Cosy Comforts On A Budget

Cosy comforts

Quick comforts to cheer you up

Give yourself an instant cheer up with these quick, cosy treats. Fancy something sweet but don't want to turn on the oven? This clever microwave chocolate mug cake is ready in just five minutes. Want to perk up your afternoon without the hassle? Our peanut butter thumbprint cookies are easy to make and only require a few storecupboard ingredients to assemble. You can also use handy readymade croissant dough to create these comforting apricot and hazelnut pastries. Or kick off your day with the ultimate treat in just 15 minutes by making this plant-based mocha porridge.

Two bowls of porridge with toppers on the side

Seasonal sensations

Turn your leftovers and seasonal ingredients into zero-waste dishes. Use the whole veg, including leaves, to make this meat-free cauliflower carbonara, make use of carrot tops in this Middle Eastern carrot salad or turn leftover veg into a vibrant, gut-friendly miso vegetable soup.

Vegan Spaghetti Carbonara with Cauliflower

Nourishing comforts

Fill your week with nutrient-packed, wholesome recipes that nourish your mind and soul. How about a hearty chicken stroganoff, creamy, healthy salmon pasta or balsamic lentils with pork fillet.

Effortless nights in

Enjoy an effortless night in with all the cosiness and none of the hassle. Treat yourself to a cosy, cheap and hassle-free Burn's Night with our recipe for mince and tatties. Want an apple and raspberry crumble in 15 minutes? That's right – with our smart shortcuts this comforting pud will be on the table before you can say 'what's for dessert?'. Or check out our January magazine to give the oven a break and make hearty winter classics with a budget-friendly twist – tomato soup with salsa macha, lamb casserole with hashbrown top, halva topped rice pudding.

An oven dish of apple and raspberry crumble, with a portion served in a white bowl on a wooden table

Cosy brunches

Elevate your brunch repertoire with our cosy classics. Try three-cheese crumpets slathered in butter, an indulgent banoffee French toast and our exclusive croissant bostock twist with boozy cherries.

Croissant stuffed with cherries and sprinkled with flaked almonds on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream

Slow down and slow cook

Slow down and slow cook during winter and make wholesome dishes using your cost-efficient slow cooker. We have some dedicated slow-cooker recipes, such as slow-cooker Irish stew, slow-cooker sausage casserole and slow-cooker chickpea stew. Plus, we've tweaked some of our favourite dishes to give alternative cooking instructions, including a chickpea dhal and sweet and sour chicken.

Pot of sausage casserole next to a tea towel and spoon

Warming drinks to curl up with

Swap your trip to the coffee shop with a selection of cosy drinks in the comfort of your own home. Curl up with a hot chocolate – we have plenty to choose from, including our luxury hot chocolate, mulled hot chocolate and white hot chocolate. Want to raise your coffee game? Our expert barista, Celeste Wong, has created some luxurious coffee recipes, with step-by-step guides, so you can bring your local coffee shop experience into your own home. Try her gingerbread latte, special mocha or autumnal pumpkin spice latte. For a dairy-free option on your coffee break, fill your kitchen with aromatic spices with this aromatic chai latte.

A blue table topped with two blue mugs filled with spiced milk

Calming aromas to fill your kitchen

Filling your home with warming aromas of freshly baked treats is a simple way to treat yourself, as well as giving your space an instant lift. Let the smells of fresh cardamom glide through your kitchen courtesy of Maunika Gowardhan's nankhatai biscuits or our quick cardamom buns. Prefer cinnamon? Prep these cinnamon buns in advance then serve warm from the oven for an aromatic treat. Or mimic the scents of masala chai in Edd Kimber's ultimate spiced chai banana bread. Freshly baked cookies are one of life's simple pleasures, so fill your kitchen with the gorgeous smells of our triple-chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies or Biscoff cookies. Add in a fresh cup of tea and dunk in these simple chocolate-dipped shortbreads to melt into a simple, budget-friendly treat. Chocolate always cheers up the soul, so put those left-over bananas to good use and make this top-notch chocolate chip banana bread to enjoy slice by slice through the week.

Splashes of sunshine to add some colour to your day

Beat the winter blues with a colourful bake. Add some sunshine to your afternoon by tucking into these gorgeous custard tarts with golden, caramelised pastry crusts. Honey, lemon and ginger are the tonic in these sticky honey cakes, or cheer up your day by preparing these retro jam tarts, with a palette of sunny colours of jam to dollop into the crumbly pastry cases. Golden-hued turmeric is thought to have a host of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties – get more of the colourful spice into your routine by whipping up this turmeric latte at home. A splash of colour at cocktail hour comes courtesy of these bright, boozy piña colada tarts.

Portuguese custard tarts on a cooling rack

Mindful baking projects for kitchen therapy

A long weekend afternoon is the perfect opportunity to hunker down and spend time in your kitchen with our mindful projects. Spend a little more time making a batch of these fluffy golden crumpets – freshly toasted and slathered with butter, they’re well worth the effort. Treat yourself to some downtime in the kitchen by baking your own light, beautifully crusted baguettes – just wait until your home is filled with the irresistible aromas of freshly baked bread. Make brilliant use of a lazy weekend by perfecting the art of these light-as-air savoury cheese soufflés.