Loaf is cooked when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Note

Wear disposable gloves when using food colouring to prevent it staining your hands. Note

Cook these in a paper patty-lined muffin tray and your cooling time will be reduced by about 5 minutes. Note

MAKES 8 To make in a muffin tray; divide mixture among 12 recesses lined with paper cases and bake for 25-30 minutes. You can decorate cake with whole blanched almonds or before baking, if liked Try serving with custard. Note

Cakes are cooked when they pull away from the sides of the pan and a skewers inserted into the centre comes out clean and dry. Note

For a boy’s cake, tint buttercream green and colour stars orange, blue and white. Note

This surprisingly light no-bake nectarine cheesecake with a scrumptious orange zest biscuit base creates a luscious dessert that is perfect to serve at your next dinner party

Store orange poppy seed muffins in an airtight container in the fridge. Accompany with a little cream, if you like, for a delicious dessert. Note

Panforte is a classic Italian Christmas treat. It's a very dense, rich confection loaded with nuts, dried fruit, and spices. It keeps so well that you'll have delicious leftovers.

You can't go wrong with this simple hot cross bun recipe. It will have your home smelling like Easter.

If making these for a dinner party, prepare ramekins ahead of time and keep covered in the fridge. If preferred, you Could make four 1-cup souffles. Note

Chopped pear or frozen blueberries can be used instead of apples. Store in an airtight container. Note

MAKES 16 SLICES If preferred, use milk or dark chocolate. Note

You have never had cupcakes like these before – they are the best. We decorated them with passionfruit icing and topped each one with an edible flower.

This cake is best eaten the day it’s made. Serve warm with a mixture of whipped cream and unsweetened plain yoghurt. We added a few blueberries to the mix for contrasting colour.

Whipped cream can be used instead of cream cheese. To test cakes are cooked, insert a skewer into the centre. If it comes out clean and dry, the cake is cooked. Note

When baking cakes, do not fill the pans more than two-thirds full. Note

Replace canned cherries with 400g can pie apple or 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries. Note

If milk curdles, it won’t affect the end result, but you may need to add water to get the right consistency. Cake is cooked when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and dry. Note

Wrap cooled loaves in a layer each of plastic wrap and foil, and store in an airtight container for up to one week. Note

The brownies will be quite soft when first removed from the oven, so always cool completely in the pan before slicing. It is important to sift the flour to remove lumps or any foreign particles. This step also incorporates air. Remember to lightly stir it into the liquid mixture for best results. Note

If figs are unavailable, use other fruit in season such as kiwifruit. Cheesecake will be slightly wobbly in the centre – cool it slowly, to prevent cracks from forming. Note

If you don’t have a friand pan, you could use a regular muffin pan, trimming edges of cooled cakes to create even sides. Note

Sweet, fluffy and golden, these beautiful orange and poppy seed friands are wonderful served topped with a oozy citrus syrup, keeping the cakes deliciously moist.

Use other nuts of choice, such as macadamia or chopped pecans. Note

Squeeze excess liquid from pineapple by pressing it between 2 sheets of absorbent paper. Note

If you do not have a friand pan, use a regular muffin or mini loaf pan. Note

The butter and flour paste is known as a “roux”. The proportion of this to milk determines the thickness of the end sauce. Never beat egg-whites until ready to use, as they will deflate. Note

This timeless dessert is brilliant served warm, drizzled with a indulgent butterscotch sauce. Accompany your sticky date pudding with whipped cream for the ultimate decadent delight.

You’ll need 1 cup pumpkin cubes for this. Note

Semolina refers to any coarsely ground grain, but most commonly wheat. It also describes a particular type of semolina made from ground durum wheat, which is a common ingredient in Italian and Moroccan cooking. Note

This moist almond cake with a glazed orange topping is a splendid afternoon tea treat that goes well with some cream and a pot of tea or coffee.

This melt-in-your-mouth raspberry slice is a treat for morning or afternoon tea ... or whenever you need a fruity sugar fix.

You can use the same amount of ingredients to make 24 mini muffins. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease two 12-hole mini muffin pans. You will only need about 1/2 cup of raspberries, and instead of folding them through, place one on top of each muffin. Bake for 15 minutes, until springy to touch. […]

Almonds and mandarins in a freshly baked cake make this a must for every afternoon tea. Serve with a sweet sherry for perfect delight.

MAKES 24 For glace icing, combine 1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar with 20g melted butter and 1-2 tablespoons boiling water. Stir until smooth, adding a few drops of pink food colouring. Note

Do ahead: The cakes can be made 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Note

Makes 1 very lemony, superbly light, moist sponge.

Armenian cooking is noted for its use of spices. In this recipe, nutmeg adds fragrance and taste to a not-too-sweet cake that cooks in two layers. Recipe can be made 2 days ahead; store in airtight container. Suitable to freeze, not suitable to microwave. Note

Many domestic ovens brown unevenly so don’t be afraid to open the door (after halfway through the cooking time) to turn the pans around and avoid any of the oven’s hot spots. Note

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

If preferred, use low-fat versions of ingredients to reduce fat content of recipe. Note

We’ve used a 1 metre long roll of licorice which we separated into thin strips to decorate our snake and butterfly. You will have plenty left over to make lolly bags, if you wish. Look for packs of a metre of licorice at your local supermarket Note

Chilling time overnight Cheesecakes may be either baked or unbaked. This one doesn’t need baking because it is set with gelatine. Note

You could also use a 6-hole oversized muffin pan, if preferred. Bake larger muffins for a further 5 minutes. Note

If you're going make this Easter bread recipe, you may as well make one big enough to share with friends. A cake mixer makes light work of mixing the dough.

Eating dairy-free? No problem, you can still enjoy this delicious banana cake with sweet, drizzly passionfruit icing.

The honey in this beautiful cake gives it a deep sweetness. Although it takes a while to bake, the cake method only involves melting and stirring. Note

If the cake browns too quickly during baking, cover it loosely with foil. Note

You can make the sponge cakes a day before. Let them cool on the baking tray and cover in cling wrap. Note

Rhubarb is available all year round. For the best flavour, choose thin, magenta coloured stalks over thicker green ones. Note

Layers of light and fluffy banana cake are sandwiched together with a creamy coconut and cream cheese icing.

Store cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. Dulce de leche (“candy of milk”) is a treat prepared by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk to create a rich and decadent sauce or syrup, similar in flavour to caramel. Note

Try canned sliced apples or frozen mixed berries instead of cherries. You can bake cake in a 23cm square cake pan; bake cake base for 35 minutes. Note

Don’t overheat ganache or it will curdle. Ganache will keep, stored in fridge, for up to 4 days. Note

Replace coconut milk with 2/3 cup milk and 1 teaspoon coconut essence. Note

Create a fruit cake with a richer flavour thanks to this simple recipe. It doesn't matter if you're not usually a fan of Guinness, everyone is bound to enjoy this moist, decadent treat!

You can make this cake a day ahead. Store in airtight container. You can bake this cake as 2 x 19x9cm loaves or 12 x 1/3-cup muffins. To make your own ground almonds, process blanched almonds until fine. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small amount of the mixture into a glass of cold water. If it can be gathered up and rolled into a hard ball, it’s ready. Note

Suitable to freeze. Chocolate suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Marmalade suitable to microwave. Note

Fresh pineapple, kiwifruit and pawpaw contain an enzyme that prevents jelly setting. Note

You will need 3 medium overripe bananas for this recipe. No mini loaf tray? Spoon mixture into a paper case-lined 12-hole (1/3-cup) muffin tray; cooking time will vary. Note