Baking is often seen as a simple pleasure but it can also be a powerful tool for mindfulness and emotional wellbeing, especially for anyone going through cancer. Whether you’re whisking, kneading or decorating, the gentle, repetitive motions involved in baking can help calm a busy mind and bring a sense of focus and achievement – not to mention some tasty and enjoyable results! For many, it’s not just about the end result, but the process itself of measuring ingredients, stirring mixtures and watching a bake slowly rise into life.
Mindful baking: a calming activity for wellbeing
Mindful baking can also help reduce anxiety and stress by encouraging you to slow down and engage all your senses. The texture of dough, the sound of a mixer, the smell of something sweet in the oven, it all adds up to a soothing, sensory experience that can bring calm and joy to your day.
Baking can be enjoyed alone as a quiet moment of self-care or shared with family and friends as a way to connect and create happy memories. It’s a flexible activity that you can adapt to your energy levels, whether you feel like a simple batch of biscuits or a more involved recipe, it’s all about what feels right for you.
We’ve gathered a selection of easy and comforting baking recipes to get you started. These recipes are designed to be straightforward and satisfying.
Get baking at home with our simple recipes
Brilliant banana bread
−Ingredients
- 140g butter, softened, plus extra for the tin
- 140g caster sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 140g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 50g icing sugar
- A handful dried banana chips, for decoration
Method
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Butter a 2lb loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then slowly add the eggs with a little flour. Fold in the remaining flour, baking powder and bananas.
Pour into the tin and bake for about 30 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then remove to a wire rack.
Mix the icing sugar with 2-3 tsp water to make a runny icing. Drizzle the icing across the top of the cake and decorate with banana chips.
Source: www.bbcgoodfood.com
Flourless chocolate cake
+Ingredients
- 200g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 200g dark chocolate (70%)
- 1 tablespoon strong coffee
- 6 large free-range eggs
- 250g golden caster sugar
- 70g cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
Method
Preheat the oven to 160ºC/320ºF/gas 3. Grease a 20cm spring-form cake tin with a little butter and line with greaseproof paper.
Rest a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water on a medium-low heat. Break in the chocolate, roughly chop and add the butter, then allow to melt, stirring occasionally until smooth and glossy.
Carefully remove the bowl from the heat, stir in the coffee and set aside to cool slightly.
Separate the egg yolks and whites between two large bowls. Whisk the egg whites for 1 to 2 minutes, or until soft peaks form.
Add the sugar to the yolks and beat for 7 minutes, or until pale. Sift in the cocoa powder and 1 pinch of sea salt, then gently fold through to combine.
Stir in the melted chocolate mixture, then gently fold through the egg whites until smooth.
Transfer to the prepared tin and place in the hot oven for around 1 hour, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
Allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack, then serve with a dusting of cocoa powder and fresh berries.
Source: www.jamieoliver.com
If you’re baking with children, the emphasis is often more on the decorating than on the baking itself, so cupcakes or biscuits can provide the perfect canvas on which to get creative!
