Festive fondant fancies

Turn a simple traybake into magical mouthfuls with these fun and easy decoration ideas

Stollen mince pies

Two festive giants collide in these shortcrust pastry bakes with marzipan, madeira cake and mincemeat

Brilliant banana loaf

A cross between banana bread and a drizzle cake, this easy banana loaf recipe is a quick bake that can be frozen and is great for using up overripe bananas

Blackberry & coconut squares

This lovely crumbly bake won the under-11s category of our 20th birthday cake competition

Gingerbread trees

Enjoy this recipe for golden gingerbread trees – make them to eat on their own, or to decorate your Christmas cake

Toffee tangerines

Nostalgic for fairground treats? Try this recipe to caramelise tangerines

Baked raspberry & bramble trifle with Drambuie

A wonderful Scottish pudding based loosely on the traditional trifle, with the added twist of a layer of baked custard

Simnel cherry tart

This teatime treat is a cross between a fruity spring-like Simnel cake and a Bakewell tart – great with a cuppa

Festive baked Alaska

This gloriously squidgy hot and cold ice cream bombe with meringue uses up leftover Christmas cake

Festive fruit & spice decoration

Decorating a simple iced cake with herbs, spices, nuts and fruit works to great effect and is especially easy for beginners to try

Passion fruit trifle

A layered no-cook dessert with a touch of passion (fruit)

Banana & walnut loaf

This homely and wholesome cake is also light and moist, with the natural sweetness of sticky bananas and the warm toastiness of nuts