10 rainy day baking recipes
Beat the weather blues with one of these cosy and comforting bakes, from sticky toffee banana bread to red velvet brownies and millionaire's flapjacks
Why not use the bad weather as an excuse to bake a batch of white chocolate muffins, or perhaps a sticky toffee banana bread? The aroma of freshly baked brownies in your kitchen will no doubt lift the mood.
Our top 10 rainy day bakes are both sweet and savoury, with some using just five ingredients – perfect if you want to avoid a trip to the shops.
For more inspiration, see our main collection of baking recipes, as well as our healthy baking recipes and low-sugar baking recipes. We also have our most popular cake recipes, all-in-one cakes and kids' baking recipes.
1. Sticky toffee banana bread
Senior food editor Anna Glover's toffee twist on banana bread puts overripe fruit to excellent use. A levelled-up version of a staple bake, it’s even more indulgent with the toffee sauce and nut brittle.
Find more banana bread recipes.
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2. Raspberry honey flapjacks
You only need five ingredients to bake these easy flapjacks, with raspberries studded into the oat mixture for a fruity hit. We've used frozen raspberries to lower costs, which also means you can make them all year round. Any leftovers can be frozen for a later date, too.
Check out more flapjack creations.
3. Tottenham cake
Tottenham cake's gloriously pink icing is guaranteed to brighten a dull day, with a lovely light vanilla sponge. If you haven't heard of Tottenham cake before, it was first baked in the eponymous north London district in the late 1800s, and it remains a British favourite.
See more nostalgic recipes.
4. Lemon & buttermilk pound cake
Take your love of lemon drizzle one step further with Diana Henry's bright and beautiful lemon and buttermilk cake. It's got bags of zesty flavour to cut through the richness, matched with an irresistibly moist crumb. You'll never look at a lemon loaf the same way again.
Discover more lemon cake recipes.
5. Cheese & pesto whirls
An afternoon of baking doesn't have to involve cakes and sweet treats. If you're more partial to savoury, turn your hand to these herby tear-and-share bread rolls, featuring creamy mozzarella and sundried tomatoes baked into the dough. They require a bit of effort, so if you're after a more simple bake, see these triple cheese & onion muffins.
Discover more savoury baking recipes.
6. Red velvet brownies
Make a batch of freshly baked, rich and fudgey red velvet brownies, swirled with a cheesecake filling for tangy creaminess. These are sure to win over brownie purists, with a moreish batter and beautiful ruby hue to boot. They'll keep frozen for up to a month, though it'll be hard to resist once you've tried a bite.
Try more brownie recipes.
7. Snickerdoodles
Crispy on the outside and soft and gooey in the middle, these American-inspired cinnamon biscuits are popular for a reason. It may even knock your go-to recipe off the top spot.
See more American recipes.
8. Salted caramel cupcakes
Achieve sweet and salty perfection with these easy cupcakes, combining a caramel-flavoured sponge with salted caramel icing. It's a great way to level-up your cupcake game without the hassle, and the chances are you'll have most of the ingredients already to hand.
Try more of our salted caramel recipes.
9. Raspberry & white chocolate muffins
Tart raspberries are a brilliant match for white chocolate. If raspberries are in season go for fresh, or opt for the frozen variety if not. Serve with a cuppa and you're set.
Browse through our best muffin recipes.
10. Millionaire's flapjacks
If you fancy experimenting with sweet flavour combinations, merge a millionaire's shortbread with flapjacks in this fun hybrid bake, combining oats, chocolate and caramel. Trust us, they won't last long in your cake tin.
See more millionaire's shortbread recipes or discover our best-ever flapjack recipes.