Afternoon tea

The sponge roll used for this recipe has a diameter of 10cm and a length of 16cm. Note

You’ll have ¾ cup of the cake mixture left over, enough for another three cup cakes. Note

You need two large (460g) overripe bananas to get the required amount of mashed banana. Note

Now we are six! Celebrate this auspicious occasion with this delightful sssssnakey ssssix cake, by the Australian Women's Weekly. The birthday boy or girl will be delighted!

Use a palette knife to press dough evenly over base of pan. Note

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

This is a very quick and easy cake to make that only involves hand-mixing in one bowl. It is very important to thoroughly drain the pineapple, or else the cake will be doughy and heavy. Toasting macadamias brings out the flavour. There are two ways to toast them: spread macadamias onto an oven tray, toast […]

This cute and colourful birthday cake is perfect for young adventurers and little ones that love the outdoors.

School would be much more entertaining, and homework much more fun, if we could all have pencil cases as delicious as this one. Note

Parties for budding artists are popular ­and this cake will get them in the creative mood. It doesn’t matter if these pots tip over, nothing’s going to spill. Tint the icing any colours you like, just make them bright. Lollies could easily be hidden under the glacé icing. You’ll have enough cake mixture left over […]

Brighten up your morning with a delicious snack of this raspberry-chia coconut slice. It goes perfectly with a cup of tea, and the goodness of chia seeds will keep you energised until lunch time!

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

A row of clown faces on a party table decorated with streamers and party whistles would look great. Pushing the “hair” into the cakes is a bit fiddly, and needs to be done about an hour before the party. You will have enough cake mixture left over to make about another five clowns , you’ll […]

You will need 2 x 180g packets of Allen’s Killer Pythons for this recipe. Note

Slice will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Note

You’ll need to buy about three packets of conversation hearts to get 16 pink hearts. Note

Both `00′ and bread flour have a higher protein content (12.5­14%) than regular plain (all-purpose) flour (10­12%), and it is this extra gluten protein which gives bread and yeasted cakes their structure. Both flours are sold alongside regular flour in supermarkets. To make dough by hand: in step 3, combine ingredients in alarge bowl with […]

For this recipe you will need about 12 passionfruit to make 80ml of pulp. This type of cake is best made on day of serving. Note

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

You need to cook 200g pumpkin to get the required amount of mashed pumpkin. Note

You can use any flavoured jam you have on hand. Note

Blow on the candles on this delicate and beautifully styled birthday cake.

This cake also can be made up to 6 months ahead. Turn it into an emergency Christmas pudding by brushing with liqueur, heating in the microwave and serving with ice-cream or custard. Note

You need to cook 2 medium potatoes (380g) for this recipe. The scones are best made and eaten on the same day. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.Thaw in oven, wrapped in foil. Note

Scone dough can be made in a food processor. Pulse flour, sugar and butter until mixture looks crumbly. Add milk and the water; process until the ingredients come together to make a soft sticky dough. A mixture of milk and water was used for these scones. All milk can be used (darker scones), all water […]

Serve this cake warm. Note

Black Cats and vanilla Milk Bottles are found in Allen’s Party Mix. Pink and oranges Nerds are found in Wonka Neon Nerds. Note

We used the firm, non-astringent persimmon variety (fuji fruit) in this recipe. Note

You need about 7 overripe medium bananas for this recipe. Note

Variation; for an orange blossom and mint tea syrup cake, omit the french earl grey tea in the cake and instead add 1 tablespoon orange blossom water with the lemon juice in step 3. Omit the earl grey syrup and instead make ‘orange blossom and mint tea syrup’. Serve the cake drizzled with syrup. Note

For this recipe we used small (15cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

If you don’t have an 11cm round cutter, simply use a saucer or bowl instead. Add an icing bow to the ear for a girly elephant or use a pretty ribbon. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. You need 1 sponge cake round and […]

Sun-dried tomato pesto can also be used. Note

Macaroons are available from specialty bakery shops and select supermarkets. We used ganache to cover the cake as it will set and hold the macaroons in place. We bought 15 packets of macaroons to get the 30 pink, 6 brown, 19 vanilla and 18 light brown colours used in this cake. To save money, use […]

Edible glitter is available from specialist cake decorating shops Note

The cake and persimmons can be made a day ahead. Store cake in an airtight container at room temperature; store persimmons in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

storage Friands will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 days, or in the freezer (without frosting) for 2 months. Note

You will need about 1 ½ bunches of rhubarb for this recipe. While the cake is baking, turn it every 20 minutes for even browning. Subsitutes; chia seeds are one of the highest occurring plant sources for omega-3 and are available from supermarkets. If you prefer, you can omit them from the recipe or use […]

Bake one cake at a time, unless you have access to two savarin pans. Have the sprinkles close by for decorating, as this icing sets rapidly after it has been warmed. If you’re not happy with the icing, leave it to set completely, then snap or lift off any ugly pieces on the cake or […]

Delicate and beautiful sweet violet cakes for sharing with family and friends.

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

To ground walnuts, blend or process until fine. Note

This tart is best made on the day of serving. Note

An Italian lemon-flavoured liqueur, limoncello was originally made from the juice and peel of lemons grown along the coast of Amalfi. You can substitute it in this recipe, if you wish, with any lemon-flavoured liqueur or with an orange-flavoured one such as Cointreau. You need approximately five lemons for this recipe. Note

You need 16 x 15cm (6-inch) lollipop sticks or bamboo skewers for this recipe. Note

We used 42 green jelly beans to outline the head of the octopus. Stand cake mixture at room temperature while you bake the cakes in batches. You will have 1 cup of cake mixture left over, enough for another 24 mini cakes. You could add these to the cake to make longer tentacles. Note

You can use jelly beans or rainbow straps to decorate the fish. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. Note

Edible glitter is available from cake decorating supply stores. Note

The baking paper strips are used to help remove the cheesecake from the steamer once it’s been refrigerated overnight. Place the steamer upside down on a serving plate, gently pull on the paper strips and the cheesecake will ease away from the side of the steamer. Note

Early season imperial mandarins have a lovely aromatic rind, however, as they have a loose skin, a microplane grater is the best tool to use. You could substitute lemon or orange rind. Note

Dark Melts and butter can be melted together over hot water or in a microwave oven on HIGH (100%) for about 1 minute. This recipe makes 17 chocolate spider bodies, however, the decorations are for the seven spiders on the cake. Serve the extras as an accompaniment or, if you have extra Melts and Nestlé […]

If you don’t have a piping bag and icing tube, you can use a small strong plastic bag instead. Spoon the icing into a corner of the bag, twist the bag to close it. Snip the corner from the bag, then use it to pipe the icing. Note

Traditionally, a coin would be inserted into the mixture before baking so that the person who found it would have good luck for the coming year. If you want to do this, wrap the coin in foil first (and perhaps warn your guests). Note

Peanuts can cause reactions in some children. They are not recommended for children under one year old. Note

You need about 3 large overripe bananas (690g) for the amount of mashed banana in this recipe. Note