M-I-Y! Make it Yourself Summer baking

Summer-inspired heavenly homemade bakes, palatial pies and ice cream for Sundays (and sundaes)

There are lots of reasons why we love to bake. Keeping the kids entertained, to relax at the weekend, satisfy our sweet tooth or just because we all know that homemade tastes so much better than shop-bought. 

In a recent survey commissioned by Opies, over half of respondents (52%) like to bake at least every month with 49% saying they find it relaxing and 46% preferring the home-baked taste.

59% are baking both sweet and savoury bakes and 40% find it a more cost-effective option to shop-bought alternatives.

If you'd like some examples of delicious desserts below are some of our favourite recipes that are perfect for summer entertaining. 

Guinness Cake with Black Cherries – You can never have too many cake recipes, if you're looking for an impressive dessert with a boozy kick. Majestically dark with an edge of stouty bitterness that’s the perfect foil to lashing of black cherries and sweet, rich kirsch syrup. 

Cherry Pie – The perfect summer dessert, plump and juicy dark cherries encased in buttery shortcrust pastry. Homemade pastry or shop bought, it's up to you, this dessert is the perfect balance of sweet and sharp. Serve with creamy custard, Madagascan vanilla ice cream or slathers of double cream – or all three!

Summer Berry Ice Cream Bread – Bored of summery cakes? Try a bake that’s beyond delicious. A taste of Summer in every mouthful thanks to generous swirls of fruity, berry compote.

No Churn Chocolate & Ginger Ice Cream – No ice cream maker? No problem! You can still make your favourite frozen desserts. Mix together in minutes and pop in the freezer until needed. Perhaps use in a Sundae on a Sunday with lashings of chocolate chips, whipped cream – and that obligatory cherry on the top!

Healthy Flapjacks – perfect sweet treat for picnic pack-ups, breakfast on-the-hoof, post-match Sunday football games or after-school snacks. Packed with healthy fruits, fresh berries and seeds and a warming ginger note.

Soda Bread with Pickled Walnuts – quite possibly the easiest bread that you can make! With earthy nuances of a salty tang from pickled walnuts. Perfect slathered with salted butter or alongside a cheese or charcuterie board.