Everyone responds differently to stress and anxiety, but itâs not uncommon to want to bake when things feel uncertain (or downright scary). With coronavirus still a constant factor and plenty else in the news weighing on many mindsânot to mention the official arrival of fall and impending gloomy weatherâitâs prime time for self-soothing measures too. So if youâre apt to tie on an apron and turn on your oven when youâre in need of comfort, we have some easy baking recipes you can make with pantry staples.
See all of our COVID-19 coverage for more information on what you can do, including for others in need right nowâand remember to wash your hands often. Then get them dirty with flour and butter and feel a little calmer, at least for a while.
Take pleasure in feeding your family too, if youâre all at home together. Or, if youâre more isolated and feeling lonely, consider making a virtual date with a friend (or your grandma) to both bake something sweetâor savoryâthen hop on a video chat while you snack, have a cup of coffee or tea, and catch up.
Most of these recipes do call for eggs, milk, and/or butter, but not all of them. And none are complicated, because for most of us, thatâs the last thing we need right now.
Flour and yeast seem to be in fairly good supply for now, but if youâre having trouble finding supplies, check out where to buy baking ingredients online (and consider reaching out to a local bakery).
Easy Sweet Baked Goods
Simple sweets for snacks, desserts, and maybe even occasional breakfasts.
1. Easy Brownies
Chowhound
Brownies are one of the simplest yet most satisfying sweets to make, and this version is pretty basicâbut if you donât have any chocolate chips or baking bars in the pantry, swap in a mix of cocoa powder, butter, and sugar instead. Get our Easy Brownie recipe. And if you have one too many cans of beans in your stores, try our Black Bean Brownie recipe thatâs vegan and gluten-free too.
Wilton Brownie Bar Pan, $9.19 on Amazon
For those who are all about chewy edges (or just hate slicing brownies).
2. Raspberry Cake Slices
Columbus Leth
This small-scale dessert is perfect if you donât have anyone around to help eat your baked goods and arenât great at self-imposed portion control (um, hello). The jam is made with frozen berries, but you can also simply spread on some store-bought stuff from the jar in your fridge. And while the pink sprinkles are delightful, you can use regular sanding sugar, turbinado sugar, or whatever you have left from decorating Christmas cookiesâor nothing at all. Get the Raspberry Cake Slices recipe.
3. Peanut Butter Jelly Bars
Chowhound
Similarly comforting but yielding a bigger batch, these one-bowl peanut butter and jelly bars are perfect if youâre home with kids; they can help you bake the bars, and theyâll love the familiar PB&J flavors in dessert form. Use any jam or jelly you have on hand. Get our Peanut Butter Jelly Bars recipe.
4. Easy Banana Bread
Chowhound
If you have bananas that are going spotty, you know what to do:Â Get our Easy Banana Bread recipe. If yours arenât ripe yet, youâll have to wait a whileâbut this is why itâs worth getting in the habit of freezing any overripe bananas so youâre ready to bake banana bread any time you fancy. (And depending on whatâs in your fridge and pantry, consider stuffed banana bread or banana bread mix-ins.)
Related Reading: How to Make the Best Banana Bread No Matter What
5. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chowhound
Practically perfect in every way, chocolate chip cookies are always welcomeâand the methodical nature of scooping out the dough is sort of like meditation. If you have chocolate bars but no chips, just chop those up and mix them in. If you have no flour but do have pancake mix, try this chocolate chip cookie hack. Otherwise, get our Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (and see 15 of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes ever, no matter what your texture preferences).
Related Reading: How to Make Cookie Dough Thatâs Safe to Eat Raw
6. Peanut Butter Trail Mix Cookies
Shelly Westerhausen
These easy, vegan, gluten-free cookies (sweetened with maple syrup) are packed with protein, so you can feel good about snacking on them even in the a.m. Theyâre also highly adaptableâuse another nut or seed butter; swap in agave nectar or honey for the syrup if youâre out; and if you donât have trail mix, stir up any combo of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and/or chocolate to make up the full 1/2 cup total. Get the Peanut Butter Trail Mix Cookie recipe.
7. Mocha Pudding Cake
Chowhound
If only something deep, dark, and super rich will do, this foolproof, dump-and-stir, one-bowl cake is here for you. It separates into three layers as it bakes: a crusty top, cakey middle, and gooey pudding-like base. If you donât want to include the brewed coffee, see some ideas for substitutions. And if youâre out of fresh milk, try full-fat canned coconut milk in its place. Get our Mocha Pudding Cake recipe.
8. Chocolate Crazy Cake
No butter or eggs? No problem. âCrazy cakesâ were popular during the Great Depression and wartime because they required no dairyânowadays, that makes them good vegan options too. In lieu of frosting, you can simply dust the whole thing with powdered sugar, pour some caramel sauce over your slice on the plate, or break out the ice cream. Get the Chocolate Crazy Cake recipe.
Easy Savory Baked Goods
Because baking isnât all about dessert.
9. Easy Skillet Cornbread
Chowhound
If youâre making a big pot of chili to last the week, thereâs no better partner than skillet cornbread. And if you only have regular milk, you can sour it with a little lemon juice or vinegar to use in place of the buttermilk thatâs called for. Get our Cornbread recipe.
Related Reading: 11 Easy Make-Ahead Meals You Can Freeze
10. Muffin Pan Popovers
Chowhound
These make for a fun, mini-souffle-esque side to any number of savory dinners, but also work as breakfast with a smear of jam. Best of all, you only need six ingredients and a standard muffin pan to make them. Get our Muffin Pan Popovers recipe.
Related Reading: 17 Muffin Pan Recipes That Arenât Muffins
11. Onion Poppy Seed Quick Bread
Chowhound
A bakery-style loaf of crusty no-knead bread is well worth making, but if youâre still leery of working with yeast (or just donât have any in your pantry), try a savory quick bread instead. This one is speckled with caramelized onions and poppy seeds. Toast it as a side for soup, eat a slice with butter as a snack, or use it for an upgraded grilled cheese. Get our Onion Poppy Seed Quick Bread recipe.
Header image courtesy of Apichat Thongmalai / EyeEm / GettyImages
