Lockdown is tough enough when you’re rattling around the house on your own. But it can be even more of a challenge when you’re home-schooling (or at least trying to) your children, too. One way to keep the kids motivated is to give them something to look forward. And, children being children, something sweet is often a good place to start. So, here are 5 deliciously sweet, but reasonably healthy, baking recipes you can get your kids involved with once they’ve done all their homework.
- A Healthy Choco Slice
This recipe is so simple you don’t even need to bake it (though you can if you want to give it more of a caramel taste).
What you need
5 pieces of Weetabix
A good handful of dates
1 heaped tbsp sunflower seeds
1 heaped tbsp desiccated coconut
4 tbsp good quality cocoa
2 tbsp runny honey
Splash of water
What you do
Chuck everything into your food processor
Pulse together until it forms a ball – if it seems a bit too sticky, add a splash of water to loosen
Once it’s done, line your FlavorStone Diamond with baking paper – cut it to size then scrunch in up under running water to help it stick to the inside of your pan
Then, simply press the mixture into your FlavorStone pan in a nice even layer
For an added dash of sweetness, dust with icing sugar or pour over some melted chocolate
Pop the pan into the fridge for a couple of hours
Lift the finished ‘bake’ out of the FlavorStone pan and cut into even sized pieces
- Cinnamon Cookies
These delicately spiced cookies are a hit with youngsters and oldies alike
What you need
1 tbsp poppy seeds
Couple of tbsp water
A good handful of porridge oats
A heaped tbsp of flour
A heaped tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon
60g unsalted butter
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
What you do
Start by preheating your oven to 180℃
Pulse the poppy seeds and porridge oats in a food processor until you have a flour
Next, melt the butter in your FlavorStone Pan over a medium heat
Meanwhile, mix together the flour, oat and seed flour, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl – add a pinch of salt
Stir in the honey, melted butter and vanilla extract until you have a wet dough
Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up
Line your FlavorStone with greaseproof paper
Drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the paper-lined FlavorStone – you should get about 12
Bake for 10 minutes until just golden
Leave in the FlavorStone Pan while they cool, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
- Cookies minus the sugar
These sugar-free wonders use the natural sweetness of fruit – delicious!
What you need
25g unsalted butter
2 nice, ripe bananas
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
225g porridge oats
A good handful of raisins
What you do
Pre-heat your oven to 170℃
Melt the butter in your FlavorStone Pan then pour into a bowl
Use a piece of kitchen towel to spread the remaining butter all around the FlavorStone
Peel and mash the bananas into the butter, then whisk in an egg and the vanilla extract
Mix in the porridge oats, cinnamon and raisins until it’s all combined
Dollop the dough into your greased FlavorStone – you should get about 12 – then bake for 10-15 minutes until nicely golden
Serve warm with a bit of ice cream, or leave to cool and enjoy with a glass of milk
- Nice-and-healthy Brownies
These brownies make great little treats for your kids’ lunchboxes
What you need
35g plain flour
3 tbsp good quality cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
50g desiccated coconut
A good handful of dates - chopped
60g butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
What you do
Preheat your oven to 160℃ (140℃ fan)
Lightly grease your FlavorStone then line it with greaseproof paper
Chuck all your dry ingredients into a food processor, then pulse until fine
Pour in all your wet ingredients then pulse until just mixed
Use a spatula to scrape the mixture into your FlavorStone Pan and spread out evenly
Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until set – if it wobbles when you take it out, leave it in for another 5 mins
Leave to cool completely in the tin, then serve warm with a splash of cream
- Banana bread
This tastes so good, you’d never know it was low in sugar
What you need
250g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt
4 nice, ripe bananas – mashed
2 tbsp runny honey – or more if you like it sweeter
4 tbsp plain yoghurt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
What you do
Pre-heat your oven to 170℃
Melt the butter in your FlavorStone then pour into a bowl
Use a piece of kitchen towel to spread the remaining butter all around the FlavorStone
Stir the flour, salt, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda into the butter bowl, the whisk in the honey, yoghurt, vanilla extract, bananas and eggs
Use a spatula to scrape the mixture into your greased FlavorStone
Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes – it’s when a wooden skewer inserted into the mixture comes out clean
Cool in your FlavorStone until safe to handle, then remove onto a wire rack to cool completely
The FlavorStone is versatile enough that you can use it on the hob or in the oven. For more delicious, nutritious and simple recipes have a look at our complete FlavorStone Pan recipe collection here.