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Bake for refugees

Α World Bake Day is a great way to bring people of all ages together to enjoy tasty treats and celebrate the things that unite us. It’s also a fantastic way to raise vital funds for people seeking safety in Britain.

We’ve got two delicious global recipes below to help inspire you, as well our Fundraising Guide with lots of tips on how to run a successful fundraising event.

So why not get baking and invite family and friends around to raise money for people who come to Britain in search of safety? By sharing tasty treats with the people you care about, you’ll be helping refugees as they rebuild their lives in safety and peace.

“

"I chose to fundraise for refugees because I cannot begin to imagine how devastating their lives have been, in constant fear, cold, hungry, and what it must be like to decide to leave everything that is familiar and undertake a perilous journey. I was going to go on a pilgrimage from the UK to Vatican and saw it as a great opportunity to raise some money"

Mary Kirk

XEROTIGANA

Ingredients

For the pastry

  • 500g strong flour
  • 60g raki; tsipouro or grappa
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 200-250g water

For the spiced honey syrup

  • 500g granulated sugar
  • 250g water
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 lemon

For serving

  • walnuts
  • honey
  • cinnamon

Method

Combine all the pastry ingredients and knead until the dough is elastic or use the hook attachment of  a mixer. Cover and rest for 30 mins.

Combine the water, sugar and cinnamon and boil for 3-4 mins. Remove from the heat and add the honey and lemon juice. Set aside.

Dust a work surface with flour. Pick pieces from the dough and roll out into thin sheets. Cut with a pastry wheel cutter into strips that are 2 cm by 50 cm.

Heat the oil to 170C in a deep, wide pot, over medium heat. Use a large fork to pick up a strip of dough from the edge. Twist it around the fork tips and dip it into the hot oil, holding on to the other end with your other hand. As the pastry cooks, slowly twist the fork around (or check this helpful video for instructions).

When the dough is completely wrapped, remove the fork and fry, turning it over a few times, until golden all over. Remove and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the other xerotigana.

When finished, dip the cold fritters into the syrup one at a time and allow them to soak up the syrup on all sides.

To serve, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with coarsely chopped walnuts and cinnamon.

10
can help a lonely child to spend a day at a Welcome Club, to make new friends and practice English
30
can pay for 5 food parcels and small cash handouts for homeless refugees and asylum seekers
100
can pay for an interpreter to attend 5 sessions with refugees, helping them understand the progress of their case
200
can pay for a mother to attend English classes for 12 weeks, with creche places for her children

MAAMOUL COOKIES

Ingredients

For the maamoul

  • 120g margarine or vegetable fat
  • 125g plain flour
  • 85g semolina
  • 2tbsp icing sugar
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1tbsp orange blossom water
  • 60ml warm water

For the filling

  • 50g golden raisings
  • 50g roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
  • 2tbsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp groun cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom pods

Method

Put the raisins in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 25-30 mins. Drain and combine with the other filling ingredients. Set aside.

Rub the margarine into the dry ingredients. Add the orange blossom water and enough water to create a smooth pastry dough. Cover with cling film and let rest for 30 mins in a cool place.

Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan.

Divide the pastry in 12 pieces.

Roll each into a ball and flatten on your palm until quite thin. Add a teaspoon of the filling in the centre. Fold pastry over the filling and seal. Roll into a ball again, and place on a baking tray.

Once all cookies are made, bake until golden, 10-15 mins. Let cool. Serve as they are or dusted with icing sugar.

“

"No-one should be forced to leave their home, their countries and their family. I was looking for a small charity that was helping and supporting refugees here in UK so I chose to fundraise for Refugee Action, to give refugees the help they need to start a new life from scratch".

Maria Dimaso

Download our Fundraising Guide for more ideas on how to raise money for refugees and run a show stopping fundraising event. By holding an event, or taking part in an activity you love, you can help refugees get the support they need to settle into their new lives in Britain.

Download the Guide

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