Who loves Pudsey? We do! Since 1980, BBC’s Children in Need has been entertaining the nation, and most importantly raising massive amounts of money for disadvantaged kids and young people – over £1 billion to date!
One of the best and most fun ways of joining the fundraising efforts is by baking. We love a charity bake day at Quattro Foods. We indulge in our favourite pastime whilst raising money – and we get to lick the bowl and eat the cake too – winning combo!
This year on November 17th the nation will come together once more in a huge collective effort for Children in Need. Join us in a good old charity bake – get your pinny out, oil those pans and bake! No soggy bottoms please…
Here are some ideas for your big Children in Need baking day
Caramel shortbread
Shortbread base
- 250g plain flour
- 85g caster sugar
- 180g soft butter
Caramel centre
- 120g butter
- 130g golden caster sugar
- 397g can condensed milk
Chocolate topping
200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
How to bake
Heat the oven to 180°C and line your brownie tin.
Start by making the shortbread. Combine the flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then knead until it forms a dough, and press into the base of the tin. Prick lightly with a fork and bake for 20 minutes.
Now make the caramel. Heat the butter, sugar and condensed milk in a pan until the sugar has dissolved. Keep stirring, turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then lower the heat back down and stir slowly for about 5 minutes. Pour the thickened mixture over the shortbread and leave to cool.
For the topping, melt the chocolate slowly in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Pour over the cold caramel and leave to set. Cut into squares before it’s completely set and then put in the fridge to harden.
Meringue kisses
What you need
- 3 egg whites
- 300g caster sugar
- 100g dark chocolate, melted
How to bake
Preheat the oven to 120°C. Line three baking sheets. Beat the egg whites until they are foamy and doubled in size and start adding the sugar slowly while you whisk. Soon the meringue will become thick and will hold up in stiff peaks. Transfer the meringue into a piping bag and gently squeeze onto the baking dish to make peaks.
Bake for 1 hour, leave to cool for a few mins, then sprinkle with edible glitter.
Mini apple pies
What you need
- 2 short crust sheets (you can cheat and use ready-made)
- 350g chopped apples
- 60g granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Half tsp ground nutmeg
How to bake
Preheat the oven to 220°C. Cut out 12 circles of the short crust sheets and place each circle of pastry in the hole of a muffin tin. Gently press the dough down and around the sides and place in the fridge while you make the filling.
Mix the chopped apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg then pour into the pie crusts in the tin. Leftover dough? Cut out designs and place them on top of the apple mix. Bake for 20 minutes until the pie crust is golden and the filling is bubbly. Remove the mini pies from the tin when cooled.
The next step is to sell your delicious baked goods to family and friends. So, get baking, get fundraising and enjoy your 2023 Children in Need experience!