Four Winter Desserts for People Who Can’t Bake

Thoughts| Tehlan Lenius

Graphic by Cole Lachowicz

Four Winter Desserts for People Who Can’t Bake:

It’s dreary and cold so what better way to cozy up inside than resurrecting the old quarantine baking hobby? As someone who rarely bakes, I’m always in need of easy recipes that I can whip out on a dime once winter rolls around. I asked some friends what their favorite baked goods are and here are the results:

SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES:

Snickerdoodles are a quick and simple cookie with a cinnamon-y touch that matches the winter spirit perfectly. A tip! If you’d like your snickerdoodles to be on the softer side, slightly under-baking keeps the interior of the cookie soft and chewy. Just take it out a minute or two early and voila!


INGREDIENTS:

COOKIE:

2 ⅔ cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

⅛ tsp. salt

1 ⅓ cups sugar

1 cup butter softened

2 eggs


TOPPING:

¼ cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F

  2. Combine dry ingredients; flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt then set it aside

  3. With a mixer on medium, or just with a whisk or fork, combine the sugar, butter, and eggs. Begin stirring in the flour mixture a little bit at a time until it’s all mixed in

  4. Put the cinnamon and sugar into a small bowl for the topping and mix them up

  5. Take the dough and divide it into 32 pieces, rolling each piece into a ball

  6. Roll the balls around in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat them

  7. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet

  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes


FRUIT CAKE

I always associate fruit cake with the winter because of that one Christmas special of Spongebob where Plankton laced his fruit cake with Jerktonium as part of a plan to turn the Bikini Bottomites into jerks—but whether you have the same incredibly specific association, or not, here’s an easy recipe that will make you the star of the winter bake sale.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ cups whole red candied cherries

1 ½ cups whole green candied cherries

3 cups diced candied pineapple

10 oz. golden raisins

1 lb walnut halves

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

5 large eggs, room temperature

4 tbsp. vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 teaspoon salt


DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat your oven to 300°F

  2. In a bowl, combine fruits and walnuts

  3. In a different bowl, cream the shortening and sugar with a mixer (or by hand if you want a workout) until it’s light and fluffy (should take 5-7 minutes)

  4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla

  5. In a bowl, combine baking powder, flour, and salt then add it to the creamed mixture and mix it well

  6. Stir in the fruit and walnuts

  7. Transfer to a greased and floured pan (10-inch tube pans are suggested for the classic fruit cake look, but a normal cake pan works just fine too!)

  8. Bake for two hours


CHOCOLATE FUDGE:

Fudge is always a classic when the temperature drops and it’s surprisingly easy to make! What’s even better is that it only takes a few coloured sprinkles to match your mood or even the holiday season; Valentine’s Day? Pink Sprinkles. Easter? Purple sprinkles. The possibilities are endless. I’ve found that when you can only bake one thing well, versatility is key)


INGREDIENTS:

2 ¾ cups chocolate chips (60% to 70% cacao)

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed

2 tbsp. heavy cream

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

¼ tsp. kosher salt

3 tbsp. Christmas sprinkles


DIRECTIONS:

  1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the milk, butter, cream, vanilla, salt and chocolate and be sure to stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth (around 5 minutes)

  2. Pour it into a prepared 8" x 8" baking pan lined with parchment and greased with cooking spray

  3. Top it with sprinkles and refrigerate until it’s set (around 2 hours)

  4. Cut into squares and serve!


CHOCOLATE PUDDING:

Sometimes you’re not in the mood for dense cakes or cookies and need a lighter, creamier option. Chocolate pudding is such a simple dessert, but it still hits every time. It can be a great way to end the meal on a light note and it’s also a favourite for kids.

INGREDIENTS:
½ cup white sugar

3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ cup cornstarch

⅛ tsp. salt

2 ¾ cups milk

2 tbsp. butter, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Mix the sugar, cocoa, salt, and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat

  2. Stir in the milk

  3. Bring it all to a boil and let it cook, stirring constantly until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon

  4. Remove from heat and then stir in the vanilla and butter

  5. Let it cool for a little while and serve warm, or chill it in the fridge until serving cold


CONCLUSION:

Desserts can be complicated, but they don’t have to be. There are countless options out there for us baking amateurs to whip out when the wind picks up. Simple pleasures that make the day better. Things like cookies and fudge make great homemade gifts and baking them can also be a fun activity to do with friends. If it turns out horribly, at least you have a good story to laugh at! Start baking and share your favourite treats with me too!

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