If your pantry has flour, sugar, butter and eggs, you can make almost everything in these easy baking recipes. There are over 40 below, from Chocolate Brownies to Anzac Biscuits, and every one comes with conventional and Thermomix instructions.
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Easy Slice Recipes
Slices are the easiest thing to bake when you want something sweet without much fuss. Most of these need nothing more than a tin and a wooden spoon.
Our FAMOUS Chocolate Brownies
The easiest chocolate brownies you'll ever make. Just butter, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, eggs and plain flour. Five minutes of prep and you're done. This one's a firm family favourite.
Coconut Ice
Got sweetened condensed milk, desiccated coconut and icing sugar sitting in the pantry? Then you've already got everything you need for this one.
Rocky Road
Got chocolate in the cupboard (dark, milk or white, doesn't matter)? Then you can make rocky road. Throw in any add ins you've got lying around, like:
- marshmallows
- coconut
- nuts
- sprinkles
- lollies, Turkish delight, honestly anything!
Chocolate Coconut Slice
A baked chocolate slice with a melt in your mouth chocolate icing, made entirely from fridge and pantry basics. Everyone who makes this one falls in love with it.
Lemon Coconut Slice
One of my all time most popular no-bake slices. Any brand or variety of plain biscuits works just fine here, so use whatever's in the pantry.
Coconut Rough Slice
This old fashioned slice is a chocoholic's delight, and there's a very good chance you've already got everything you need at home.
Healthier LCM Bars
Rice bubbles, honey, coconut oil and sprinkles. That's genuinely all that goes into this one.
Weet-Bix Slice
Always a winner with the little (and big) kids in the house. Perfect for lunch boxes, after school snacks or an easy morning tea.
Baked Lemon Slice
Got a few lemons sitting on the bench that need using up? Add a handful of pantry staples and afternoon tea is sorted.
Oat & Milo Slice
Have a peek in the pantry. Flour, Milo, oats, sugar, coconut, egg and butter? Then this kid-approved slice needs to go on your baking list.
ANZAC Slice
Just like ANZAC biscuits, but in slice form. A classic Australian favourite that's simple to make and easy on the budget.
Chocolate Caramel Slice
Condensed milk, butter, brown sugar and a packet of plain biscuits. This is the slice everyone asks you for the recipe for, and it's about time it was in this list.
Jelly Slice
A biscuit base, a creamy middle and a wobbly jelly top. Nothing fancy, just basic ingredients, and it disappears fast whenever I make it.
Honey Joys
Cornflakes, butter, sugar and honey, baked in patty pans for a few minutes. About as basic as baking gets, and always a hit at kids' parties.
Cookie & Biscuit Recipes
Whether you need lunchbox fillers, a full cookie jar, or just want to keep hungry kids happy, these budget-friendly cookies are made from basic pantry ingredients.
The FAMOUS 100 Cookie Recipe (Condensed Milk Cookies)
The ultimate basic cookie recipe. Butter, self-raising flour, sweetened condensed milk and sugar, then flavour with whatever's lying around the house. Chocolate chips, sprinkles, Milo, dried fruit, peanut butter, the options are endless.
ANZAC Biscuits
The easiest and yummiest ANZAC biscuits going around. Follow the tips inside to make them chewy or crunchy, whichever way you like them.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
By far my favourite cookie recipe, and my go-to whenever I want to bake cookies without a trip to the supermarket.
3 Ingredient Shortbread
Got icing sugar, flour and butter on hand? Then you can make these melt in your mouth shortbread biscuits. They really don't get any easier.
Milo Biscuits
Sugar, butter, egg, Milo and self-raising flour. That's it. These are always a hit with the kids, decorate with melted chocolate and sprinkles if you're feeling fancy.
Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuits
Simple biscuits packed with oats and chocolate chips. An all time favourite with the kids in my house.
Cornflake Cookies
A proper old fashioned recipe. Keep it simple or add sultanas and chocolate chips for an extra delicious version.
Hokey Pokey Biscuits
This famous New Zealand recipe from the Edmonds cookbook is a huge hit in our house, and all you need is butter, golden syrup, brown sugar and self-raising flour.
Jam Drops
It doesn't get more basic than a batch of classic jam drops. Made from pantry staples, no need to leave the house for these.
Melting Moments
Butter, cornflour, icing sugar and flour, sandwiched together with a bit of icing. A true classic that belongs in this list.
Monte Carlo Biscuits
Homemade Monte Carlos with a jam and buttercream filling. Way better than the packet ones, and made from things you've already got.
3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies
Nutella, flour and an egg. Three ingredients, one bowl, no mixer required. Great one to get the kids involved with.
Basic Cakes & Cupcakes
From simple cupcakes to a classic butter cake, chocolate cake to fruit cake and more, these baking recipes couldn't be easier.
The BEST Vanilla Cupcakes
My most popular cupcakes, moist, fluffy and so simple to make. Topped with a classic buttercream frosting, this will become your go-to in no time.
Chocolate Cupcakes
My go-to basic chocolate cupcake recipe. I've used it for years and it's never once let me down. The fudgy frosting will keep you coming back for more.
3 Ingredient Fruit Cake
Dried fruit mix, self-raising flour and a liquid of your choice (iced coffee, tea, juice, whatever you like). That's the whole recipe. Perfect for Christmas or any time of year.
Butter Cake with Buttercream
My go-to cake whenever I need one at the last minute and don't have time to get to the shops. Great for birthdays, afternoon tea or any celebration.
Best Chocolate Mud Cake
My ultimate mud cake recipe, made entirely from pantry and fridge staples. Once you've made this one, you won't go back. Fair warning, it's addictive.
Apple Cake
A simple butter cake base layered with sliced apples. Leave out the almonds if you don't have any, it's just as good without them.
Banana Bread
My famous banana bread couldn't be easier to make, and it's perfect for using up bananas that are past their best. Budget-friendly and made from what's already in the house.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
Remember the chocolate cake your grandma used to make? This is that one. Butter, cocoa, self-raising flour, sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla extract, nothing else needed.
Condensed Milk Cake
A soft, sweet cake that gets its flavour and texture from a tin of condensed milk. Simple, basic and always a winner.
Marble Cake
A classic vanilla and chocolate swirl cake, made from the same basic ingredients as the butter cake above. A lovely one for a birthday table.
Easy Dessert Recipes
Need a last-minute dessert without another trip to the shops? These simple baking recipes will have pudding on the table in no time.
3 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake
Eggs, butter and chocolate is genuinely all you need for this rich, decadent dessert.
Chocolate Ripple Cake
This famous Australian dessert couldn't be any easier. Made from whipped cream and plain chocolate biscuits, it's an all-time favourite.
Homemade Apple Pie
Make this classic dessert completely from scratch, or take a few of the cheat's shortcuts inside the recipe.
Lemon Delicious Pudding
Got lemons on hand? This is the recipe for you. Top it with a big scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of cream for the ultimate comfort food dessert.
Golden Syrup Dumplings
There's a reason these sweet little dumplings are such a classic. Made from inexpensive basic ingredients and genuinely so easy to make.
Classic Apple Crumble
My favourite last-minute winter dessert, and I love that I never need the supermarket to make it. Crunchy top, soft sweet filling, perfect with ice cream, custard or cream.
Butterscotch Self-Saucing Pudding
When you need proper comfort food, this pudding is exactly what you're after. The butterscotch sponge is perfect served with the sauce that forms underneath.
Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding
The chocolate version of the butterscotch pudding above, and just as basic. Cocoa, flour, sugar, butter, milk and boiling water is all it takes.
Basic Muffin Recipes
Sweet and savoury muffins are another fantastic budget-friendly option that won't send you to the shops.
My basic muffin recipe collection covers every variation you could possibly need, plus plenty of tips for perfect muffins every time.
With flavours like banana, blueberry, raspberry and white chocolate, apple, chocolate and more, get all the best muffin recipes here.
How To Pick The Right Recipe
With over 40 recipes to choose from, here's a quick way to narrow it down.
- Short on time? The no-bake slices (Coconut Ice, Rocky Road, Lemon Coconut Slice) need no oven at all, just the fridge.
- Baking with the kids? Try the Weet-Bix Slice, Milo Biscuits, Honey Joys or the 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies. All simple enough for little hands to help.
- Need a cake for a birthday or celebration? The Butter Cake with Buttercream, Marble Cake or Best Chocolate Mud Cake are all crowd-pleasers.
- Only a few basics left in the pantry? Look for anything with "3 Ingredient" in the name, like the 3 Ingredient Shortbread, 3 Ingredient Fruit Cake or 3 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake.
- Want dessert tonight? Head to the Easy Dessert Recipes section, most of these come together and bake within the hour.
Easy Baking Recipes FAQs
Self-raising flour, plain flour, caster sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cocoa powder and a tin or two of sweetened condensed milk will cover almost every recipe on this list. Keep those on hand and you can bake something sweet any day of the week.
The 3 Ingredient Shortbread and the 3 Ingredient Nutella Cookies are both genuinely just 3 ingredients, no substitutions needed. Both come together in one bowl with no mixer required.
No. Every recipe on this list can be made with a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon and a baking tin or tray. A few use an electric mixer to speed things up, but it's never essential.
Yes, every single recipe on this list comes with both conventional and Thermomix instructions. Just click through to the recipe and scroll to whichever method suits you.
Most slices and biscuits keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. Cakes with fresh cream or icing are better off in the fridge. Almost everything on this list also freezes well, so double the batch if you're already in the kitchen.
More Baking Recipes
That's every basic ingredient baking recipe in the archives, over 40 of them now. If you're after more easy baking ideas, here's a few more worth a look:
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Jill says
Thankyou for sharing your fabulous recipes Lucy . We will all enjoy cooking over the weekend . Stay well
Lucy says
Thank you so much Jill! Have a great weekend baking 🙂