19 Must-Try Recipes for Beginner Bakers That Impress

Starting out with baking doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Some of the best beginner recipes are simple, fun, and give you confidence right from the start. With just a few basic ingredients and easy steps, you can create treats that look and taste amazing!

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

This timeless recipe requires just flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and chocolate chips, making it a staple for beginner bakers. Mix the dry ingredients, then incorporate wet ingredients and chocolate chips. Spoon the dough onto a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. These cookies are soft, chewy, and ideal for those wanting to perfect their baking basics. Add a pinch of sea salt for a gourmet touch. Once baked, allow them to cool on a rack for a rich, gooey finish.

Banana Muffins

Perfect for using up overripe bananas, these muffins come together quickly with flour, sugar, eggs, and bananas. Mash the bananas, then mix in the remaining ingredients and pour into muffin tins. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate chips boosts flavor. These muffins are moist and fluffy, suitable for breakfast or a snack. Let cool for a few minutes before enjoying.

Simple Sugar Cookies

For a versatile cookie recipe, sugar cookies require just flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix ingredients until smooth, roll out the dough, and cut into shapes. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, watching closely to prevent browning. They’re perfect for decorating and make a great holiday treat. Simple yet impressive, these cookies will be a hit with minimal effort. Cool before icing.

One-Bowl Brownies

These rich, chocolatey brownies only need cocoa powder, flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. Combine ingredients in one bowl and pour the batter into a greased pan. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. They’re fudgy with a crackly top, making them a go-to for chocolate lovers. Adding chocolate chips or nuts adds texture. Cool completely before slicing to maintain structure.

Vanilla Cupcakes

With flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract, vanilla cupcakes are straightforward to bake. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine, filling cupcake liners halfway. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes until golden. Light and fluffy, they serve as an excellent base for frosting. Top with a buttercream or cream cheese frosting for an elegant finish. Perfect for any celebration.

No-Knead Bread

For beginners hesitant about yeast, this no-knead bread combines flour, water, salt, and yeast, left to rise overnight. After resting, shape and bake in a Dutch oven at 450°F for 30-40 minutes. It results in a crusty loaf with minimal hands-on time. Perfect for sandwiches or toast, it demystifies bread-making. Let cool completely before slicing for best texture.

Blueberry Muffins

Made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and fresh blueberries, these muffins are moist and delicious. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, fold in blueberries, and pour into muffin tins. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. The fresh berries burst with flavor in each bite, perfect for a morning treat. Optional streusel topping adds a crunchy finish. Cool before serving.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Only requiring peanut butter, sugar, and eggs, these cookies are gluten-free and packed with flavor. Mix ingredients until smooth, scoop onto a baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. They’re soft with a rich peanut butter taste. A quick, impressive cookie that’s naturally flourless. Let cool slightly before transferring to a rack to set.

Apple Crisp

Using sliced apples, oats, flour, sugar, and butter, apple crisp is easy and cozy. Arrange apples in a baking dish, top with oat mixture, and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. This dessert is tender and fragrant, ideal for fall baking. Serve with ice cream for a warming treat. Minimal prep and maximum flavor make it a favorite.

Fudgy Chocolate Cake

This simple chocolate cake uses cocoa powder, flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, and can be mixed in one bowl. Pour batter into a pan and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. It’s dense and rich, perfect for chocolate lovers. Add a simple ganache for a professional finish. Allow to cool before frosting or slicing.

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin puree, flour, sugar, spices, eggs, and oil make this bread moist and flavorful. Mix ingredients, pour into a loaf pan, and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. The aroma of pumpkin and spice fills the kitchen. It’s a fantastic seasonal bake for fall. Cool before slicing to keep the texture intact.

Lemon Bars

A mix of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and lemon juice, lemon bars are a sweet-tart delight. Make a shortbread crust, pour lemon filling over, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Cool completely before slicing for clean edges. Dust with powdered sugar for a professional look. These bars are refreshing and light, ideal for spring.

Cinnamon Rolls

Made with flour, sugar, yeast, butter, and cinnamon, these rolls are fluffy and aromatic. After rising, roll out the dough, spread with butter and cinnamon, then slice. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. Finish with a cream cheese glaze. These rolls are soft, sweet, and irresistible fresh from the oven.

Easy Cheesecake

Using cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and graham crackers, this cheesecake is foolproof. Press crust into a pan, add filling, and bake at 325°F for 45 minutes. It’s creamy and smooth with minimal cracking. Add a fruit topping for color and flavor. Refrigerate before slicing for best results.

Banana Bread

Overripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, and oil create a moist, tender bread. Mix ingredients, pour into a loaf pan, and bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes. A classic use for extra bananas, perfect for breakfast. Add nuts or chocolate chips for texture. Cool before slicing to keep it from crumbling.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

These cinnamon-sugar cookies use flour, butter, sugar, and cream of tartar. Roll dough in cinnamon sugar, bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. They’re soft, chewy, and coated in cinnamon. A warm, spiced cookie ideal for cozy afternoons. Cool before enjoying for the best flavor.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Combine flour, sugar, bananas, eggs, and chocolate chips for a rich twist on banana bread. Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. The chocolate adds sweetness to the banana flavor. Easy and crowd-pleasing, perfect for using up bananas. Cool before slicing for a clean cut.

Upside-Down Pineapple Cake

Pineapple slices, flour, sugar, butter, and eggs create this classic. Arrange pineapple in a pan, pour batter over, and bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. It’s sweet, fruity, and visually stunning. Ideal for a retro dessert with a twist. Let cool before flipping to serve.

Chocolate Mug Cake

With flour, cocoa, sugar, milk, and oil, this microwave cake is quick and satisfying. Mix ingredients in a mug and microwave for 1 minute. It’s gooey and perfect for a personal treat. Add chocolate chips for extra indulgence. Serve hot directly from the mug.

This article originally appeared on RetailShout.

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