Best 5 easy recipes to bake at home

Lauren Chalouhi, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

Baking is a fun activity that almost everyone enjoys, but sometimes it can be a bit complicated or you might not have all the ingredients you need at home. These 5 easy baking recipes will make baking much easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Recipe 1: Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of the most well-known baking recipes that everyone enjoys, but some recipes can overly complicate them. This recipe will make it easier to make. This is what you’ll need:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.

Step 3

Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned. Then enjoy!

Recipe 2: Brownies

Brownies are an enjoyable treat especially if you like chocolate. You could even enjoy it with some milk or ice cream. This is what you’ll need for this treat:

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.

Step 2

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into the prepared pan.

Step 3

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook. Let cool completely for 10 minutes, then enjoy!

Recipe 3: Rice Crispy Treats
You can enjoy this treat store-bought or homemade. It’s a fun and easy treat to make that everyone will love. The ingredients you will need are:

• 6 Tablespoons salted butter
• 16 oz bag mini marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 cups rice Krispies cereal

Step 1 

Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in all but 1 cup of the marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until completely melted.

Step 3

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the cereal and the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows.

Step 4

Pour into the prepared baking dish. Press GENTLY with your fingertips just until completely spread out (the harder you pack them in, the harder they are to eat).

Step 5

Let it sit for about 1 hour either on the counter or in the freezer. Cut and enjoy!

Recipe 4: Cupcakes

Cupcakes are an easy treat to make at home, and fun to make with family and friends. The ingredients you will need:

• 2 1/2 cups (325g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (414g) sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup (240ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (240ml) water*

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with liners.

Step 2

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large mixer bowl and combine. Set aside.

Step 3

Add the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs to a medium-sized bowl and combine.

Step 4

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat until well combined.

Step 5

Slowly add the water to the batter and mix at low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined. Please note that the batter will be very thin.

Step 6

Fill the cupcake liners about halfway and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Step 7

Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool for 2 minutes, then remove them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Step 9 (optional)

If you want to add frosting you can use store-bought or homemade frosting with  unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk.

Recipe 5: Chocolate cake

Who doesn’t like chocolate cake! It’s the best treat to have especially if you love chocolate and a nice side of milk. The ingredients needed for this recipe are:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 – 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
• 1 – 1/2 tsps baking powder
• 1 – 1/2 tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Step 2

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Step 3

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting.

All these recipes are fun to make and even more fun to eat. Baking is a fun activity to do with your family and friends, and if you don’t know what to bake, these 5 recipes will help!