Short on time? Not confident about your skills in the kitchen? Having intense cravings? Here are your 5 go-to recipes to make scrumptious desserts—but on a lazy day—for every occasion.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s often hard to slow down and find time for the things we’re passionate about. If you’d like to spend time in the kitchen, but can’t devote enough time to make complex, demanding desserts, it doesn't mean you have to give up on your passion altogether. Besides, when the cravings hit, you need something fast and hassle free. So here’s 5 quick and easy-to-make recipes, using only three basic ingredients.
1. Icecream
This recipe calls for only three ingredients, no churning and no icecream maker. Making ice cream really can be that simple!
Ingredients:
- 400 gm sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy cream
Directions:
- Place parchment paper in a loaf pan and put it in the freezer.
- Mix together the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract in a chilled bowl.
- In another chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form in it.
- Gently add the whipped cream to the sweetened condensed milk mixture. If you’d like nuts or some other toppings in your ice cream, you can add those now.
- Transfer the mixture into the loaf pan, cover it with a plastic wrap and let it sit in the freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
P.S.: You can swap the vanilla for another flavor—perhaps a spoonful of chocolate sauce—for a different flavored ice cream.
2. Tiger Candy
With stripes that are reminiscent of a tiger, this candy is a delectable blend of familiar flavors like vanilla, chocolate and peanut butter.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of vanilla chips
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Directions:
- Put parchment paper in a pan and set aside.
- Put the chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Microwave it for 1 minute, stir until it’s smooth, and set aside.
- Put the vanilla chips in a small glass bowl and pop it in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds. Stir gently until smooth. Add the peanut butter and mix together until properly combined.
- Pour this mixture into the pan and then pour the melted chocolate on top in straight lines.
- Take a knife, fork or some other object, and make lines throughout the melted chocolate, essentially creating a curve or swirling pattern.
- Put the pan in the fridge so it can cool for a few hours. Cut into small squares or in whatever shape you’d prefer, and serve.
P.S.: If you’d like a sharper tiger effect, skip the swirling and let it set in stripes as is.
3. Apple Cinnamon Roll
This wholesome autumnal dessert, a combination of cinnamon and apple, can also be enjoyed as breakfast, its texture refreshing from the crunch of the apple and the kick of the spice.
Ingredients:
- 1 can cinnamon rolls
- 600 gm apple pie filling
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
Directions:
- Preheat the oven and grease a baking dish with butter.
- Cut the cinnamon rolls into 4, creating mini pieces.
- In a bowl, mix together the cut cinnamon rolls with the apple pie filling and cinnamon.
- Transfer the mixture into the baking dish.
- Bake until the top is golden brown and serve warm.
P.S.: We didn't include this in the list of ingredients since it’s a fourth item, but you can drizzle honey or readymade frosting onto the rolls for added flavor.
4. Energy Bars
These are healthy, protein-heavy energy bars, perfect as a pre- or post-workout snack. They also work as a healthy option for when those sweet cravings kick in!
Ingredients:
- 3 bananas
- 2 cups oats
- 6 tablespoons peanut butter
Directions:
- Preheat the oven.
- Mash the bananas and mix in the oats and peanut butter.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared dish and bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool and serve, or store in an airtight container.
P.S.: If you want more variety, you can try almond butter or some other nut butter too.
5. Almond Chocolate
This simple dessert is the perfect blend of crunchy and chocolatey, and is simple enough that it can be made in the microwave.
Ingredients:
- 350 gm chocolate
- 2 cups almonds
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Directions:
- Microwave the chocolate until it’s fully melted and gently stir until it's creamy.
- Add almonds to the bowl of melted chocolate.
- Take spoonfuls of this mixture and mound them on a plate.
- Sprinkle the sea salt on each mound.
- Cool in the fridge for a few minutes till they harden, and serve.
P.S.: These bite-sized chocolates can be wrapped in colorful foil, and make for a great handmade gift!