Ever go to a nice cafe and have a delicious treat? Or ever see a pack of cookies in the supermarket but getting them would take you out of budget? Then I’ve got you. Saving money is really crucial for students, and baking your own treats is a good way to play Scrooge. Additionally, it’s a relaxing process! So here’s my list of the best Winter bakes for students.

1. Cinnamon and White Chocolate Cookies

Cinnamon and white chocolate cookies, a perfect Winter bake for students
Author’s own image

 This recipe is to die for! Very early into my baking journey I realised that the base recipe for cookies is actually really simple. You can then add variations to make all types of different flavours. This one in particular is the best Winter bake, especially as it is cinnamon season!

The ingredients you’ll need are:

  • 180g plain flour
  • 75g light brown sugar
  • 75g caster sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 bar of white chocolate (this can be cooking chocolate or your favourite!)
  • 120g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

 

The method is nice, quick, and easy for a student wanting a Winter bake!

  1.  In a large mixing bowl, add in both sugars and the melted butter. Whisk together until it is golden brown and oozes off of the whisk.
  2.  In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
  3.  Add the egg and vanilla extract to the sugar and butter mixture, and whisk until it is light in colour and fluffy in texture.
  4.  Slowly add the dry ingredients, whisking between each addition. If the mixture is too dry, add a tsp of water.
  5.  Once everything is mixed together, break up the white chocolate into chunks and press it into the mix with a spatula.
  6.  Spoon the mix out onto two baking trays (with a baking sheet/paper underneath) so that there are five cookies on each tray. Then bake for 10 minutes at 150°C, and allow 15 minutes to cool before serving.

2. Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate cookies, an easy student bake!
Author’s own image

The premise for this recipe is the same as the last, though with some slight changes. This one is my best Winter bake for students to try!

You will need:

  • 180g plain flour
  • 75g light brown sugar
  • 75g caster sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 bar of milk/dark chocolate (I like to use Milka or Dairy Milk!)
  • 120g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

 

Again, the method for this one is the same, and nice and easy Winter bake for students:

  1.  In a large mixing bowl, add in both sugars and the melted butter. Whisk together until it is golden brown and oozes off of the whisk.
  2.  In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
  3.  Add the egg and vanilla extract to the sugar and butter mixture, and whisk until it is light in colour and fluffy in texture.
  4.  Slowly add the dry ingredients, whisking between each addition. If the mixture is too dry, add a tsp of water.
  5.  Once everything is mixed together, break up your chosen chocolate into chunks and press it into the mix with a spatula.
  6.  Spoon the mix out onto two baking trays (with a baking sheet/paper underneath) so that there are five cookies on each tray. Then bake for 10 minutes at 150°C, and allow 15 minutes to cool before serving.

3. Filled Chocolate Muffins

Chocolate muffins, the best Winter bake for students
Author’s own image

So I don’t know about you, but I have such a sweet tooth! I love sitting with a hot drink and a muffin whilst I write my essays. It’s what I see most students having in cafes during the Winter months. For this one, think stuffed crust but in muffin form! Feast your eyes on this Winter bake, fellow students!

For this one, you will need: 

  • 100g plain flour
  • 55g self-raising flour
  • 35g cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1 bag of chocolate chips
  • 1 jar of your favourite chocolate spread (Nutella works a treat!)
  • 90g of salted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 130ml of milk

 

Now for the method of this spectacular Winter bake!

  1.  Firstly, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until it is pale in colour. In a separate bowl, mix together the flours, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
  2.  Gradually add the dry mixture to the mixing bowl, whisk well with each addition.
  3.  Add the butter to the mixture to prevent it from getting too dry, add as much milk as necessary (the entire amount is not always needed).
  4.  Once everything is mixed together, add ¾ of the bag of chocolate chips to the mixture and press them in with a spatula.
  5.  Lay out a baking tray lined with muffin cases. Put a spoonful of mixture into each cup, followed by a spoonful of your chosen chocolate spread, then another spoonful of mixture on top.
  6.  Sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top.
  7.  Bake the muffins for 15 minutes at 170°C, then allow 15 minutes to cool before serving.

 

And there you are some of my best Winter bakes for students! These are all my own creations, so I hope that they’re enjoyed by all!

For more ideas this festive season, there’s plenty of inspiration on the BBC GoodFood website. They have some good Christmas bakes on there! So if you like this article, try reading about 8 simple but key cooking skills for students that’ll save your life at uni!

Author

  • I’m a third-year English Language student at DMU. I live in Leicester but am originally from Northamptonshire. In my spare time I can either be found writing poetry or snuggled up on the sofa with my nose in a book. 

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