easy picnic bakes

This is an easy banana bread recipe that gives perfect results every time. Be sure to use really ripe bananas - the blacker the better.

Each serving provides 334 kcal, 5g protein, 53g carbohydrates (of which 30g sugars), 11g fat (of which 6.5g saturates), 2g fibre and 0.8g salt.

Banana bread

flour

tsp bicarbonate of soda

salt

110 grams/4 ounces butter, plus extra for greasing

caster sugar

free-range eggs

bananas,

85 milliliters/3fl oz buttermilk (or normal milk mixed with 1½ tsp lemon juice

tsp vanilla extract

Mary Berry's quick savoury muffins are superb with soup, salads or for eating on the go. The cheese is lovely and oozy if you serve them warm. Eaten cold, they are still fragrant, with a nice saltiness from the cheese and olives. 

For this recipe you will need a 12-hole muffin tin and muffin cases.


Mary Berry's cheesy muffins

275 grams/9¾oz self-raising flour

tsp baking powder

grams/1¾oz butter, melted

free-range egg, beaten

250 milliliters/9fl oz milk

75 grams/2⅓oz Gruyère cheese, grated

basil, leaves only, chopped

75 grams/2⅓oz pitted black olives, chopped

tbsp sun-dried tomato paste

How to make the perfect Welsh cake recipe in four easy steps for a teatime treat. Don't save them for St David's Day, a batch of warm Welsh cakes never went amiss..

Each serving provides 357 kcal, 5g protein, 46g carbohydrates (of which 18g sugars), 16.5g fat (of which 10g saturates), 1.5g fibre and 0.7g salt.

Welsh cakes

sultanas

egg,

milk, if needed

The clue to the richness of this recipe is in the name. Millionaire's shortbread is easy to make with condensed milk caramel and a buttery biscuit base.

Millionaire's shortbread

175 grams/6 ounces unsalted butter, cold,

75 grams/2¾oz caster sugar

butter

condensed milk

golden syrup

dark chocolate,

James Martin’s simple steps for making Madeira cake, will have you whipping up a soft, buttery afternoon treat.

Madeira cake

butter,

milk

lemon, zest only

citron

Classic, chewy and good for your soul, Lorraine Pascale’s flapjacks are simple to make and hard to beat!

Each serving provides 318 kcal, 3.5g protein, 43g carbohydrates (of which 25.5g sugars), 14g fat (of which 8g saturates), 2.5g fibre and 0.1g salt.

Flapjacks

muscovado sugar

350 grams/12 ounces porridge oats

½ unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only (optional)

ginger (optional)

Try making these easy, buttery shortbread biscuits for an afternoon activity with the kids. This recipe also works with chocolate chips or orange zest added the dough. 

Shortbread

125 grams/4 ounces unsalted butter,

55 grams/2 ounces caster sugar, plus extra to finish

Mary Berry's scones are the perfect easy tea-time treat, whether jam-and-cream-topped (in whichever order you like), plain or packed with sultanas. 
 
Equipment: You will need a fluted 5cm/2in cutter.


Mary Berry's scones

450 grams/1lb self-raising flour

level tsp baking powder

grams/1¾oz caster sugar

grams/3½oz butter, softened,

(optional)

strawberry jam

clotted cream

These easy, healthy vegan flapjacks use a mixture of mashed bananas and coconut oil instead of traditional butter, but keep the classic addition of golden syrup for a bit of extra sweetness. If you’re avoiding refined sugar, swap the golden syrup for equal parts maple syrup.

Each serving provides 240 kcal, 5g protein, 29g carbohydrate (of which 14g sugars), 10g fat (of which 6g saturates), 5g fibre and 0.2g salt.

Vegan flapjacks 

ripe bananas (about 300 grams/10½oz)

coconut oil

100 grams/3½oz dried apricots, roughly chopped

grams/1¾oz coconut

pumpkin seeds

oats

flaky sea salt

An easy cherry loaf cake that's moist and tender with ground almonds that just needs a cup of tea. Remember to coat the cherries in a little flour so they don't all sink to the bottom of the cake. 


Easy cherry cake

natural coloured glacé cherries

plain flour

175 grams/6 ounces caster sugar, plus 1½ tbsp

tsp vanilla extract or almond extract

tsp finely grated lemon zest

1½ tsp baking powder

75 grams/2½oz ground almonds

tbsp milk

almonds

Rock cakes are a light, crumbly tea-time favourite. Eat while they are still warm from the oven. So easy to make, and lots of fun for children to join in too. 

Each serving provides 214 kcal, 3g protein, 29g carbohydrates (of which 14.5g sugars), 9.5g fat (of which 6g saturates), 1g fibre and 0.3g salt.

Rock cakes

75 grams/2½oz caster sugar

grams/4½oz unsalted butter,

150 grams/5½oz dried fruit (raisins, sultanas or currants)

free-range egg

Flapjacks are perfect for taking to work, school or having a snack with a cuppa! You can use any of the dried fruit and nuts you like. This version is slightly more healthy than normal, with a bit less butter and syrup, so it's great for families.

Each serving provides 231 kcal, 4.5g protein, 27g carbohydrates (of which 14g sugars), 11g fat (of which 5g saturates), 3g fibre and 0.25g salt.


Healthier flapjacks

oil,

grams/3½oz butter, cubed

grams/1¾oz seeds,

grams/1¾oz cranberries

grams/1¾oz raisins

grams/1¾oz apricots,

250 grams/9 ounces jumbo porridge oats (gluten-free, if required)

How to make flapjacks with tasty fruit and bit less butter than normal

How to make flapjacks

This is my go-to recipe when I want to make a classic chocolate chip cookie, but feel free to swap the chocolate for any other fillings you fancy. Treat this recipe like a master cookie dough and experiment with your favourite flavours. Ideally make the dough the night before you want to eat the cookies.
Each serving provides 248 kcal, 2.9g protein, 34.6g carbohydrate (of which 23g sugars), 10.6g fat (of which 6.4g saturates), 1.7g fibre and 0.33g salt.


Perfect chocolate chip cookies

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp sea salt flakes,

110 grams/3¾oz unsalted butter,

110 grams/3¾oz light brown sugar

110 grams/3¾oz caster sugar

vanilla extract

chocolate (see tip)

Edd Kimber's go-to recipe when he wants to make a classic chocolate chip cookie.

This simple lemon drizzle cake recipe is super-quick to bake and perfect with an afternoon cup of tea. It's made in a food processor, so in 10 minutes you'll have it in the oven! 

This recipe makes a lemon drizzle loaf, but if you want to make a cake in a different shape, try our <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/sponge_cake_calculator">cake calculator</a>.
Each serving provides 401 kcal, 5.3g protein, 47.5g carbohydrate (of which 31.3g sugars), 20.9g fat (of which 12.4g saturates), 0.9g fibre and 0.29g salt.


Easy lemon drizzle cake

225 grams/8 ounces unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

lemon,

icing sugar sugar

Top 14 easy picnic bakes recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy picnic bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Banana bread

Mary Berry's cheesy muffins

Welsh cakes

Millionaire's shortbread

Madeira cake

Flapjacks

Shortbread

Mary Berry's scones

Vegan flapjacks

Easy cherry cake

Rock cakes

Healthier flapjacks

Perfect chocolate chip cookies

Easy lemon drizzle cake

Top 14 easy picnic bakes recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy picnic bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Banana bread

Mary Berry's cheesy muffins

Welsh cakes

Millionaire's shortbread

Madeira cake

Flapjacks

Shortbread

Mary Berry's scones

Vegan flapjacks

Easy cherry cake

Rock cakes

Healthier flapjacks

Perfect chocolate chip cookies

Easy lemon drizzle cake

The most viewed easy picnic bakes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine