News flash: college is stressful. The transition from months of relaxing at home to hours of homework each day can take a toll on your wellbeing. It’s hard to make room for self care, especially when you’re surrounded by other students with seemingly impenetrable work ethics.
In these moments, taking time to unwind is more important than ever. One of my favorite ways to destress has always been baking; it fills me with warmth, nostalgia, and delicious food. Unfortunately, this activity has been hard to come by in college. I don’t have access to a cupboard full of ingredients, and I don’t want to spend my precious summer earnings on an extensive grocery list.
Luckily, the internet always comes to the rescue. I’ve researched and compiled a list of amazing 5-ingredient-or-less dessert recipes that are very communal-kitchen friendly. Follow one of these simple recipes for a relaxing evening – they won’t disappoint!
- Apple pie bites
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These cinnamon-spiced apple pie bites are perfect for fall – you won’t believe how easy they are to create! You’ll simply need 5 ingredients, a baking sheet, and access to an oven to make this dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls
- Granny smith apple
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. Unroll and separate your crescent rolls. Melt your butter, and in a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread each triangle with melted butter and sprinkle with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar. Slice your apple into 8 even pieces and place a slice at the base of each triangle. Roll the triangles into croissants, place them on your baking sheet, and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown – approximately 12-15 minutes – and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream and your favorite fall movie!
- Nutella roll ups
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Nutella makes everything better, and these roll ups are no exception. Whip up a batch of these in just a few minutes to enjoy with friends as a late night snack. Berries are a great burst of flavor, but if you don’t have access to any, the treat is still delicious without them! You’ll need a rolling pin or heavy round object, a pan, and access to a stove.
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread (white or wheat)
- 3-4 tablespoons Nutella
- 2 strawberries
- Cinnamon
- Butter, coconut oil or cooking spray
Instructions
First, cut the crusts off of each bread slice. Lay each crustless slice on a flat surface and roll them out until they’re thin. Spread Nutella lengthwise on two thirds of the bread – be generous! Slice strawberries and arrange in one line on the Nutella-covered end of the bread. (Be sure to slice them thinly and avoid placing too many on the bread; you don’t want the filling to overflow.) Starting with the strawberry-layered end, carefully and tightly roll the bread slices – the Nutella should act as glue to hold the roll together. Place a pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Once it’s warm, add a small amount of butter to coat the bottom. Place your roll ups in the pan, sprinkle with cinnamon, and cook until golden, flipping as necessary. Serve warm.
- Peanut Butter Cookies
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Peanut butter cookies make me reminisce of childhood; they’re simple, flavorful, and homey. I have great news for you – you can enjoy these nostalgic treats with just a few steps! For this recipe you will need a baking sheet, a fork, parchment paper or cooking spray, and access to an oven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter (Jif, Skippy, or similar brand recommended)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg in a large bowl. Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and roll into balls (you should get approximately 24, but no need to be exact). Place the dough chunks onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or cooking spray. Flatten each ball by pressing them with the bottom of a fork, then by rotating the fork 90 degrees and repeating this step – the balls will have the signature “pb cookie” grid pattern if you’ve done this properly. Finally, simply bake the cookies in batches for 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving warm, or let cool completely for crunchy cookies. Bon Appetit!
- Cinnamon Rolls
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Most cinnamon rolls require yeast, kneading, and hours of proving before they can be enjoyed. These 5-ingredient dupes provide all the cozy comfort of fresh cinnamon rolls without all the extra work! You’ll need a pie plate or other round baking dish and access to an oven.
Ingredients
- 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls
- 8 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the baking dish, add the brown sugar, and stir to combine. The bottom of the dish should be evenly coated with the butter mixture. Next, unroll the crescent dough but do not separate the triangles; rather, smooth out the perforations to form one sheet of dough. Spread the dough with the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the buttered dough. Roll the dough into a log and cut into 8 even pieces. Then place the rolls in the round baking dish and sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar. Bake the rolls for 20 minutes and serve warm – enjoy!
- S’mores Dip
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There are only two ingredients required for this dish, making it the ideal dessert for last-minute movie nights. Choose your favorite dippable snack to pair with and enjoy! This recipe requires an 8-9inch skillet and access to an oven.
Ingredients
- 1 bag chocolate chips (milk or dark chocolate, Ghirardelli recommended)
- 1 bag large marshmallows
- Graham crackers, cookies, and fruit for serving
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the chocolate chips on the bottom of your skillet and bake for 3-4 minutes until the chocolate is melted. Remove the skillet from the oven and evenly layer the marshmallows on top. Bake for 2-3 more minutes until the marshmallows are browned to your liking. Serve immediately.
- Edible Cookie Dough
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I firmly believe that the best part of chocolate chip cookies is the dough; I can never resist eating a spoonful before I bake. Unfortunately, raw eggs and flour don’t agree with many digestive systems. I present to you: edible cookie dough. This recipe is ridiculously simple and ridiculously delicious. The most taxing step is heat-treating the flour, but you won’t want to skip it, as it’s dangerous to eat large quantities of raw flour. The sixth ingredient, vanilla, is optional, but it really rounds out the classic cookie dough flavor. To make this irresistible treat, you’ll need a baking sheet, whisk, and access to an oven or microwave.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter, softened (salted butter recommended)
- 3 tablespoons milk of choice
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (regular or miniature)
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spreading the flour out evenly on a baking sheet. Toast the flour for a maximum of 5 minutes, checking every so often to ensure it doesn’t burn. Remove the tray from the oven and let it cool completely. Alternatively, you can microwave the flour in 15-second intervals until it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. Next, combine the butter and sugar in a bowl and whisk until smooth and fluffy. Add the milk and optional vanilla extract and stir until fully incorporated. Slowly add the flour one tablespoon at a time until the mixture resembles cookie dough; you may not use all of the flour. Finally, add the chocolate chips and mix well. You can enjoy right away or refrigerate the dough for 5 minutes so it can firm up. Roll into bite sized balls or simply eat with a spoon.