When you bake, I assume you don’t think about how it can be a mindful activity; I’d like to think otherwise. In this blog, we’re going to look at how baking can benefit your mental health, with a couple of recipes which taste good and create time for yourself.
Step By Step
When following step-by-step instructions, your mind focuses on one task instead of the usual distractions, similar to meditation. The combination of creativity and focus needed to bake creates a focused relaxation which can be surprisingly soothing.
Repetition is calming
Repetitive motions such as kneading, mixing, measuring or cake-decorating can reduce stress and be soothing. Even making a recipe multiple times can be relaxing, knowing what is next and getting into a flow when baking can reduce stress.
Nostalgia
There is a multi-sensory aspect to baking, kneading dough, watching creations rise, the smell of baked goods throughout the home and of course, taste when checking the cake batter has been made correctly. All of these points will generally spark a fond memory, which can be a mood booster.
The End Result
Whatever the result, it always tastes good and is always a good way to enjoy good food with family and friends. For the most effective mindful baking session, always remember to taste test your creation and then share the rest with others.
Here are a couple of simple recipes which taste good and help to create time for yourself.
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are called the best for a reason. They have the perfect gooey centre while being crispy on the edges. It is also a really good recipe to make if you want to focus on baking something simple and relaxing for about an hour.
Click Here for the recipe
Dark Chocolate Brownies
These always go down a treat, dark chocolate gooey brownies. This recipe I have used since I was little, and modified a little to make a delicious batch of brownies.
Equipment
- 20cmx20cm square tin
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Partchment Paper
Ingredients
- 100g Dark Chocolate
- 2 tbsp Cocoa powder
- 1 Tsp Instant coffee powder (if larger granules, dilute in water for 1tsp)
- 125g Softened butter
- 50g Self-raising flour
- 25g Plain flour
- Pinch of salt
- 275g Brown sugar
- 100g Walnuts/ hazelnuts/ white chocolate chunks/ or anything you'd like to put in your brownies
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180C or gas mark 4
- Cut out a square of parchment paper that fits the bottom of your tin and grease the sides with butter
- Melt the dark chocolate. I tend to use the bain-marie method (Bowl over simmering saucepan of water) however, you can do this in the microwave.
- While you are melting the chocolate, cream the butter, sugar, coffee.
- Whisk eggs and add a little at a time.
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture turns lighter in shade
- Chop chocolate or nuts
- Pour in the chocolate and mix till combined, and mix in the chocolate or nuts
- Pour the mixture into the baking tin (make sure to try a bit of the batter) and put it in the oven for 30-35 minutes
- When taken out, leave to cool for 10 minutes, take out of the tin and cut into 16 pieces
Enjoy your brownies with some ice cream or just on their own!
Click Here for a link to the cookbook
Shortbread
Shortbread is such an easy and comforting bake, and is a very quick way to make delicious biscuits to go with a tea or coffee.
Click Here for the recipe
