Chocolate gingerbread brownie bars with fudgy icing

These luxurious bars are based on a classic flourless cake, so they're rich and light in equal measure

Mini choc-orange cheesecake tarts

Use a chocolate chip cookie dough as the base for these citrus tarts with cream cheese topping and mandarin decoration

Polish apple cake (Szarlotka)

This traditional spiced cake is served with a cinnamon whipped cream and a dusting of icing sugar

Cinnamon pineapple upside-down cake

Vanilla and cinnamon give this classic sponge a new twist. Make sure you buy a really ripe pineapple for the decorative fruit topping

Persimmon & white chocolate tart with pistachios

Poach fragrant, honeyed persimmons in vanilla syrup and serve in this impressive white chocolate and cocoa pastry tart

Christmas pudding Rice Krispie cakes

Fun to make with kids or as a cute Christmas canape, top chocolate, peanut and raisin puffed rice cakes with white chocolate and festive holly icing.

Chocolate & almond marbled bundt cake

Great British Bake Off’s Ruby Tandoh creates a two-tone decorative sponge ring. Pick a patterned bundt cake tin for an extra-special finish

Reindeer cake pops

These chocolate cake lollipops are decorated in true festive fashion – have fun making them with the kids this Christmas.

Toffee apple & pecan cake

Apples and caramel are a heavenly duo. This nutty sandwich loaf cake with buttercream frosting and caramel drizzle fits the bill nicely

Squidgy chocolate & pomegranate torte

This rich dark chocolate sponge makes a great alternative Christmas cake, or dinner party dessert

Rudolph’s carrot patch cakes

These chocolate carrot loaf cakes with edible vegetable decoration can be left as a present for Santa’s reindeer – or enjoyed all year round

Simply stunning chocolate fridge cake

The beauty of this pudding is the simplicity of the ingredients, put together stylishly. Use chocolate biscuits and a Baileys mascarpone cream