My name is Michelle and I am not a domestic goddess. I’m usually trying to do everything in a hurry – so baking and I don’t go hand in hand.

There  is however, one recipe that is renowned in my little household of two. This mega quick concoction has evolved with me over time, and these doughy cakey nibbles are my favourite go-to winter mile fuel. Perfect for popping into a jersey pocket for a long ride, or packing in a lunch box for a snack after a long commute, and much cheaper than energy bars by the leading brands.

Oaty Fruity Cakes

Here we go – mega simple, super yummy, pretty healthy, much-cheaper-than-energy brand No Fuss Oaty Fruity Cakes:

Time to mix: 5 minutes if you’re an oaty fruity cake ninja like me
Time to cook: 10-15 minutes
Difficulty: If I can do it – anyone can

Ingredients:

2 cups oats
1 cup flour
1.5 cup milk
2 tblsp honey
1 tsp oil
cinnamon
LOADS of dried fruit

1) If you are a time crunched cyclist like me, you don’t have a mixing bowl – so use a saucepan. You’ll need a mug (called a cup in recipe books) and a wooden spoon.

Remember to turn the oven on to 180 degrees before starting.

2) Pour 2 cups of oats into the pan…

3) Add one cup of flour. Straight on top:

4) Pour in 1.5 cups of milk. No funny wells or slow dribble by dribble addition – splosh it right in and mash it around with the wooden spoon until “combined”.  I like the consistency fairly thick, so the mix won’t fall straight off a spoon, but will slide off slowly – but you can edit to taste:

More milk + less flour = more soft and gooey
More flour + less milk = more cakey and a bit easier for taking riding

5) Now – add two spoons of yummy runny honey:

6) A generous amount of cinnamon and a dribble of olive oil

7) Now add tons of your chosen ‘decoration’: mixed dried fruit, raisons, nuts, apple… anything! The fruit makes this recipe what it is, so don’t be shy or liberal..

Mix it all in:

8) Grease a muffin tray with a bit of butter or margarine.  Most recipe books will tell you to grease the tray  at the start – but I know that no reasonable impatient and time crunched cyclist will do that. So grease it now. Then – add great big dollops of your lovely mix.

9) Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown – this could take a little longer depending on how close to the top of the oven you put them, whether you let the oven get up to full temperature.. loads of things.. just think: golden brown..

Remove from oven:

For riding – wrap ’em up in a little cling film or tin foil – and off you go!