Afternoon tea

Make a cottage for each year of the birthday child’s age and, rather than using fruit sticks for the chimneys, use chunky coloured candles, instead. You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over, enough to make another little house. Note

You can find lavender honey (produced by bees fed on lavender) at selected delicatessens. If unavailable, any variety of honey can be used. Note

Equipment: three 12-hole (-cup/80ml) muffin pans 25 paper muffin cases 5 disposable piping bags medium plain piping tube 48cm x 55cm covered cake board Decorations: 8 red ALLEN’S MARELLA Jubes 4 red ALLEN’S SNAKES ALIVE 1 banana ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania 3 strawberry ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania 6 LIFE SAVERS PEP‘O’MINT, halved 6 LIFE SAVERS […]

Milk chocolate is easily overheated, which turns it grainy, so when melting it, make sure the water is at a low simmer, and the base of the bowl does not touch the water. Stir gently until it is melted, then remove the bowl immediately from the heat. Change the recipe by using white and dark […]

Friands are not meant to be light and airy, so the last thing you want to do is whisk air into the mixture. Note

A fun and yummy cake that's up to no good.

This basic fruit mix is enough to make a pudding (boiled or steamed) large enough to serve 10 people, a regular-sized cake and a dozen mince pies. Note

Use any fresh berries you like in this recipe. If you only have one patty pan, bake the first batch, then wash, butter and flour the pan again before baking the next lot. Note

This cake is another one perfect to take to school, or picnic — or any outdoor party. Note

The amount of milk you need to add to this scone dough depends on the water content of the pumpkin. The amount you add will vary every time you make these scones. Note

We used a 35cm x 45cm oval plastic serving platter for the pond; a shallow cake pan, baking dish or shallow casserole dish would also work, depending on the number of frogs you need for the party. You will have about 1 cup of cake mixture left over ­enough for another five frogs. Note

Make sure the rosebuds have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note

Watch their eyes light up for this happy, smiling flower. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Substitutes: use whole roasted almonds instead of hazelnuts. Note

Possums without eyes can be made up to two days ahead. Pipe eyes on the day of serving. Note

Make sure the rose petals have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note

A hit with every coconut lover, this slice just improves with age. It can also be made as tartlets. Note

Although almonds were the key ingredient in traditional macaroons, coconut quickly became an equally popular adaptation. Can be made a week ahead store in airtight container freeze suitable microwave not suitable. Note

Delicious little cupcakes that are the perfect treat to celebrate graduation day!

Corella pears have only a short season, if they’re not available use thinly sliced apple, red-skinned look best instead. Note

It's 9am on a Saturday, and the party crowd's already here. Birthday parties... it's about food, friends and making memories.

One-year-olds may be too young to eat these colourful Smarties, but they will love the cake. Note

Cake pans vary in depth, so if you have a little cake mixture left over, use it to make cupcakes. Use bought sugar flowers of your choice, available from supermarkets and cake decorating suppliers. Remove and discard skewers before cutting bottom tier. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on […]

Strawberries are jam-packed with the good health-promoting vitamins A and C. Note

The hardest part of making this cake is getting the colours right. Use good quality colourings and you’ll have no trouble. It’s been around since 300 BC… but it wasn’t until 1952 that the first checkers programme was used by a computer. Note

Thanks to hothouse growing, rhubarb is available all year, so you can indulge in a hot pie or crumble as well as any number of luscious desserts matching rhubarb with berries and cream or mascarpone whenever you like. Be sure to discard every bit of the vegetable’s leaf and use only the thinnest stalks (the […]

Personalise the messages scrawled all over this clever cake, which looks just like an inner-city wall for the cake. Note

ORANGE FROSTING Beat cream cheese and butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar; stir in rind. You can use a zesting tool to make the thin strips of orange rind. Note

The cake mix is enough to make 12 cakes so you can decorate the remaining 6 cakes into other animals of your own choosing. Note

Try layering various herb leaves, such as sage, inside the potato wafers. You can also use russet burbank or spunta potatoes for this recipe. Note

Fill macarons just before serving. If the marmalade is too chunky or thick to spread, warm it, strain it, and leave it to cool before using. Note

These pancakes are also great for dessert. Swap the strawberries for bananas, if you like. Note

You will need about 1 bunch of rhubarb for this recipe. Note

These scones are at their very best made just before serving. Eat them hot, straight out of the oven. Note

Impress your Christmas guests this year with a perfectly-created cake, thanks to this beautiful rich hazelnut fruit cake recipe. Happy baking!

You can use low-fat cream cheese in this recipe if you prefer. Note

Make these bite-sized wonders.

There are usually 22 sheets of pastry in a 375g (12-ounce) packet of fillo pastry. Dried lavender flowers are available from spice shops and online. Note

Cut the marshmallows using an oiled knife, otherwise it will be difficult. Note

Macaroons are available from speciality bakery shops and select supermarkets. If you can’t find them, any small round filled biscuit will do. Try mini Oreos or Wagon Wheels, or Monte Carlos. Colour the butter cream, and decorate the robot, using any colours and lollies you like. Fruit Mentos and Smarties come in pastel colours, if […]

If the birthday person is mad about cats, this enigmatic creation will be… purrfection Note

Known variously throughout the Middle East and North Africa as basboosa, namoura or harisi, this sweet slice is saturated with a citrusy sugar syrup which gives it a lovely individual flavour. Note

You need only slender small servings of this ultra-rich cake, which is why we’ve chosen to bake it in a lamington pan. The layer of marzipan in the middle keeps the cake moist as well as adding to the flavour. Buy the best marzipan (or almond paste) you can find. Note

Pie can be prepared a day ahead. Note

Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for an extra-white finish. Note

If you don’t have a candy thermometer, boil the syrup until it’s thick with heavy bubbles. Remove from heat, let bubbles subside, then reassess the thickness of the syrup. Note

Flavoured Milk Bottles can be found in packets of ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania; use whichever colours you like. Remember to remove the skewers from the drawbridge before cutting the cake. Note

We used green, orange and yellow paper muffin cases to match the decorations of these lovely cakes. Note

You can substitute dried apricots or apple rings for the dried pears, if you like. Note

artist’s fine paint brush 3.5cm (1½-inch) round cutter 12 plain white paper cases large plastic disposable piping bag The cupcakes stale quickly so it’s best to use a fruit or mud cake for the best keeping qualities. The cakes can be made and frozen for 3 months. The monograms can be prepared at least a […]

Depending on the variety of quince used, some will turn more of a rusty red colour while others a deep crimson. Also, cooking time can vary between types, with some needing a little longer cooking to achieve a red hue. Note