These divine little pots of sweet couscous with oranges and rosewater, yoghurt and pistachio nuts make a fragrant, fruity and light dessert.

This fruit cake is a traditional Irish favourite. Although the inclusion of Irish whiskey makes it authentic, scotch, dark rum or brandy are fine substitutes.

This is a recipe for the seasoned Christmas pudding maker, filled with all of the classic flavours and then some. It makes a great addition to the holiday festivities.

Dusted with cocoa, these elegant chocolate soufflés are well worth the effort of making, especially served with a big dollop of spiked mascarpone.

This pudding is also great served topped with fresh mango slices, instead of the banana, if you like. Sago is a grain often used in puddings and desserts; it is available from some supermarkets and most health-food stores.

Gird your loins and fire up your blowtorch, it's time to make a classic French crème brûlée. If you don't have a blowtorch, just heat the grill until hot.

This is a rich and sophisticated dessert that makes an elegant end to a special dinner.

This rich mocha cake with coffee syrup is pudding-like, darkly sweet and entirely satisfying.

This healthy winter dessert would also be perfect for breakfast.

Bring sago out of the nursery and into its own with this delicious coconut sago pudding with ginger and palm sugar.

Chocolate and prune are a texture and taste combination that was made in cake lovers' heaven.

Sweet poached quince and apricots are topped with a crunchy hazelnut crumble in this delicious, warming dessert.

This pudding has a gooey chocolate centre, and is rich and sweet. Serve it with cream.

An Australian/Kiwi twist to pouring custard. Banana custard also makes a great quick pie, just fill a ready-to-go pie case and top with sweetened whipped cream.

If cooking in a conventional oven, grease 1.5-litre (6-cup) ovenproof dish. Bake, uncovered, in moderately hot oven about 20 minutes. This recipe is best made close to serving. This quick and easy version of the classic recipe does not require pots or pans, so it’s the perfect dessert for pudding lovers with no time to […]

It is fine to use a 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Note

This recipe can be made 1 week ahead. Add chocolate coating up to 3 hours before serving. Note

Warmly spiced and studded with ginger and macadamia nuts, these coconut and lime puddings are lovely served warm with a dollop of cream or ice-cream.

These delicious puddings can be made up as quick as a flash as long as you have a jar of jam in your cupboard. Plus, they're gluten-free so everyone can enjoy them.

These decadent self-saucing puddings are complete with an oozy melted chocolate centre. Serve drizzled with a rich caramel sauce and a dollop of vanilla ice-cream for the ultimate weekend dessert.

These delectable chocolate mousses are the perfect finishing touch to a sophisticated dinner party.

Chocolate stout is available from bottle shops or online. You can swap it for a dark stout if you like. Make sure all fruit is chopped to the same size as the sultanas. Note

You need to cook about ½ cup (100g) white medium-grain rice for this recipe. Note

These gooey chocolate puddings make a perfect dessert on a cold winter's night.

Tender pear topped with crunchy maple syrup crumble this dessert is rich and satisfying, serve with a dollop of double cream.

Both soya and rice flour can be found in the superm arket or health food shops. To store pudding, wrap in plastic wrap and seal tightly in a freezer bag or airtight container, store in the fridge or freezer. Note

Citrus lovers will adore these fluffy puddings drizzled in marmalade syrup.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

You could use canned plums or other canned fruit instead of cherries. This dish could be made with most kinds of bread. Try fruit loaf. Note

When this classic French dessert is done well, nothing can beat its silky, cream texture. Don't forget to sieve your custard and remember to insulate with a tea towel so the outside doesn't cook too quickly.

The pudding is best made on the day of serving. Rum sauce can be made a day ahead, store, covered, in the fridge. Reheat the sauce before serving either in a microwave oven or over low heat in a small saucepan until hot. Note

Sago, also known as seed or pearl tapioca, comes from the sago palm and is used in soups and desserts, and as a thickening agent. You can use Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Curaçao or any other orange- flavoured liqueur in this recipe.

This dessert is pure bliss . Creamy orange custard with a quintessential toffee topping. Note

The whole orange at the heart of this jaffa steamed pudding perfumes the entire dish as it cooks.

It’s important not to lift the lid during the cooking of the pudding, as the condensation runs down the side of the cooker and causes damp patches on the pudding. Note

With layers of sponge, cheesecake filling, berries and custard, this delicious trifle is sure to impress.

A light and creamy guilt-free chocolate mousse, for those times when you really want to treat yourself without over-indulgence.

Self-saucing jaffa pudding.

This pudding perfectly balances the tartness of the rhubarb with the sweet, creaminess of white chocolate. Delicious!

A bubbling plum and berry filling is topped with golden rounds of sweet scone dough in this stunning, delicious cobbler.

With the addition of sweet rhubarb, this nutty crumble is divine served with scoops of vanilla ice-cream.

No cardamom pods? Use a cinnamon stick instead. For a nutty taste, reduce butter to 50g and add 1/3 cup almond meal to mixture. Note

Enjoy this family favourite with a big scoop of melting vanilla ice-cream.

There are many flavours in this exquisite chocolate winter pudding, lavender, honey, chocolate and orange, that mingle and flow together to create something rather beautiful.

A simple Christmas pudding recipe that's bursting with fruit and lightly spiced.

One of the, many, great things about a classic steamed Christmas pudding is that you can get all of the cooking and steaming out of the way ahead of time and reheat in the microwave when you're ready to eat.

Crème catalana is the Catalan version of the French dessert, crème brulée. In fact, many regions lay claim to the origin of this dish. It's traditionally prepared on fathers day in Spain. We think you should enjoy it all year round.

Sweet brandy-spiked apricot is topped with a gingery almond topping in this delicious take on the classic crumble.

Soft, sweet and mild pear makes the perfect sidekick for tart rhubarb in this delicious sponge-topped pudding. Serve with double cream or ice-cream.

Lime adds an extra piquancy to this simple lime delicious pudding. More delicate in texture and flavour than a classic self-saucing pudding, a delicious pudding should have a very light sponge top over a custardy sauce.

Rizogalo is a traditional Greek-style creamed rice pudding that can also be served cole. Often spiced with cinnamon and lemon peel, it is also delicious served topped with nuts and honey.

A gluten-free diet doesn't mean lowering your standards. This gluten-free Christmas pudding is bursting with fruit and flavour.

Sweet, dense and oozing with sticky golden syrup, this gorgeous steamed pudding is perfect served warm with a dollop of cream or ice-cream for an indulgent weekend treat.

It is fine to use just 1 x 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Note

Try this cake with other fillings such as apple or pear. The cake is best made on the day of serving. Note

The crumbles can be made in individual dishes and frozen, before baking, for up to 2 months. Note

Spicy date pudding with butterscotch sauce

Wrap the steamer lid in a clean tea towel to avoid condensation drops falling onto the custards. Cook custards in two batches if they don’t all fit in your steamer. Note

You can use any type of berry you like in the compote. Note

It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. You can use any dried fruit in place of the raisins in this recipe such as dried apricots or peaches. Note

This recipe is also nut-free and gluten-free Note

Rose petal jam is available from Middle-Eastern foodstores and delis. Note

Italian arborio rice from supermarkets will hold its shape better than locally grown arborio. Canned caramel filling is found in the baking aisle in supermarkets. Any sweet sherry is fine, however one of the nicest is Pedro Ximénez, a sweet dark sherry with a rich raisin-y taste. Note

You can substitute the almond meal for hazelnut or pecan meal if you prefer. The orange caramel sauce is best served immediately once prepared because it will separate on standing. Note

Standing the custards in a dish filled with ice cubes keeps the custards from melting while the sugar is caramelising under the grill. Of course, if you have a cooking blowtorch, use that instead. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This recipe is suitable to freeze. Note

Peanut butter sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead. Leftover sauce can be used over ice-cream. Note

You can use lemon, lime or blood orange marmalade or your favourite jam instead. Note

If plums are not in season, use a 1kg (2-pound) jar of whole plums. Drain, halve and seed them before using. Note

Panettone are easy to find around Christmas time, at other times they may not be as readily available. You can use brioche instead, adding a handful of sultanas, or thick-cut fruit bread. Note

You will need a 60cm square of unbleached calico. If the fabric is new, soak in cold water overnight, then boil for 20 minutes; rinse well before using. Use day-old breadcrumbs for this recipe. Chop all the fruit to the same size as the sultanas. Wrap the pudding in plastic wrap, seal tightly in a […]

You don’t have to use fruit bread, ­you could use white bread, croissants or panettone. Croissants are particularly delicious with the strawberry jam. Note

Sago and tapioca, while similar, are not the same and can’t be substituted for each other. Sago may be found labelled as `seed tapioca’ on some packets. It is available from most health-food stores and supermarkets. Note

A mint pattie is a round chocolate-coated confectionery with a soft peppermint centre. It is available from most supermarkets. You may also use Griffin’s mint treat bites if mint pattie’s are not available. Note

Postre chajá was created by the owner of a family restaurant in Uruguay. He called his mergingue-based dessert ‘chajá’ after an indigenous bird of the same name, whose abundant white plumage reminded him of the meringue. For even cake layers, weigh the cake batter and put exactly half into each cake pan. Cake can be […]

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note