9 x 13 inch rectangle pan is also very useful.
  • Square pan – A 9 inch square pan is also a common one in baking recipes.
  • Loaf pan – 1 lb loaf pan that’s usually 8.5 x 4 inches. But some use a larger 9 x 5 loaf pan too.
  • Regular muffin pan – Muffin pans come in 3 sizes – jumbo, standard, and mini. A standard muffin pan is more versatile for new bakers.
  • Cooling racks – A wire rack to cool down baked goods is essential too.

Basic pantry ingredients

Baking soda, baking powder, all purpose flour and cocoa powder in separate containers on a white countertop.
  • All purpose flour – This is the most basic type of flour you should have in your pantry. You can use it for pastry recipes, cakes and cupcakes, cookies and bars, and even to make homemade bread recipes too.
  • White sugar – The most common sweetener in baking.
  • Brown sugar OR molasses – I like to keep brown sugar on hand, but you can also mix white sugar with molasses to make your own brown sugar!
  • Butter – While I prefer to bake with unsalted butter, you can absolutely bake with salted butter too.
  • Eggs – Specifically, large eggs. Large eggs are usually the standard for most easy baking recipes.
  • Baking powder – A very versatile chemical leavener. Baking soda requires an acid such as white vinegar to work, but baking powder already contains acidity.
  • Baking soda – While having baking powder is more important as a basic pantry item, baking soda is also great to have. Some recipes use baking soda only, IF the recipe contains acidic ingredients. Check out my article on baking soda vs baking powder for more information.
  • Vanilla extract – As a beginner baker, vanilla can be so expensive. So, it’s OK to use vanilla essence when you’re just starting out. But, the flavor of real vanilla extract is unbeatable, so a good quality vanilla extract is worth it in the long run.
  • Cocoa powder – Natural cocoa powder that you can buy in the supermarket is also a must have in the pantry. Especially, if you want to bake more chocolate recipes.
Basic pantry ingredients for baking including white sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla extract, and brown sugar on a white surface.

More tips for beginner baking success

  • Always use weight measurements if available. Recipes with weight measurements can be replicated over and over again with identical results. Volume measurements (especially for dry ingredients) easily vary from person to person depending on how they are measured, so they won’t always be consistent.
  • Don’t be afraid of failure. As a baker (and in other things in life too), I learn the most and about how to be creative through failed attempts.
  • If you notice that your oven doesn’t bake things evenly, it’s a good idea to check the internal oven temperature. Is your cake burning or browning more on the bottom, or on the top? Is there a hot spot? Placing an oven thermometer (not a regular thermometer) in the oven helps you determine if the actual internal temperature is the same as the set temperature.
  • When you’re making something that’s meant to be tender or crumbly (cookies, cakes, bars, quick breads), make sure to avoid over-mixing! The more you mix flour, the more rubbery your cakes become. Be gentle when mixing or folding in flour.
  • Bake times are a guide. Depending on your oven, you may need to adjust the bake times to suit your preference.
  • As soon as you remove a baked item from the oven, let it cool down slightly in the pan (unless the recipe states otherwise). When the baked goods are that hot, they’re usually too fragile and can break apart. Letting them cool down slightly will allow the cakes or cookies to firm up a little, but still be warm / malleable enough to easily remove from the pan.
  • Let the baked goods cool completely on a wire rack. The air flow will allow the baked goods to cool down better, while maintaining the right texture. If you let it cool down completely in the pan, it can lead to overbaking or sogginess (because of condensation).
  • Room temperature is about 72°F / 22°C. Room temperature can change depending on where you live. Where I live, room temperature is quite different in summer vs winter (even with heating and cooling). So as a rule of thumb, I like to note that room temperature is between 70 – 72°F (21 – 22°C).
  • If you’re not sure if your chemical leaveners are fresh, there are ways to check if they are still active. Mixing them with hot water or vinegar will create a bubbling reaction that will clearly show if they are still good!
  • With yeast, if you’re not sure if it’s expired, sprinkle some in lukewarm water with a little sugar and flour and set it aside. If the yeast becomes foamy, then it’s good to go! If it’s not too foamy, or doesn’t produce foam at all, then the yeast is dying or dead. RIP.

Cookies and bars

1. Shortbread cookies

Easy Shortbread Cookies - Buttery, crumbly and light classic shortbread cookies that are easy to make with the minimal amount of ingredients you ALWAYS have in your kitchen! Make the classic version or scottish shortbread. With tips and tricks to make these cookies easily for any occasion!
Shortbread cookies
So buttery, crumbly, and light, there's reason why these cookies are such a classic!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, all purpose flour, caster sugar, fine sea salt
ยทย ย Optional ingredients:ย Vanilla extract or any other flavorings
ยทย ย Time:ย 45 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Shortbread cookies recipe

2. Chocolate shortbread cookies

Chocolate shortbread SM
Chocolate shortbread cookies
Deeply chocolate flavored and deliciously buttery, without being overly sweet.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, all purpose flour, caster sugar, rice flour or cornstarch, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, fine sea salt
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Chocolate shortbread cookies recipe

3. Oatmeal lace cookies

Stack of oatmeal lace cookies, with a hand picking up the cookie on top.
Oatmeal lace cookies
One-of-a-kind delicious, delicate cookies with a nutty flavor (without adding any nuts!).
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Rolled oats, unsalted butter, brown and white sugar, sea salt, all purpose flour, Milk or cream
ยทย ย Optional ingredients:ย Lemon zest or orange zest
ยทย ย Time:ย 45 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Oatmeal lace cookies recipe

4. Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookie with melted chocolate chips and sea salt flakes on a white table top.
Brown butter chocolate chip cookies
Always a classic, always a favorite, chocolate chip cookies that are soft and chewy with LOTS of tips to help you make the BEST version of chocolate chip cookies that YOU like!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, granulated white sugar, sea salt, eggs, baking soda, all purpose flour, semisweet chocolate chips
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Baking powder, bread flour, sea salt flakes
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Chocolate chip cookies recipe

5. Thumbprint cookies

Easy Thumbprint Cookies - These cookies are a classic holiday favorite and they are so easy to make! Get step by step instructions with tips on how to make perfect thumbprint cookies.
Thumbprint cookies
A deliciously buttery, holiday-favorite cookie with a fruit jam or fruit curd filling in the middle.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, sea salt, caster sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, cornstarch, all purpose flour, granulated white sugar (for coating) fruit jam or preserve (for the filling)
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 15 mins (bake)
Thumbprint cookies recipe

6. Savory cookies

Stack of savory cheese cookies with a bite taken from one cookie on top to show crisp, crumbly texture.
Thyme and cheddar cheese cookies
Cheesy and buttery with a little kick of spice, these savory cookies are uniquely tasty, and perfect as an appetizer. Ridiculously simple and quick to make too.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย White cheddar cheese, unsalted butter, cracked black pepper, fresh thyme leaves (or dried thyme), sea salt, all purpose flour
ยทย ย Time:ย 15 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Cheesy savory cookies recipe

7. Meringue cookies

Classic meringue cookies and chocolate dipped meringue cookies on a wooden surface.
Meringue kisses
These light as air, crisp, perfectly sweet, bite-sized meringue cookies are such a nostalgic holiday treat for me! Plus, you can easily add color, flavor, and texture to these versatile cookies.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Fresh egg whites, caster sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla extract, white vinegar
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Salt
ยทย ย Time:ย 1 hour (prep) + 2 hours (bake)
Meringue cookies recipe

8. Italian pistachio cookies

Italian Pistachio Cookies - Only 4 ingredients! Gluten free, soft and fudgy pistachio cookies that are easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes!
Pistachio cookies
Soft and a little fudgy and chewy in the middle, with crunchy pistachios on the outside, these cookies are so delicious and super easy and quick to make.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Raw pistachios, white sugar, blanched sliced almonds, egg whites
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Vanilla extract
ยทย ย Time:ย 7 mins (prep) + 15 mins (bake)
Italian pistachio cookies recipe

9. Snowball cookies

Half eaten snowball cookie and a stack of more cookies in the background.
Snowball cookies
Also known as Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, these cookies are nutty and buttery with a thick coating of confectioner's sugar on top.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, sea salt, confectionerโ€™s sugar, chopped pecans, vanilla extract, all purpose flour
ยทย ย Time:ย 1 hour 30 mins (prep) + 20mins (bake)
Snowball cookies recipe

10. Fudgy chocolate brownies

Stack of three fudgy cocoa brownies on a white plate.
Fudgy cocoa brownies
These super fudgy brownies are made with cocoa powder (instead of melted chocolate) with chunks of real chocolate in the brownie.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Butter, brown and white sugar, salt, vanilla extract, eggs, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, all purpose flour
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Coffee extract, dark chocolate chips
ยทย ย Time:ย 20 mins (prep) + 35 mins (bake)
Chocolate brownies recipe

11. Blondies

Brown Butter blondies social media
Brown butter blondies
Thick, fudgy, decadent, packed with so much butterscotch flavor, and made with brown butter for the best blondies ever!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, ice water, dark brown sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla extract, all purpose flour
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Dark chocolate chips, chopped pecans, Maldon sea salt flakes
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Blondies recipe

Cakes and cupcakes

12. Vanilla cupcakes

Moist, fluffy vanilla cupcake with a tall swirl of buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles.
Vanilla cupcakes
Soft, moist, delicious vanilla cupcakes with a light crumb, and absolutely foolproof with my step by step instructions.
You can drizzle them with a simple vanilla syrup to make them extra moist, and pair them with an American vanilla buttercream frosting to make TRIPLE vanilla cupcakes too!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, baking powder, unsalted butter, sea salt, white sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 25 mins (bake)
Vanilla cupcakes recipe

13. Butter cake

Butter cake
Deliciously moist, light, and buttery with a beautiful crumb, perfect sweetness, and a hint of vanilla flavor. No frosting needed, this butter cake is fantastic tea time snack.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, sea salt, white sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all purpose flour, baking powder, milk
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Butter cake recipe

14. Chocolate bundt cake

Chocolate bundt cake SM.
Glazed chocolate bundt cake
Moist, deeply chocolatey, glazedย chocolate bundt cakeย from scratch thatโ€™s also super easy to make, all in one bowl!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย White sugar, eggs, sour cream, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, sea salt, all purpose flour, natural cocoa powder, baking soda, hot water (or hot coffee)
ยทย ย Optional ingredients (for the glaze): Dark chocolate chips, heavy cream, unsalted butter, sea salt
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 1 hour (bake)
Chocolate bundt cake recipe

15. Chocolate molten lava cake

Chocolate Molten lava cake recipe - these molten lava cakes areย  ready in under 30 minutes with only a 15 minute prep time. Easy, delicious and impressive desserts that can be frozen ahead of time! With gluten free options.
Chocolate molten lava cake
Also known as chocolate fondant cakes, these have a mouthwateringly gooey liquid chocolate center that flows out when you cut into the delicious chocolate exterior!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Semisweet chocolate chips, unsalted butter, sea salt, vanilla extract, white sugar, eggs, all purpose flour
ยทย ย Optional ingredients (to serve): Confectionerโ€™s sugar, berries
ยทย ย Time:ย 15 mins (prep) + 11 mins (bake)
Chocolate molten lava cake recipe

16. Extra fudgy chocolate sheet cake

Close-up of a sliced chocolate sheet cake topped with creamy chocolate buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles.
Fudgy one bowl chocolate sheet cake
Here's how to make the simplest, fudgiest, ONE BOWL chocolate sheet cake that's SO chocolatey, soft, and super moist.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย  All purpose flour, white sugar, Dutch cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, unsalted butter, cream cheese, apple cider vinegar, eggs, vanilla extract, hot coffee
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Fudgy chocolate sheet cake recipe

17. Pound cake

Classic Pound Cake - A complete guide on how to make perfect, delicious and moist Pound Cake even if you're a baking novice! Tips + Tricks and Troubleshooting guide.ย 
Classic pound cake
Step by step recipe with LOTS of troubleshooting tips to guarantee perfect classic pound cake that's dense but soft, rich, buttery, and moist.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour (or cake flour), unsalted butter, sea salt, cane sugar, eggs, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Baking powder
ยทย ย Time:ย 35 mins (prep) + 1 hour 10mins (bake)
Pound cake recipe

18. Flourless chocolate cake

A slice of the flourless chocolate cake on a blue plate, topped with cream and strawberry slice.
Flourless chocolate torte
There's no flour in this recipe and the batter comes together quickly. This chocolate torte is a rich, decadent, elegant chocolate dessert, and it's perfect for beginner bakers to make something truly impressive with minimal fuss!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Eggs, bittersweet chocolate, unsalted butter, sea salt, water, white sugar
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Vanilla extract, bourbon or rum or whiskey to substitute the water, whipped cream to serve
ยทย ย Time:ย 25 mins (prep) + 45 mins (bake)
Flourless chocolate cake recipe

19. Self saucing chocolate pudding cake

A fudgy piece of chocolate fudge pudding and the fudge sauce, served in a bowl.
Self saucing chocolate pudding
An extra fudgy chocolate cake with its own supply of fudgy chocolate sauce at the bottom! How cool is that? A simple and cozy chocolate dessert, made with basic pantry-staple ingredients.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Unsalted butter, eggs, milk, white and brown sugar, all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate chips, vanilla extract, boiling water
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Bourbon
ยทย ย Time:ย 25 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Self saucing chocolate pudding cake recipe

20. Brown butter madeleines

A plate of six golden-brown madeleines, sprinkled with passion fruit glaze and seeds, arranged on a silver platter.
Madeleines
A soft, sponge cake center and crisp, browned edges and a delicious buttery flavor! I pair them with a sweet, tangy passion fruit glaze here, but that's optional.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Eggs, brown sugar, all purpose flour, lemon zest and juice, vanilla extract, sea salt, unsalted butter
ยทย ย Time:ย 50 mins (prep) + 25 mins (bake)
Brown butter madeleines recipe

Pastries and breads

21. Choux pastry

Learn how to make Perfect Choux Pastry (Or Pate a Choux!) - A great basic troubleshooting guide to make sure you get perfect Choux Pastry every Single time!
Choux pastry
Choux pastry gets a bad rap sometimes as something hard and finicky for beginner bakers. But it couldn't be further from the truth! With my step by step recipe and tips, you'll soon be making the most perfect, light, airy, crisp choux pastry ever!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Water, unsalted butter, all purpose flour, eggs, sea salt
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Whiter sugar, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Time:ย 1 hour (prep) + 1 hour (bake)
Choux pastry recipe

22. Cream puffs

Cream puffs topped with powdered sugar on a blue plate. The golden pastries are filled with swirls of whipped cream.
Cream puffs
And once you've made choux pastry, the next easy and impressive treat you can make is to fill them with a light, fluffy whipped cream to make cream puffs!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Water, unsalted butter, all purpose flour, eggs, sea salt, powdered gelatin, heavy cream, confectionerโ€™s sugar
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Whiter sugar, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Time:ย 1 hour 15 mins (prep) + 55mins (bake)
Cream puffs recipe

23. Homemade phyllo cups

Close up of golden, flaky, crisp phyllo cups stacked on a cooling rack.
Homemade phyllo shells
Make these easy, crisp, buttery, delicious phyllo cups (phyllo shells) at home and fill them with a variety of sweet or savory fillings to make crowd-favorite appetizers and bite-sized desserts!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Phyllo dough, unsalted butter
ยทย ย Time:ย 45 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Homemade phyllo cups recipe

24. Strawberry galette

A rustic strawberry galette topped with fresh strawberries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Strawberry galette
This buttery, flaky, delicious free-form pie crust with a sweet, jammy, juicy strawberry filling is a simple summer delight!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, granulated sugar, sea salt, unsalted butter, ice water, strawberry jam, fresh strawberries, cornstarch
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Lemon zest, egg yolk and milk for the egg wash
ยทย ย Time:ย 35 mins (prep) + 45 mins (bake)
Strawberry galette recipe

25. Peach galette

Rustic peach galette with golden flaky crust and spiral peach slices on a cooling rack.
Peach galette
Another delightful way to make use of summer fruits and an easy, free-form buttery and flaky pie crust. Simple enough to make in a pinch, but fancy enough for crowds and parties!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, unsalted butter, ice water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, sea salt, peaches, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Thyme or rosemary sprigs, egg yolk and milk for the egg wash
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 40 mins (bake)
Peach galette recipe

26. Peach cobbler

Classic peach cobbler social media
Classic peach cobbler
Fresh, fruity, juicy peaches, topped with a light, fluffy, buttery cream biscuit topping. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a refreshingly delicious summer treat.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Fresh peaches, white sugar, sea salt, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, all purpose flour, baking powder, unsalted butter, heavy cream
ยทย ย Time:ย 45 mins (prep) + 45 mins (bake)
Peach cobbler recipe

27. Easy sausage rolls

Easy Sausage Rolls with just 3 ingredients -ย You can customize these sausage rolls easily with your favorite flavor pairings, and they can be made ahead of time and frozen for later too. Easy pork sausage rolls that are perfect for holiday entertaining, as an appetizer or as a brunch or lunch snack!
Easy sausage rolls
Quick and easy sausage rolls made with store-bought puff pastry that you can customize with different flavor pairings! Perfect appetizer for entertaining.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Puff pastry sheets, spicy fruit relish or preserves, pork sausages, water
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Egg and milk for the egg wash
ยทย ย Time:ย 15 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Easy sausage rolls recipe

28. Homemade bread (sandwich bread)

How to make the best Homemade White Bread that is soft and delicious. An easy to follow recipe for perfect homemade bread with step by step instructions.
White bread (sandwich bread)
This popular, reader-favorite recipe has one special ingredient that makes it uniquely soft and delicious. And not at all flimsy like store-bought sandwich bread either. This is a fantastic bread dough recipe for beginner bakers!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Active dry yeast, water, honey, all purpose flour, sea salt, white vinegar, unsalted butter
ยทย ย Time:ย 1 hour 30 mins (prep) + 45 mins (bake)
Homemade bread recipe

29. Focaccia bread

Close up focaccia slices with airy, open crumb, served on a white plate.
Focaccia bread
This bread is truly the stuff of legends. A perfect high hydration focaccia bread that is drenched in flavor, with big bubbles on top, large air pockets inside, and SO crispy throughout! It's an easy and adaptable recipe (even if you mess it up a little!).
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Bread flour, water, honey, active dry yeast, sea salt, olive oil, spring onions, red chili pepper, rosemary, garlic
ยทย ย Time:ย 55 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Focaccia bread recipe

30. Hot dog buns

These Easy to make Homemade Hot Dog Buns, are perfectly soft and delicious! This dough is versatile enough to be hot dog buns, subs, or hamburger buns, and absolutely easy to make!
Homemade hot dog buns
These soft, fluffy, delicious homemade hot dog buns are made with a super versatile dough that you can use to make subs, rolls, and burger buns too!
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, milk, water, active dry yeast, sea salt, sugar, eggs, butter
ยทย ย Time:ย 40 mins (prep) + 30 mins (bake)
Hot dog buns recipe

Quick breads, scones, muffins, and custards

31. Basic muffins

Plain muffin on a plate with another muffin half served with a pat of butter.
Basic muffins (and variations)
I share TWO foolproof methods to guarantee perfectly moist, spiced muffins – one method to make a single batch, and second method to make multiple batches at once.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, baking powder, sea salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: mini chocolate chips and raisins or dried currants as add-ins
ยทย ย Time:ย 30 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Basic muffins recipe

32. Banana bread

Banana bread social media
Classic banana bread
This tried and true recipe for banana bread has the BEST flavor and texture of all the banana bread recipes I've tried over the years. Perfectly sweet and moist, and an excellent way to use up overripe bananas.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Overripe bananas, unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, salt, sour cream, eggs, vanilla extract, all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, walnuts
ยทย ย Time:ย 20 mins (prep) + 1 hour (bake)
Banana bread recipe

33. Strawberry shortcake

Strawberry shortcake served with whipped cream and sliced fresh strawberries on a white plate.
Easy strawberry shortcake
Fresh strawberries and cream, served with a buttery, soft lemon buttermilk biscuits with a crunchy topping! As elegant and impressive as it is easy.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, white sugar, unsalted butter, lemon zest and juice, buttermilk, fresh strawberries, whipping cream, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Time:ย 10 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Strawberry shortcake recipe

34. Classic cream scones

The Best Classic Cream Scones recipe - Step by step recipe with tips on how to make perfect flaky, buttery cream scones, that are so addictive! Easy to make and delicious.
Cream scones
These tall, soft, buttery, extra flaky cream scones served with a pat of butter or clotted cream or fruit jam is a classic tea-time snack.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, unsalted butter, heavy cream, vanilla extract
ยทย ย Time:ย 40 mins (prep) + 20 mins (bake)
Cream scones recipe

35. Blueberry scones

Lavender Blueberry Scones Featured Image
Blueberry scones with lemon glaze
Tall, soft, flaky, and packed with blueberries, theseย lavender blueberry sconesย with lemon glaze are such an easy and impressive treat. Plus, they freeze well and bake perfectly from frozen too, so you can make these ahead of time.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, white sugar, salt, baking powder, wild blueberries, heavy cream
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Dried lavender, lemon juice and confectionerโ€™s sugar for the lemon glaze
ยทย ย Time:ย 20 mins (prep) + 25 mins (bake)
Blueberry scones recipe

36. Cheddar corn biscuits

Cheddar corn biscuits
Made with cornmeal and creamed corn, these have the perfect combination of soft and flaky, and are packed with flavor and the sweetness of corn. Can be made ahead of time and frozen too.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย All purpose flour, cornmeal, cracked black pepper, baking powder, salt, sugar, unsalted butter, cheddar cheese, cream corn, half and half
ยทย ย Time:ย 20 mins (prep) + 25 mins (bake)
Cheddar corn biscuits recipe

37. French crรจme caramel

Two plates of flan with caramel sauce on a marble surface, one partially eaten with a spoon beside it.
Crรจme caramel
Perfectly sweet, milky, creamy custard with a silky smooth, velvety texture, and a lovely caramel flavor with just a hint of caramel bitterness. Takes a bit more time than the other recipes on this list, but it's a guaranteed favorite for potlucks and dinner parties.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Whole fat milk, lemon or orange peel, eggs, vanilla extract, white sugar, sea salt, corn syrup, water
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Heavy cream as a substitute for the milk
ยทย ย Time:ย 3 hours (prep) + 2 hours (bake)
Crรจme caramel recipe

38. Crรจme brรปlรฉe

Oval dish with classic crรจme brรปlรฉe, where the caramelized top is broken in one spot to reveal creamy custard underneath.
Classic crรจme brรปlรฉe
A silky, creamy custard dessert, topped with a thin, crackly layer of caramel. Simple yet elegant and decadent.
ยทย ย Ingredients you'll need:ย Whipping cream, vanilla extract, egg yolks, white sugar, salt
ยทย ย Optional ingredients: Bourbon
ยทย ย Time:ย 10 mins (prep) + 25 mins (bake)
Crรจme brรปlรฉe recipe
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Dini Kodippili

Dini Kodippili is a professional food writer, recipe developer, food photographer, cookbook author, and baker. Dini has been featured on HuffPost, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Delish, Food & Wine and more. Learn More

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Hey There!

Hi! Iโ€™m Dini, a third culture kid by upbringing and a food-geek by nature. I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand and lived in Australia, and then the US, before moving to and settling down in Canada. My food is a reflection of those amazing experiences!

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Front cover of the Secret Layer Cakes cookbook by Dini Kodippili.

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