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

This adorable princess birthday cake is perfect for kids who love all things pretty and pink.

Equipment 6-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pan 7 x 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) mini muffin pans 1 yellow texas muffin paper case 77 yellow mini muffin paper cases 50cm-square prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) Decorations 85g packet yellow jelly crystals 400g packet Smarties 1 tablespoon orange sprinkles 5cm piece black licorice strap 25 […]

This beautiful raspberry and rosewater cake is perfect for a birthday celebration or a Valentine's Day gift for your loved one. Not only does it look amazing, it tastes utterly delicious.

store in an airtight container at a cool room temperature until ready to serve. Cake pops will keep for up to a week. Note

Use small piping bags without a tube or strong plastic bags snip a tiny corner from the bag for easy piping. Prepared cake boards are available from cake decorating and craft stores; you will need one 30cm (12-inch) round board for this cake. Note

This cake is at its best eaten on the same day as baking. Keeping time: 1 day. 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

If you can’t find dried cherries, use the equivalent amount of extra dried cranberries instead. Note

This pudding can be made a week ahead; store, covered, in the fridge, or freeze for up to 2 months. Brandy cream sauce can be made a day ahead; store, covered, in the fridge. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml), bake about 25 minutes. Note

You need half a 1kg (2-pound) can plums for this recipe. You can use fresh plums when in season. Fill pastries up to an hour before serving. Note

Warming buns packed fulls of currants, pecans and spices and topped with gooey honey and coffee icing.

Buy greek or lebanese baklava from specialty shops, delicatessens or some coffee shops. Note

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

This mixture will make 2 cups of mousse. Divide mousse among small glasses for serving ­40ml shot glasses will give you about 12 delicious mini servings. Note

Light and delicious French-style passionfruit and raspberry eclairs from Australian Women's Weekly.

You need 25 foil petit four cases for this recipe. Note

A lolly-packed party piñata that the kids will love.

There’s no need to cover the pudding steamer with foil or a lid because it is covered when the lid is placed on the cooker. Note

This cake needs to be made at least a day ahead. Or, up to 2 days ahead; store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

A gingerbread house that’s almost too pretty to eat, but try telling the kids that! Note

You’ll have about 1½ cups of the cake mixture left over to make more cakes for your party. Note

Moist and buttery.

You can buy sponge cakes for this recipe, if you like (preferably jam and cream filled). You could also buy a large meringue as well, to break up and use to fill and decorate the cake. In this case, you’ll need half the meringue ingredients only, to make the meringue sticks. Note

You need two medium pomegranates (640g) to get the required amount of pomegranate pulp. Note

These come from the Charente region of south-west France. The name generally refers to a nut-shaped puff from that region.

dairy-free gluten-free wheat-free egg-free nut-free If you have any leftover granita, leave it in the pan and cover it with foil before putting it back in the freezer. You may need to scrape the mixture with a fork again when you are ready to eat it. Note

Kids will adore this Leo the Lion birthday cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook. He is the King of the Jungle, after all.

This gorgeous layered cake is the perfect balance of sweet and nutty. It's the perfect celebratory cake to serve at Christmas time.

Delicious and chewy chocolate Turkish delights with the sweet scent of rosewater and the crunch of sliced almonds.

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

To make chocolate curls, run a cheese slicer down the back of a slightly warmed block of chocolate. For smaller curls, run a vegetable peeler down the side of a block of chocolate. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml); bake about 35 minutes. Note

Mad about marmalade? Then, this muffin is for you. Marmalades come in a range of flavours sweet through to bitter and everything in between. Try a bitter marmalade first, it teams so well with the almonds and the sweetness of the syrup. Note

Cake can be baked and cut into shape one day ahead; keep, covered, in refrigerator if weather is hot. Finish cake on day of serving, as per recipe. The remaining purple jelly can be used to make extra jelly cups. Young explorers will love this cake. The swamp is filled with murky (but delicious) jelly, […]

36 lollypop or paddle pop sticks are needed for this recipe. Push the sticks of the popcakes into the top of a cardboard egg carton to dry. Light or dark fruit cake is suitable, use whichever is preferred. Note

You will need to watch the sugar syrup carefully while it simmers for 5 minutes. It may be necessary to lift the pan from the heat several times to help maintain the correct temperature. For perfect results, use an accurate candy thermometer. 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

Any small jubes or jelly sweets can be used. Use lightly oiled scissors to cut the jubes. Note

Semolina is available from health-food stores and supermarkets. It can be replaced with 1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour. Lime, orange or mandarin juice and grated rind can be substituted for the lemon. Note

A classic treat from our iconic Test Kitchen.

These cakes are best made on the day of serving. Note

You will need about two bunches of rhubarb for this recipe. To spread the second layer of cake batter over the crumble, without mixing the two, dollop the batter into each corner first, then gently spread the batter toward the centre. Note

You’ll be prouder than a peacock when you present this cake at the party. The design is mainly in the placement of the lollies. Note

It’s important to use regular honey in the matzo cake, not the easy-to-pour liquefied version Note

A delicious and tri-coloured ice-cream topped with dark chocolate and almonds.

Allen’s Racing Cars and Pineapples can be found in Allen’s Teeth `n’ Stuff, Retro Party Mix and Classic Party Mix. Note

Ehh, what's up doc? This cake, for one! Inspired by our favourite wacky wabbit, Bugs, this kids' favourite - straight from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook - is sure to be a hit.

When you think the toffee syrup has almost reached the colour we suggest, quickly remove the pan from the heat, remembering that the syrup will continue to cook and darken during this time. Let the bubbles subside, then drop a teaspoon of the syrup into a cup of cold water. The toffee should set the […]

Even though small guests may not be eating the cakes they’ll love the look of a duckling-topped cake. Make sure the ducks are completely dry and firm. The drying time will depend on the weather; if it’s wet or humid, it could take overnight. The ducklings will take less time to dry than the mother […]

You will need about 3 large overripe bananas for this recipe; mash 2 of them for enough mashed banana. Note

A fun and delicious gingerbread man that is great for kid's parties.

This playful, and friendly, looking monster will keep the little ones amused with its bright, cheery colours and smiling face. Note

Peach & vanilla yoghurt fools

Kids love funny faces so Merv is bound to create peals of merriment Note

Equipment: 35cm (14-inch) square wooden cake board Smoothing tools pasta machine 1.4cm (¾-inch) and 4.5cm (1¾-inch) perspex measures vinyl mat fine artist’s paint brush stitching tool alphabet cutters paper piping bag. Although this cake is a labour of love, it’s worth every bit of effort. The strips of icing can be made by rolling the […]

Store in an airtight container at a cool room temperature until ready to serve. Cake pops will keep for up to a week. Use red Candy Melts in place of tinted chocolate Melts if you like. Note

Make sure the rose petals are chemical-free. Organic petals can be found at specialist cake decorating shops and some delicatessens. If fresh organic rose petals are unavailable, sprinkle cake with chopped rosewater-flavoured turkish delight. Rosewater will vary in strength between brands. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. If using rosewater essence, start […]

Pie can be made a day ahead, keep, covered, in refrigerator. A deep-dish pie with generous helpings of fruit – perfect after a Sunday roast. Note

These delightful little pastry treats mean 'little tubes' and are a staple of Sicilian cuisine.

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

17 paddle pop sticks halved crossways are needed for this recipe. Note

Neopolitan ice-cream could be used by dividing the flavours into separate bowls to soften. Only one round sponge is needed for this recipe. Note

If you don’t like heavy fruit cake, this light fruit cake may just hit the spot. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops Tiny heart cutters are sometimes sold as `aspic cutters’. We’ve scattered Allen’s Sour Rush Jelly Beans, Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania and Nestlé Melts White Cooking Compound around the […]

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

The trifle can also be served in a large glass bowl. Pavlova nests are commercially made small meringue shells sold in packages of 10 at most supermarkets. Note

This cake can also be made in a deep 18cm (7¼-inch) square cake pan. Note

You can use any flavoured jelly you wish. Note

The best French dessert of all time: delicious mini french éclairs with rich praline and smooth vanilla custard.

We used Grand Marnier liqueur in this recipe; you can use any orange flavoured liqueur you like. Note

Fruit mince is a mixture of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and candied peel, nuts, spices, apple, brandy or rum. It is used as a filling for cakes, puddings and fruit mince pies. Note

To decorate the cake in the same colours as pictured here, you need 32 of each colour. We used rainbow Mentos mints, which come in packs of three. The purple and green colours can be used in lolly bags. Decorate the cake however you like using all the colours, rather than the ones used here. […]