Try a variation using dried cherries and dark chocolate. Note

Serve day-old muffins warmed and spread with a little cream cheese. Note

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

MAKES 12 Store in an airtight container. Muffins freeze well for up to 3 months. Note

These muffins are a wonderful stand-by food for weekends when unexpected visitors arrive for lunch or coffee.

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

MAKES 12 Note

Earl Grey tea has a strong flavour which works well in baking, but you can use any variety often. Note

These wonderfully light and fluffy lemon and blueberry muffins are perfect for the whole family to enjoy for morning or afternoon tea, and these muffins make a great accompaniment to a hot cup of tea.

Goji berries are high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Add them to baking, breakfast cereals and smoothies, or eat raw as a snack. Note

Test if the muffins are cooked by inserting a skewer in their centre. If it comes out clean and dry, it is cooked. Note

A good blueberry muffin is a classic, and the highlight of anybody's packed lunch.

Muffins can be made a day ahead. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place. Muffins can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator. Note

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

Use colourfully decorated or striped paper cases. Add water sticks just before serving, as they absorb the moisture from the butter cream. Note

For a dairy-free version, swap butter for a dairy-free spread or neutral-flavoured oil. Frozen blueberries can be used. Note

It's always lovely to finish a meal with a little something sweet, or have a bite with coffee or tea through the day. We've taken these raspberry friands to a new level of decadence by adding white chocolate.

Serve these golden buttermilk scones warm with lashings of fresh whipped cream and sweet jam. The buttermilk in this recipe helps the dough to remain soft and tender, resulting in a light and airy scone.

These quick savoury muffins are perfect for morning tea or a picnic. If you want to spice them up a little, add a teaspoon of dried chilli flakes.

In a book dating back to my great-grandmother, there is this recipe for traditional Danish pancakes. It was the one my grandmother used to serve at family gatherings in December. In the part of Jutland, Denmark, that my family comes from, they make a sweet prune compote and add about a teaspoon of it to every aebleskive before turning them over. They are called "aebleskive with music".

Sprinkled with a crunchy walnut topping, these fluffy raspberry muffins are lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, resulting in a delicious combination of flavour and texture.

Wrap individual muffins in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. Defrost muffins as required either overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on high (100%) for about 30 seconds. Note

These homely little cakes are so easy to make and go perfectly with a hot cup of tea.

equipment 12-hole (½-cup/125ml) friand pan 5 strong wooden toothpicks 35cm x 40cm prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) medium gum-leaf cutter You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over, enough to make another four balloons. The balloons are not difficult to make, but getting the sides of the […]

We used chocolate with a 70% cocoa content. If paradise pears are unavailable, substitute 5 canned pear halves and omit step 1. Note

These tasty baked arrabbiata muffins are packed full of flavour and texture. Filled with melted, oozy cheese, they will be loved by kids and adults alike. Enjoy them warm as a light lunch or dinner or pop them in your lunch box for work or school.

We all want to find the balance between food that is exciting for the kids to eat and also provides them with the good stuff they need for their health. These muffins are light, soft and yummy, but still have the added health benefit of oat bran hidden in them.

These berry buttermilk muffins are fluffy, delicious and a cinch to make.

Make the batter for these muffins the night before you want to bake and serve them. Note

quiche filling We used lump crab meat from the fish market. Reserve fennel fronds when slicing the bulb. Note

high GI Note

These cheesy zucchini cakes make a lovely light brunch served with a crisp green salad.

These muffins are delicious without the orange sauce. However, the rich buttery sauce transforms them into a dessert for grown-ups. Grand Marnier (or brandy) is the best liqueur to use. Remember to grate the rind of the oranges before you juice them. If the muffins need re-heating, 20 or 30 seconds in a microwave oven […]

If you have overnight guests or friends coming for breakfast, prepare the recipe ahead for a breakfast of muffins fresh from the oven! The muffin batter is partially made the day before and refrigerated overnight, needing only a few more minutes of preparation before baking and serving. Note

Moist date muffins with orange syrup from Australian Women's Weekly.

These cheesy corn and bacon muffins are delicious served both warm and cold. They make a great morning tea or after-school snack, and are perfect for packing in a lunch-box.

Put the kettle on and treat yourself to one of these fluffy, spiced apple muffins.

Store friands in an airtight container for up to three days. We used freeform paper cases made by pushing a 12cm square of paper (we used paper about the same thickness as printer paper) into ungreased pan holes, followed by a 12cm square of baking paper. variation peach and coconut friands Omit the glacé pineapple […]

A strong vintage cheddar is best to stand up to the other robustly flavoured ingredients. These savoury muffins are a terrific accompaniment to a bowl of soup. They can be made a few hours ahead and warmed in a low oven when required, or you can make them days ahead and freeze them. Allow to […]

Stencils are available from cake decorating suppliers and craft stores. FLUFFY MOCK CREAM Note

Dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon, these wholesome muffins make a delightful treat with tea or coffee. You'll need about two overripe bananas.

With a creamy custard filling and cinnamon sugar topping, these apple muffins are the perfect sweet treat.

These cheesy treats taste delicious hot or cold, making them a great snack on the go.

Vary the flavour by changing the dried fruit to chopped dried apricots, raisins, seeded dates or seeded prunes, or a combination of any of these. Note

Spiced with cumin and packed full of grated vegetables, these carrot and zucchini muffins make a great lunch box or after-school snack.

These muffins have a soft and fruity centre and with a delicious crunchy topping.

Whip up a batch of these fluffy savoury muffins with crunchy cheese topping. They're great served warm with butter or packed in a lunchbox.

For a delicious morning tea, serve these golden muffins warm with butter.

These crunchy muffins are delicious served with a slather of apricot butter and a cup of hot coffee.

Sixteen strokes is usually enough when mixing muffin batter. Any pockets of flour help to give them their characteristic texture. Milk can be used in place of buttermilk. These muffins are best served on the day of making. Note

Spoil your family and friends with these fluffy banana muffins topped with tangy cream cheese icing.

These tasty savoury corn and chive muffins are easy to make are are great as an on-the-go snack or healthy lunch box treat.

We used freeform paper cases made by pushing a 12cm square of paper (we used paper about the same thickness as printer paper) into ungreased pan holes, followed by a 12cm square of baking paper Note

These gluten-free coconut, almond and berry cupcakes make the perfect sweet treat with a cup of tea.

Chocolatey coffee hazelnut muffins, with hazelnut frosting and a crunchy nut topping, pack a whole lot of flavour into every bite.

These cheesy polenta cakes go beautifully with a zesty, refreshing avocado salsa.

These muffins are a delicious addition to the back-to-school lunchbox. You can also try using chocolate bits or walnuts instead of blueberries.

Make these easy, cheesy corn muffins with bacon and tomatoes for a splendid brunch or lunch.

You can also bake this mixture in one loaf pan;­ it will take about 45 minutes to cook. Loaves are best made on the day of serving. Note

Perfect for a filling morning tea, afternoon tea or lunch box treat, these cheesy zucchini and leek muffins are tasty and delicious.

Perfect for the lunchbox, these easy berry muffins make a delicious morning or afternoon snack.

The creative geniuses at Australian Table cut out bat and ghost shapes from the carrot and cucumber to decorate these cute cakes. Use your imagination and delight the little people!

These spiced, fluffy apple muffins are made even more delicious with a crunchy streusel topping.

These honeycomb cream cupcakes are a proper indulgence, a moist, spiced cupcake topped with whipped cream and shattered Violet Crumble bars.

Fun and great for sharing; white choc-chip orange and cranberry muffins from Australian Women's Weekly.

A crumbly topping hides a surprise in these fluffy apple muffins.

Sweet and rich hazelnut and espresso friands make a delicate and exquisite afternoon tea treat.

For a gift-giving idea, spray a bamboo steamer (available from Asian food stores) with silver spray, line with tissue and fill with little cakes. Wrap it completely in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Substitute brandy for Irish whiskey, if you like.

These chewy gluten-free treats are perfect with coffee.

Tiny, blue-grey poppy seeds add texture and a slightly nutty taste. Note

Kids will love these fluffy apple and cinnamon muffins.

Instead of the apple, the same weight of pear can be used in this recipe. Note

You need approximately two large (460g) overripe bananas for this recipe. Note