Sweet recipes: Recipes using your favourite sweets and treats

The kids are really going to love these sweetie-covered cakes and bakes. From a cracking piñata cake to a gooey marshmallow topped birthday cake, we've got lots of naughty sweet recipes for you to make at home...

Piñata cake

The kids are really going to love these sweetie-covered cakes and bakes. From a cracking piñata cake to a gooey marshmallow topped birthday cake, we've got lots of naughty sweet recipes for you to make at home...

Sweet recipes are our favourite kinds of recipes! And with this lovely collection we think it’s most definitely a case of the more, the merrier. Piled high with sweets, chocolate and treats these are the kind of recipes that won’t be around for long so if you’re looking for a crowd-please birthday cake or party centrepiece then these would be perfect.

The kids are really going to love these sweetie-covered cakes and bakes. From a cracking piñata cake to a gooey marshmallow-topped birthday cake, we've got lots of naughty treats for you to make at home. They may not be the healthiest cakes in the world - but these sweet recipes are for special occasions - and we all deserve a little treat once in a while.

Maltesers, Smarties, Haribo or M&Ms - whatever sweets or chocolates you love can be added to your baking to give it a fun twist. We like to use them in all different ways, whether that’s stirred through a batter, hiding in the middle or added at the end for a really impressive finish. There’s no right way with sweet recipes we think though, so if you fancy getting creative and giving one of these treats your own twist then we think, go for it! And if you’ve had a genius idea then don’t forget to share a snap in the comments section below or send us a picture on Facebook – and yo never know, we might recreate your creation.

You can get the kids involved with the baking and decorating too - they'll just love getting creative with their favourite treats. Although, from our experience you may well have to be prepped to lose some of your chosen treats along the way due to tasting’ purposes.

So if you fancy giving your kids a naughty treat every once in a while then why not make it a sweetie-covered one?

Come and see our favourite bake with sweets recipes now to choose your favourite...

Piñata cake

Forget decorating with sweets, hide sweets inside your cake instead! With our simple step-by-step picture guide you can create your own sweetie filled piñata cake. Watch your kids' faces light up as they crack into this treat!

Get the recipe: Piñata cake

Chocolate cola cake

Chocolate cola cake

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

Who didn't love taking their pocket money to the corner shop when they were little and stocking up on cola bottles? This delicious, moist and almost fizzy sponge is made with cola in the mixture and topped with the penny sweets. It makes us feel all nostalgic!

Get the recipe: Chocolate cola cake

Maltesers chocolate cake

Maltesers chocolate cake

Topped with Maltesers, filled with Maltesers - if you or your child are a fan of Maltesers, this recipe is going to be right up your street! A rich chocolate sponge with a creamy chocolate buttercream is given a fun update with a few of your favourite chocolates.

Get the recipe: Maltesers chocolate cake

Sweetie tray bake

Sweetie tray bake

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A sweet orange sponge covered in melted white chocolate with heaps and heaps of jellied sweets, Maltesers, Smarties - you name it! This bake really is as easy as it looks to make and the kids can do all the decorating too!

Get the recipe: Sweetie tray bake

Smarties cookies

Bake with sweets

Give your cookies a makeover and decorate them with Smarties! A little bit of icing sugar, a ribbon and some Smarties transform your cookies into a fun decoration for parties - quick and clever!

Get the recipe: Smarties cookies

Kids' birthday cake

Kids' birthday cake

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

If your kids love marshmallows this birthday cake is going to be right up their street! A rich chocolate sponge, a creamy topping and plenty of marshmallows - it's a showstopper!

Get the recipe: Kids' birthday cake

Smartie cupcakes

Smartie cupcakes

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

These delicious and simple Smartie cupcakes are a great choice for making with the kids as they can do most of the hard work for you. This recipe uses mini Smarties to decorate the chocolate sponges but you could push the boat out and use regular ones, or even giant ones, instead!

Get the recipe: Smartie cupcakes

Chocolate fingers cake

Chocolate fingers cake

Chocolate fingers around the outside and heaps of M&Ms, Smarties and Maltesers packed on top - what more could you want? This delicious sweetie-covered bake hides a rich chocolate sponge covered in Nutella.

Get the recipe: Chocolate fingers cake

Giant rainbow cupcake

Giant rainbow cupcake

Not only is this a giant cupcake, it's also hiding a rainbow sponge inside and it's covered in sweeties - wow! With chocolate fingers around the edges and Skittles galore, this giant rainbow cupcake is a colourful choice that is perfect for special occasions!

Get the recipe: Giant rainbow cupcake

Giant M&M cookies

Giant M&M cookies

Love M&Ms? Love cookies? Put them together and you've got some giant gooey M&M cookies! Sweet, delicious and simple, this recipe is ideal for making with the kids!

Get the recipe: Giant M&M cookies

Kit Kat crunch cheesecake

Kit Kat crunch cheesecake

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

Turn your favourite Kit Kat bar into a cheesecake base! Crushed and mixed with melted butter, Kit Kat's really do transform your average cheesecake into a naughty treat!

Get the recipe: Kit Kat crunch cheesecake

Maltesers cheesecake

Maltesers cheesecake

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This crunchy and creamy cheesecake is packed full of Maltesers - on top, in the filling and even the base too! Definitely one for chocoholics!

Get the recipe: Maltesers cheesecake

Chocolate cornflake nests

Chocolate cornflake nests

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

We think these chocolate cornflake nests can be made all year round - just swap the Mini Eggs for M&Ms or Smarties instead. You can experiment with your child's favourite cereal too, like Rice Krispies or even Coco Pops.

Get the recipe: Chocolate cornflake nests

Cupcake with Flake '99'

Cupcake with Flake '99'

(Image credit: TI Media Limited)

Fed up of chasing the ice cream man down the road? Turn your cupcake into classic "99" ice creams instead! All you need is a Flake to finish - simple yet effective.

Get the recipe: Cupcake with Flake "99"

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies