Dessert

As the weather cools off, a luscious hot dessert really hits the spot. This baked pudding is simple and tasty - a fine old-fashioned treat.

The taste of summer, all wrapped up.

These deliciously moist and sweet roasted hazelnut brownies are so rich you'll need just a half-slice with your morning tea to be completely satisfied. Save the other half for afternoon tea!

Clafoutis is a traditional French baked dessert, often made with cherries. We've used the best of in-season summer berries in this recipe, but any combination of berries would be equally delicious.

Make your custard adults-only by giving it a kick with the liqueur of your choice. We've chosen orange flavoured liqueur for this recipe, but brandy, drambuie or even rum would work, too.

This rich chocolate cake is based on the Mississippi mud pie, believed to have originated in the 1970s. The "mud" part of the name comes from the fact that the dense cake looks like the thick, muddy banks of the Mississippi River.

These almond honey nougats are beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. They make the perfect Christmas gift or after dinner sweet to enjoy with family and friends during the festive season.

Put these lovely little gift cakes on pieces of thick cardboard, measuring about 9cm-square, covered with special foil or glossy paper or wrapped with brightly coloured ribbons. They can be made a month ahead.

The classic vanilla slice needs no introduction. Here, we've paired the layers of pastry and custard with a bright passionfruit icing for a zesty twist.

These mascarpone matchsticks are quite possibly the simplest dessert in the world to make. Even the most novice of cooks can easily assemble these little pastry beauties. Bet you can't eat just one.

Surprise and delight at your little one's next birthday with this amazing party piñata cake. Watch little faces light up with glee as they discover the sweet treasures contained within the chocolate shell.

Chocolate fudge sauce is the perfect accompaniment to ice-cream, puddings and poached fruit. Just one taste of our deluxe home made version and we're confident you'll never resort to the bottled stuff again.

Light as air and beautifully frothy, zabaglione is a classic Italian dessert. You can spice up this lovely chocolate zabaglione by adding a teaspoon of orange zest at the end, like a sophisticated jaffa.

The deep ruby, red colour of plums is reflected in it's complex, tart-sweet flavour. This delectable plum and almond slice is perfect for a casual afternoon tea.

Carrot cake is always a winner, and the addition of a little mixed spice to this recipe takes it to a new level. This gluten free version is super moist and perfect for the kids' lunch boxes or after school snack.

A quick and easy recipe, this delicious walnut and prune loaf makes a great breakfast or afternoon tea, especially delicious lightly toasted and spread with butter or a wedge of brie.

You can use any combination of dried fruit for this compote and, if you prefer, you can serve it warm with porridge for a healthy and hearty breakfast, or with ice-cream, as a sweet.

Add an exotic touch to an everyday crème caramel with rosewater, cardamom and saffron. Silky soft and darkly sweet, this is a stunning dessert.

These bite-sized chocolate apricot truffles are not quite as rich as their original cousin, but they are just as delicious. The fruity centre provides a lovely tart and chewy contrast to the firm sweet chocolate coating.

Sometimes a dessert, sometimes a beverage, we can all agree that the deliciously rich and fluffy Italian zabaglione is a delight, whatever its form. A touch of marsala gives this version its kick.

These macadamia and ginger fingers make a lovely gluten-free alternative to cakes and biscuits for morning or afternoon tea. Enjoy as part of your 'elevenses' routine, or treat the kids for their afternoon snack.

These lemon tartlets have just the right amount of sweetness and tartness. Using ready made pastry means that they are easy to prepare and perfect for fussy cooks who are short on time.

Don't be afraid of the soufflé! If you use room temperature eggs, fold in the ingredients gently and bake on the bottom shelf of the oven, you'll be well on your way to a restaurant quality, sophisticated dessert.

For those of you who have not yet tried this somewhat odd combination, don't be put off! This chocolate and beetroot cake is moist and delicious, with a wonderful rich colour. We think you'll love it.

This orange almond bread is our take on a classic biscotti recipe, those crisp biscuits that go so well with after-dinner coffee. They also go beautifully, as we've discovered, with poached nectarines and yogurt.

Nougat recipes often require candy thermometers and exact cooking temperatures; this cranberry and nut version is much simpler. It also has a pretty stained glass effect and makes a lovely gift.

Homemade ice-cream is swirled with caramel sauce and topped with crushed amaretti biscuits in this impressive, decadent ice-cream cake.

You could use apricots as well or instead of either fruit for this divine peach and nectarine trifle. As a rule of thumb, just go with whatever is best in season.

Warm apple cake with a lip-smacking brandy butterscotch sauce is a properly indulgent winter dessert. You could substitute whisky for brandy if you prefer. Serve with vanilla ice-cream for the full monty.

A classic baked cheesecake topped with divine liqueur cherries, and drizzled liberally with their sauce, makes a wonderful dessert and a great afternoon tea treat.

Give your child's birthday a fun nautical theme with this delightful Wally whale birthday cake, if you make the cake the day before and freeze it, it will be easier to decorate.

This soft, sugar-dusted confectionery goodie comes in many flavours, however this recipe has remained traditional and gone with the classic rosewater.

These lovely textured lace wedding cakes will make a stylish and sophisticated display on your big day. You can mix and match the colours of the plates, cakes, flowers and decoration to suit any occasion.

Easy and inexpensive to make, and terrific for a crowd. Tender apples and cream cheese on a crumble base, all topped with cream and cinnamon, delicious.

There are some occasions that justify pulling out the big guns. When an event calls for a spectacular dessert you can't go past these little cups of toffee apple sorbet with pecan rosemary crumble.

Stuff these bananas with chocolate and bake them in the oven or the bbq until they have turned into melted chocolatey banana goodness. They come in their own packaging and even count as one of your five-a-day!

If you're looking to give your vanilla ice-cream a little lift, look no further than these chocolate hazelnut ice-cream cones. Just 10 minutes with a few ingredients and you can create something very special.

This quick and simple dessert is perfect for any time of the year. The combination of berries, custard and crunchy biscotti works beautifully together.

We're not sure if this chocolate ganache meringue is more slice, or more pavlova. What we are sure of, is that it is absolutely heavenly and there will but a few sweet crumbs leftover immediately after serving.

Hit the trifecta and enjoy an all-in-one coffee, dessert and after dinner drink with this heavenly ice-cream with espresso and irish cream treat. Never has there been so much exquisiteness in such a little glass.

You'll need to make this coconut and passionfruit tart a day ahead as it will need to be refrigerated overnight to be ready for serving. Serve topped wtih extra passionfruit and thick (double) cream.

We used Grand Marnier in this recipe, but you can use any orange or citrus flavoured liqueur, such as Cointreau. Scrape a knife over the top of the soufflé before baking, for a nice even top.

This classic Italian masterpiece never fails to please, and for good reason. Take your tiramisu to the next level by topping it with this magnificent hazelnut praline and you'll have your guests begging for more.

This maple baked winter fruit ensemble is perfect for chilly evenings. Serve with a generous dollop of mascarpone for extra decadence.

Our profiteroles with chocolate liqueur sauce are the perfect end to your next dinner party. For best results, don't forget to perforate each profiterole with the tip of a sharp knife before the last 5 minutes of baking.

Panettone, a sweet Italian loaf, has been brilliantly re-purposed for this decadent dessert dish. Spread with almond topping, the baked panettone slices are gorgeous soaked in peachy juices.

Making your first Swiss roll is a rite of passage for keen bakers, and if you haven't given it a go yet this chocolate log recipe is a great way to try. Covered in chocolate ganache, even if you don't roll straight, the end result will taste amazing.

All you need is a little patience and a good blender and you could be delighting your dinner guests with this raspberry sorbet. You can experiment with all kinds of berries and fruit, but we love the glorious colour.

These frozen chocolate tiramisu bars are dead easy and terrifically impressive. Just a few moments worth of effort topped with a little sprinkle of cocoa and you'll have a grown up dessert that will satisfy the most discerning of tastes.

If you're a fan of the cherry ripe, you'll love our chocolate cherry slice. The combination of cherries, chocolate and coconut will be reminiscent of this quintessential chocolate bar, only better.

Stollen is a traditional German cake-like bread eaten at Christmastime, when it is called Winterbrot (winter bread). Packed with candied and dried fruit, we think it should be enjoyed all year 'round.

This is the perfect cake to serve at the end of an Italian meal, or with a cup of espresso when friends drop by in the late afternoon.

Creamy vanilla custard and layers of light pastry dusted with icing sugar - a piece of French vanilla slice is a perfect afternoon treat, especially with a cup of good coffee on the side.

With a rosy pink filling sandwiched between layers of light sponge, this strawberry mousse cake is visually stunning. It's also deceptively easy to make and assemble. Yes, the store bought sponge has a place in the AWW kitchen!

Who knew you could make a sauce out of ice-cream? If you've never tried it, you're missing out. This vanilla ice-cream sauce is sweet, creamy and deliciously spiked with liqueur. Serve with warm cake or pudding.

Channeling the flavours of everyone's favourite childhood biscuit, this dark chocolate and peppermint cheesecake is wonderfully sweet, creamy and decadent, with just the right amount of minty zing.

In a book dating back to my great-grandmother, there is this recipe for traditional Danish pancakes. It was the one my grandmother used to serve at family gatherings in December. In the part of Jutland, Denmark, that my family comes from, they make a sweet prune compote and add about a teaspoon of it to every aebleskive before turning them over. They are called "aebleskive with music".

Jan's never-fail custard cake can be made in multiple varieties, and all work as beautifully as each other.

This easy carrot cake is so delicious with its tangy lemon frosting.

This decadent butterscotch pie will satisfy the cravings of any sweet tooth. The only problem with this luscious dish is trying to decide whether to serve it with lashings of whipped cream, or ice-cream.

The pavlova was so named because it was thought to be as light as the famous dancer, Anna Pavlova. We love that this version reminds us of her brightly coloured ballet tutu. It's almost a shame to eat. Almost.

There is no cooking required for this fabulous layered dessert, and it just takes a few minutes to put together, so you can indulge in a berry, coconut and yoghurt parfait at a moment's notice.

Parfait means 'perfect' in French and there's a lot about this chocolate, honey and red berry version that is perfect. For starters, it's easy to make and doesn't melt too quickly which means it's great for entertaining. It also looks amazing.

OK, we admit these rum and raisin chocolate mousse eggs require a delicate touch and a steady hand for a perfect result. Trust us; that smooth, boozy, delicate little Easter egg for grown-ups is totally worth it.

For a quick, easy and popular family dessert, try this golden, flaky strudel filled with sweet apple and juicy sultanas. Serve with a generous dollop of cream, ice-cream or both. It's also delicious cold.

The contrast between sweet rhubarb and creamy vanilla cheesecake filling is divine in these impressive desserts.

When dissolved gelatine is added to a mixture, both should be roughly the same temperature. Note

Any cranberry juice combination is suitable to use. Note

The combination of sweet, light sponge cake with a creamy white chocolate and strawberry filling is utterly irresistible. Cut yourself a slice and enjoy with a pot of tea for morning or afternoon tea.

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

It’s important to measure the closed springform pan, the measurement appearing on the base of the springform pan sometimes refers to the measurement of the pan when it is open. Note

Succulent figs add interest, depth and flavour to this deliciously easy chocolate caramel slice.

Keeping time: 2 days. Note

Thiples (or Diples) are a Greek sweet dessert consisting of pastry that has been fried in hot oil, and a honey drizzle. This recipe uses classic flavours so the dish is true to its origin.

Light and fluffy white chocolate and macadamia cake from Australian Women's Weekly.

Works well with pancakes, over waffles or as a fondue. Note

Celebrate your child's birthday with this charming (and easy to make) butterfly display case.

These simple white cakes make an elegant wedding cake for an all-white wedding.

Try this sweet, spiced classic drizzled in honey syrup for a decadent but light dessert.

Well, this is one way to increase the kids' fruit intake! Be warned, these caramelised apples are dangerously delicious.

White chocolate, pineapple and coconut slice from Australian Women's Weekly.

This pudding goes straight to the top of the favorites list when it comes to classic winter warming desserts.

This exceedingly rich, decadent dessert is just the ticket at the end of a long dinner party with friends. Serve with coffee and lots of laughs.

Topped with whipped caramel frosting sprinkled with sea salt, this moist banana, walnut and coffee cake is perfect for a special occasion.

A decadent and rich dessert with berries, warm white chocolate and Malibu liqueur.

Pop the kettle on and enjoy a thick slice of this beautifully moist apricot cake with crisp macaroon topping.

It's a win-win for this slice with chocolate, marshmallow and crispy biscuit pieces the kids will love and minimal time in the kitchen that you will love.

Thrill the kids with these do-it-yourself chocolate fondue ice-creams.

The vanilla bean can be reused, wash and dry well, store in an airtight container or add to a container of sugar for vanilla-scented sugar. Note

equipment deep 23cm (9¼-inch) square cake pan 30cm (12-inch) square prepared cake board Note

These two classic sweet treats just got even sweeter, as they have merged into a fabulous fun cupcake.