13 Sweet and Savory Baking Recipes to Help Soothe Your Soul
There's no better way than to spend a weekend (or weekday) in the kitchen baking. Whether you're by yourself or with loved ones, baking has a certain magic about it that brings a sense of joy and happiness (not to mention the delicious smell that lingers throughout your home). And despite the assumption that baking requires practice and skill, some of the world'd best baked goods start with the easiest recipes even amateurs can follow along.
From a moist carrot cake to the fluffiest chocolate cake and an irresistible spinach pie, we've pulled together a collection of our very best baking recipes to satisfy all your cravings. So, crank up the oven and get baking with this irresistible mix of sweet and savoury dishes.
For more delicious recipes, check out our recipe series Put on a Spread.
13 Best Sweet and Savoury Baking Recipes
1. Sticky Date Pudding With Rich Butterscotch Sauce
The humble sticky date needs no introduction — utterly decadent, comforting, fluffy, rich and moist, it really combines the winning element of every dessert into the one. This is a recipe whose batter can be made, baked and served all within an hour. The pudding is best served warm but don't worry if you're time poor and need to make it in advance — you can serve it with the warm butterscotch sauce or even heat it up in the microwave.
2. Moist Carrot Cake
We're not going to lie - we've baked a lot of carrot cakes throughout the years and this one, without a doubt, continues to come out on top. It's incredibly moist and while nice and dense, it somehow manages to pass as fluffy, too. It's smothered in a delectable velvety cream cheese icing that you'll want to eat spoonfuls of.
If you have a nut allergy, or aren't a fan, simply omit them from the recipe. Otherwise, keep them in because they add an irresistible caramel toffee flavour — even more so when they're toasted.
Head here for the full recipe.
3. Fig, Pistachio and Honey Tart
With a delicate shortcrust pastry and creamy filling, this fig, pistachio and honey tart is a treat for the eyes and the soul. With only two tablespoons of sugar in the whole recipe, it's one for those who don't like their desserts too sickly. Here, the figs and honey give a fresh sweetness, the pistachios add a crunch, and the buttery crust and smooth filling balance the texture beautifully. It's a true grown-up dessert.
Head here for the full recipe.
4. Classic Strawberry Shortcake
This strawberry shortcake – built with layers of plain cake, cream and berries – is one classic that will never go out of style. It's delightfully crumbly, topped with freshly whipped vanilla bean cream and juicy marinated strawberries, and even looks as good as it tastes.
Head here for the full recipe.
5. Twice-Baked Almond Biscotti
It's hard to say no to this Italian staple recipe. Foolproof and twice-baked to crunchy perfection, it's the perfect pairing with tea or coffee and even makes an excellent gift.
Head here for the full recipe.
6. Light and Fluffy Classic Chocolate Cake
This classic chocolate cake is not a mud cake, so the texture of the sponge is light and fluffy. It's then paired with a morish chocolate icing, which is a hybrid between a silky frosting and a rich ganache, giving you the best of both worlds.
Aside from its mouthwatering taste, what we love the most about this cake is that it delivers all of the nostalgia of your childhood chocolate cake, but with the refinement in taste you seek as an adult.
Head here for the full recipe.
7. Homemade Focaccia With Leeks, Ricotta and Honey
While the end result of this recipe may look seriously impressive, we promise it’s actually super simple (something even the most novice of cooks - or nervous of entertainers - will be able to execute with ease).
Bonus: if you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, the day-old focaccia will double as some of the best toast you’ve had in your life.
Head here for the full recipe.
8. Spiced Pear and Strawberry Crumble
Using just one bowl, one baking dish, and minimal effort, the end result is a crisp, buttery crumb atop a juicy layer of stewed pear and strawberries. Lightly spiced with the warming flavour of cinnamon, this is a sweet and satisfying end to any meal — or long day at work.
Head here for the full recipe.
9. Spinach, Haloumi and Feta Pie
This hearty and filling recipe takes inspiration from a traditional Greek Spanakopita. It's packed with handfuls of dill and parsley for a pop of herby flavour and coupled with a buttery pastry that flakes off on your fork. And last but definitely not least, with each mouthful you get a decadent ooze of the cheesy filling. The key with this recipe is to be patient — especially when cooking the onions and garlic as they really create a sweetness and richness that elevates the filling tenfold.
10. Pavlova With Cème Fraiche, Plums and Almond Flakes
We all rave about having our go-to pavlova recipe, and we can assure you this is one that will stay with you for years.
The fragile crunch of meringue and its fluffy insides, layered with soft cream and juicy fruit, is really an experience all of its own. While this recipe calls for sweet and sour plums, you can always opt for whatever's in season or readily available in your region. You can use the base recipe and then swap the topping for blueberries, kiwi fruit and strawberries, or honey and figs. Get creative!
11. Baked Rigatoni With Broccoli and Zucchini Pesto and Pangrattato
An Italian kitchen classic, this easy-to-make but ridiculously good, baked rigatoni, is not only the solution to your weeknight dinner juggle, but will soothe your soul in the way that only carbs can.
Also, did we mention this masterpiece only requires one pan? Serve it straight to the table and you’ll be thanking your future-self when it comes time to do the washing up.
Head here for the full recipe.
12. Baked Eggplant With Chickpea Puree, Tomato Salad and Herb Dressing
This show-stopping dish (that’s also vegan) is a celebration of fresh produce. In addition to the eggplant, there’s juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, zesty lemon and crunchy walnuts, so each mouthful provides a burst of different flavours and textures.
You only need 15 minutes to prep this dish, and then the eggplant needs just 30 minutes in the oven for it to get nice and charred.
Head here for the full recipe.
13. Tomato and Ricotta Galette
The humble galette should be a recipe every home chef has up their sleeve. Not only do they look incredible, but they taste insanely good and they're one of the most simple dishes to make. In fact, this recipe only calls for eight ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. If tomatoes aren’t in season, get creative and swap them out for literally any vegetables you have on hand — the possibilities are endless. You'll also notice a secret ingredient is used in the pastry to achieve that moist yet crumbly texture — a trick you'll keep up your sleeves from here on out.
Head here for the full recipe.
For more delicious recipes, check out our recipe series Put on a Spread.
