5 snacks to bake for kids

Sometimes a banana or an apple for a snack just won’t cut it and a cake/biscuit is needed! One way to reduce single use plastic is to bake snacks yourself. Here are my top 5 recipes that are easy and fairly low in refined sugar.

4. Banana loaf cake

• 225g self-raising flour
• 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 75g butter
• 50g caster sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 500g bananas (weighed with skin on)

Sieve flour and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Rub in butter until mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Stir in the sugar, egg and mashed bananas.

I cook this in the bread maker for 45 mins, lining the bread pan with baking paper. I’m sure this would work just as well in an oven, although it might need less time.

5. Oaty cake bars

These are a cross between a flapjack and a cake and you can vary the dried fruit and flavouring.

• 100g self-raising flour
• 100g porridge oats
• 50g sugar
• 100g dried fruit of choice (e.g. raisins, sultanas, cranberries, apricots)
• 100g butter, melted
• 1 tbsp golden syrup
• 1/2 to 1 tsp of flavouring of choice (e.g. cinnamon, mixed spice, almond extract)

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line the base of a 20cm square tin with baking parchment.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, oats, sugar, dried fruit and any powdered spices if using. Make a well in the centre and add the melted butter, golden syrup, egg and any liquid flavouring. Mix well.

Tip mixture into tin and spread out with a spatula, pressing down. Bake for 20 mins until golden. Cool in the tin for 10 mins and then cut into 12 bars.