Three-Ingredient Sweet Recipes

There are several reasons why someone might prefer, or need, to use three-ingredient recipes:

1. Simplicity: Three-ingredient recipes are incredibly simple, and require minimal preparation and cooking time. They are perfect for beginners in the kitchen, or for individuals who are short on time but still want to enjoy a homemade meal.
2. Budget-friendly: Three-ingredient recipes often consist of basic, affordable ingredients. This makes them an excellent option for individuals on a tight budget or those who want to save money on groceries.
3. Limited pantry: Sometimes, people find themselves with a limited selection of ingredients in their pantry or fridge. Three-ingredient recipes allow them to create a delicious meal or snack using the few ingredients they have on hand.
4. Quick and easy cleanup: With fewer ingredients, there is generally less prep work, fewer utensils, and less cleanup involved. This can be beneficial for individuals who dislike spending too much time washing dishes or those who have limited kitchen space.
5. Dietary restrictions: People with specific dietary restrictions or allergies may find it challenging to find recipes that suit their needs. Three-ingredient recipes often have a narrower ingredient list, making it easier to find options that align with dietary preferences or restrictions.
6. Teaching tool: Three-ingredient recipes can be a useful teaching tool for introducing children to the basics of cooking. They provide a simple framework for understanding flavor combinations and cooking techniques.
7. Travel or camping: When traveling or camping, access to a fully stocked kitchen or a wide variety of ingredients may be limited. Three-ingredient recipes can help you prepare tasty meals using minimal equipment and a small selection of ingredients.

Overall, three-ingredient recipes offer a convenient and accessible way to prepare delicious meals with limited ingredients, making them suitable for various situations and circumstances.

Here we give you a few examples of sweet recipes which only use three ingredients (you can of course add other flavourings, toppings or decorations if you wish).

Creamy Cookie Fudge

500g White chocolate (broken into pieces)

400g Condensed milk

12 Oreo or Bourbon biscuits (or similar sandwich-type), chopped

Place condensed milk and chocolate in a bowl. Melt slowly in a microwave or over a pan of hot water, stirring occasionally.

Leave to cool slightly, then add the chopped cookies and fold them in carefully until evenly spread throughout the mixture.

Pour into a lined 20cm square baking tray or similar dish, and chill in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours.

Cut into cubes, and enjoy!

Apple Danish Pastries

2 Sheets of ready-rolled puff pastry

2 Large apples, peeled and quartered

65g Caster sugar

First, preheat oven to 220’c.

Place apples in a pan with 1-2 tablespoons of water, and cook over a medium heat until slightly soft. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, trying not to break up the apples too much. Leave to cool.

Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 equally-sized rectangles. Slightly dampen the edges of each rectangle.

Spoon the apple on to the centre of 6 of the rectangles.

Cut slits across the centre of the other 6 rectangles, leaving a border around the edge. Place these on top of the apple, and press the edges of the pastry together.

Sprinkle the tops of the pastries with a little caster sugar, and bake for approx 10-15 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 Cup peanut butter (smooth works better than crunchy)

1 cup Sugar

1 Egg (the smaller the egg the crunchier, so if you prefer slightly softer cookies use a large egg)

First, preheat oven to 175’c.

Mix together the peanut butter, sugar and egg until smooth.

Form 2-3cm balls (or use a scoop) and place spread apart on a lined baking sheet. Press down lightly with the back of a fork.

Bake for approx 12-15 minutes until golden. Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack until completely cold.

These cookies can be kept in an airtight container for 3-5 days

Nutella Microwave Mug Cakes

300g Nutella (or other chocolate hazlenut spread)

2 Large eggs

30g Flour

Place 3/4 of the spread and the eggs in a bowl, and whisk together.

Fold in the flour carefully to keep as much air in the mix as possible.

Divide the mixture between 2 large mugs, and microwave on medium for 2 minutes. Leave to cool for a few minutes.

Slightly melt the remainder of the spread and pour over the top of each cake – yummy!

Chocolate Cereal Clusters

440g Any chocolate, chopped or chips (white or milk chocolate mixed with dark chocolate works well)

1 tablespoon honey

160g Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, or any other cereal

Melt all the chocolate slowly in a microwave, or over a bowl of hot water, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to cook it. Stir in the honey and mix well.

Put the cereal in a large bowl and pour the chocolate mixture over it. Stir quickly with a spatula until all the cereal is well covered with the chocolate.

Put large tablespoon clusters on lined baking sheets (use a second spoon to scrape it off the first onto the sheet). Chill in the fridge for about half an hour until the clusters are set.

Then eat one quick before anyone else spots them!

Shortbread Fingers

150g Plain flour

100g Butter, diced and chilled

50g Caster sugar

In a large bowl, use your fingertips to ‘crumb’ all the ingredients together. Squeeze the crumbs together to form a dough.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough evenly to approx 3cm thick. Cut the dough into rectangular fingers and place on a lined baking tray.

Use a fork to make lines of dots on the fingers, and sprinkle with caster sugar. Chill in the fridge for half an hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 170’c.

Bake the fingers for 15-20 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven, and leave to cool on the tray while you make a cuppa.

We hope you will try, and enjoy, the above recipes – let us know! For more ideas and inspiration, join our cooking community https://www.facebook.com/groups/cookingonabudgetofficial