Login / Register 
Contact / wholesale enquiries
Activities and Gluten free dessert recipes for the August Bank Holiday:
The Bank Holiday will be here next week and, if you are not actually away, away – you might be wondering what to do to make the most of this time off.
Also if you have children, keeping them engaged and entertained is no easy task. So here are some fun activities and gluten free recipes to enjoy over the weekend.
Three activities for Bank Holiday:
1. Local events
Look for free local events that you can go along to. Being local, they will probably mean that, if you have to drive at all, you won’t be driving far, which keeps costs down.
For example, in London, Camden Beach is back at the Roundhouse, with deckchairs, ice-cream and sand to lounge on, all in a city setting, but creating a perfect coastal spot for the day.
Chelsea has a Chelsea in Bloom floral art show, where local shops decorate their businesses to a theme – this year, ‘Creation in Colour’.
Or in Bournemouth, they have OnStage at the Pier Approach, which is an open air cinema.
In the Brecon Beacons there is a Summer Fayre showcasing Welsh foods and arts and crafts, and you can take part in some of the different crafts.
Check out what’s on in your area and there are often Facebook pages you can access which are particular to where you live.
2. Escape into the outdoors:
Many of us spend our time sat in front of computers and children often spend a lot of time in front of a screen too. Take time to go out and appreciate the beautiful British countryside. They have stunning woods, mountains and beaches just waiting to be visited.
Pack a picnic and go for a hike or bike ride in nature in your own community – are you missing a hidden gem on your doorstep? Ask your neighbours to suggest a few favourite spots.
To make it more engaging for younger children, before going, think about preparing some activities, such as setting quizzes for them to find specific trees, plants or bugs. Having a small prize for the winner will also, encourage them to take part!
3. Outdoor Cinemas
Pack a picnic and set off for an outdoor cinema experience. There are several venues around the country where you can sit together as a family and watch a film. If you search online there are several companies that even run Picnic Cinema Experiences.
For any of these events you could need some food or nut free snacks to keep you going. Putting together a packed meal, a picnic, or a hamper always needs some preparation beforehand.
If any of your family have food allergies, then consider choosing some of Creative Nature’s dairy free baking mixes that are vegan, nut free, dairy free and gluten free.
On our website, we also have a range of vegan and gluten free desserts, and ones that are easy desserts for a small crowd.
There are three allergy friendly recipes that would easily fit into any picnic or gluten free hamper – one savoury, vegan and two gluten free cake recipes.
Gluten Free Desserts for your Bank Holiday Weekend
Fruit and Cake Skewers
Serves 6: Prep 5 mins: Cook 25mins
Ingredients:
- 1 Creative Nature Chocolate cake baking mix
- 110ml vegetable oil
- 250ml plant milk
- 12 strawberries
- 12 vegan marshmallows
- 50g vegan milk chocolate
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/400°F/Gas Mark 4.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the chocolate cake baking mix, milk and vegetable oil until combined.
- Spoon the batter into a circular baking dish and pop in the oven for about 25 mins, then remove and allow to cool before cutting.
- Using a circular cookie cutter, cut 7 circles in the cake.
- Grab your skewer and slide on one strawberry, then a marshmallow, then a circular cake and another marshmallow ending with a strawberry.
- Melt the vegan milk chocolate in a glass bowl over a saucepan of boiling water.
- Once melted, drizzle the chocolate over the cake and fruit skewers and enjoy!
Forest Banana Bread
Serves 12: Prep 10 mins: Cook 20 – 25 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 Creative Nature Banana Bread Baking Mix
- 50g strawberries (cubed)
- 50g raspberries
- 40g dairy free spread
- 3 large mashed bananas.
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180° degrees.
- Empty the baking mix into a large mixing bowl, followed by the dairy free spread and mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.
- Add the raspberries and strawberries to the mixture, and mix again until evenly combined.
- Grease a banana loaf tin and pour in the mixture. Place in the oven for around 20-25mins. It should be golden brown on top when cooked.
- Remove from the oven and cool for around 20 mins.
- Decorate the top of the banana bread with the leftover strawberries and raspberries.
