Almond & honey pastries with orange cream

Serve these prepare-ahead puds with coffee, dessert wine or fresh mint tea for a real after-dinner treat

Sticky pear & ginger cake

This is a cross between a sticky toffee pudding and a ginger cake. Serve warm with ice cream or cream as a dessert

Sticky ginger-nut cake

A wonderfully sticky dessert – perfect served with a dollop of cream

French rhubarb tart

Take your time with this pretty in pink dessert and you’ll have a fruit pie worthy of any Parisian patisserie shop window

Glam trifle slice

Everyone’s favourite layered dessert gets a smart makeover – custard, raspberry, jelly and cream in a neat terrine

Christmas wreath cake

Turn one fruitcake into two with these festive ideas – this one is a decorative holly ring with fondant icing (find the second recipe in ‘goes well with’)

Churros with chocolate dipping sauce

Try a fresh spin on doughnuts by piping them Spanish-style and serving with a thick and indulgent dark chocolate sauce

Sticky toffee tarts

This twist on classic sticky toffee pudding is ideal for a different dinner party dessert

Beef & pickle pasties

Bake pickle or chutney into traditional Cornish shortcrust pastry parcels to save serving on the side

Rum babas with poached pineapple & vanilla ice cream

A restaurant-style pudding you can make ahead for a relaxed end to your dinner party

The ultimate makeover: Tiramisu

Angela Nilsen lightens a classic high-fat Italian dessert without compromising on the rich indulgence factor

Cherry, almond & lemon mascarpone tart

Round off an idyllic afternoon with friends by presenting this stunning, make-ahead dessert