Simple Homemade Desserts

When you're craving something sweet but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, these two recipes are your perfect solution. From a classic shortbread that follows a foolproof ratio to a decadent mug cake ready in under a minute, both treats deliver maximum satisfaction with minimal effort.🍫

1-2-3 Easy Shortbread

Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 60 minutes | Serves: 10

This recipe comes with a beautiful story of Scottish heritage being lovingly passed down. As one student shares: "My mum is a proud Scot and would take any chance to feed me Scottish meals when I was small as part of an effort to make sure that I did not lose that part of my heritage when growing up in the southwest of England."

Any Scots reading this will likely be familiar with Scottish classics like cock-a-leekie soup, haggis with neeps and tatties, or tablet. However, shortbread stands out as a favorite because it was the first recipe taught - simply because it was the easiest. Once you memorize the "1-2-3" rule, it becomes easy to make without even needing a written recipe.

The 1-2-3 refers to the ingredient ratio: one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour. So, if you have 50g of sugar, then you will need 100g of butter and 150g of flour. This recipe below is for a big batch, designed to be enough to bring into the office for colleagues (...or a huge feast for one if, like many of us, you cannot stop once you've started...).

Ingredients:

• 100g caster sugar
• 200g soft butter
• 300g plain flour
• Plus a little extra sugar for dusting

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 190°C or Gas 5
2. Put butter and sugar in a bowl. Beat until smooth
3. Stir in the flour and keep mixing until you get a smooth paste
4. Empty mixture onto a surface and roll it until it is to your desired thickness (about 1cm)
5. Cut into shapes that you like. You can use a cutter or just a knife if you do not have any. Then place these shapes onto a baking tray and dust them with the extra sugar
6. Leave in fridge for 15 minutes to cool
7. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. When they are golden brown, remove and cool on a wire rack

The Heritage Touch: This recipe represents more than just baking - it's about preserving Scottish heritage and the special memories that come with learning family traditions in the kitchen.

Melt-in-the-Middle Mug Cake

Prep time: 3 minutes | Cook time: 45 seconds | Serves: 1

Perfect for those cold, shorter days when you need instant comfort! This individual chocolate cake with a molten center proves that great desserts don't need hours of preparation.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 medium egg
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 3 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• Dash of vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp boiling water
• 1 soft chocolate truffle (Lindt Lindor works perfectly)
• Pinch of salt
• Ice cream or cream to serve (optional)

Method:

1. Using a fork, whisk all ingredients except the chocolate truffle and a pinch of salt in a large mug (350ml capacity works best)
2. Push the chocolate truffle into the center of the batter
3. Microwave on high for 45 seconds until cooked on the outside with a liquid molten center
4. Serve immediately while hot, with ice cream or cream if desired

The Secret: The chocolate truffle creates that perfect molten center - as it melts during cooking, it forms a delicious chocolate sauce that flows out when you dig in!

🎂Both recipes prove that homemade treats don't need to be complicated. The shortbread uses a traditional ratio that's been trusted for generations, while the mug cake delivers restaurant-quality dessert in less than a minute. Perfect for satisfying any sweet craving, any time of day.