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. Note

Equipment deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 20cm (8-inch) square prepared cake board or cake stand small piping bag fitted with small plain tube Cake can be completed a day ahead of the party. You will have some cake mixture left over,­ use it to make cupcakes. Note

A light and zesty Italian-style dish that is a great summery dessert.

To tell if a peach is ripe, look around the stem of the peach, the absence of green skin plus a strong peach aroma indicates ripeness. If the skin is slightly green, it is not ripe. If peach stones are difficult to remove, leave them during roasting, they will come out more easily after cooking. […]

This Italian-style baked cheesecake uses ricotta for extra creaminess. The addition of mixed glace fruits brings another layer of sweetness you'll go mad over.

Equipment Deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 25cm (10-inch) square prepared cake board If the icing is set on the cake, you can attach the roses using a tiny dab of apricot jam. The ribbon is easier to tie around the cake if the icing is set. The cake can be completed about three days […]

The sponge roll used for this recipe has a diameter of 10cm and a length of 16cm. Note

Equipment: Deep 30cm-round cake pan 2 x 20cm x 30cm lamington pans 2 bamboo skewers 3cm, 4cm, 6cm and 9cm-round cutters 40cm x 1m prepared cake board Decorations 3 rainbow sour straps, cut yellow strips from strap Note

Ready-made brownies can be found in the bakery section of most supermarkets. Note

Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for an extra-white finish. Note

This cute and colourful birthday cake is perfect for young adventurers and little ones that love the outdoors.

You can substitute white wine, Grand Marnier or brandy for the red wine. Note

School would be much more entertaining, and homework much more fun, if we could all have pencil cases as delicious as this one. Note

40cm (16-inch) round wooden cake board 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board 25cm (10-inch) round wooden cake board 20cm (8-inch) round wooden cake board 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board 12 wooden cake skewers Medium offset metal spatula We used flaked coconut labelled `coconut chipped’ found in health food stores. Instead of making the ganache […]

Parties for budding artists are popular ­and this cake will get them in the creative mood. It doesn’t matter if these pots tip over, nothing’s going to spill. Tint the icing any colours you like, just make them bright. Lollies could easily be hidden under the glacé icing. You’ll have enough cake mixture left over […]

If seedless white grapes are out of season, simply purchase white grapes and seed them yourself. The high sugar content of this dessert will ensure the gelato remains soft and will not freeze solid. Note

Now we are six! Celebrate this auspicious occasion with this delightful sssssnakey ssssix cake, by the Australian Women's Weekly. The birthday boy or girl will be delighted!

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

Soufflés must be made just before serving. Note

A row of clown faces on a party table decorated with streamers and party whistles would look great. Pushing the “hair” into the cakes is a bit fiddly, and needs to be done about an hour before the party. You will have enough cake mixture left over to make about another five clowns , you’ll […]

Children of all ages will be delighted with a cake that makes one of their favourite games good enough to eat. Note

These peaches will keep for 1 week stored in an airtight container in the fridge. After 2 days, the liquid will increase by half, and the flavours will intensify. Make sure the fruit is covered in the poaching liquid. Keep any leftover poaching liquid to poach other fruit, or reduce to a syrup by simmering […]

You will need 2 x 180g packets of Allen’s Killer Pythons for this recipe. Note

To keep the coconut free of chocolate drips, spread out half the coconut in a tray and coat half the lamingtons before using the remaining coconut for the remaining lamingtons. This gives the lamingtons a clean look. Lamingtons can be frozen for up to 3 months. Note

Slice will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Note

Equipment 25cm (10-inch) round cake pans 35cm (14-inch) round wooden cake board Smoothing tools 2cm (¾-inch), 1.5cm (¾-inch) and 1cm (½-inch) round cutters fine artist’s paint brush We used the end of a 1cm piping tube to cut out the smallest dots. What a fun cake this is to have at a party -­ a […]

The cake pops are fiddly to make, but are well worth the effort. We used little sugar roses, bought from the supermarket, to decorate the wedding cakes. Note

You’ll need to buy about three packets of conversation hearts to get 16 pink hearts. Note

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

Equipment you will need to make this recipe; 30cm round wooden cake board, 15cm round wooden cake board, smoothing tools, 3 wooden skewers, 2 paper piping bags, 5-petal plunger cutter set (small, medium and large), vinyl mat, ball tool, and 2 fine artist’s paint brushes tweezers. The cherry blossom is the symbol of Japan, as […]

This bright and colourful lime curd, coconut and mango cake is the perfect summertime treat.

For this recipe you will need about 12 passionfruit to make 80ml of pulp. This type of cake is best made on day of serving. Note

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

Orange blossom water, also called orange flower water, is a concentrated flavouring made from orange blossoms. It is available from Middle Eastern food stores, delicatessens and some supermarkets. Note

Use a 26cm x 35cm baking dish 35cm square cake board. Cake can be made and covered with butter cream a day before the party. Top with popcorn and finish the cake up to three hours before the party. Be sure to remove toothpicks before cutting and serving the cake. Note

You need to cook 200g pumpkin to get the required amount of mashed pumpkin. Note

Serve this cake warm. Note

Hot chocolate flakes are usually sold in the coffee section of the supermarket. Note

This recipe would also work really well with apple. serving idea Note

Store slice in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

It is important that the chocolate moulds are thoroughly cleaned and dried before using. You will need to buy three 50g packets of Smarties. Work quickly while making chocolate numbers, as the chocolate tends to set quickly. You may need to resoften the chocolate in a microwave oven for a couple of seconds, if this […]

This delicious cake is both cheesecake, and margarita cocktail. For when you've just had one of those days.

Black Cats and vanilla Milk Bottles are found in Allen’s Party Mix. Pink and oranges Nerds are found in Wonka Neon Nerds. Note

We used the firm, non-astringent persimmon variety (fuji fruit) in this recipe. Note

Blow on the candles on this delicate and beautifully styled birthday cake.

This decadent chocolate coffee cake layered with vanilla mascarpone cream piled high with sweet syrupy marsala-soaked dates is almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

EQUIPMENT 20cm x 25cm (8-inch x 10-inch) rectangular cake board You can use a tub of strawberry frosting, if you prefer, place the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a small fluted tube to pipe the rosettes. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note

Although associated with America, the shortcake in fact originated in England and Europe. In England it was known as shortbread, until that name came to be used exclusively for the New Year Scottish shortbreads. Shortcake can be made a week ahead, assemble just before serving. Store covered, in refrigerator freeze shortcake suitable microwave jam suitable. […]

Golden, caramelised apples are the perfect topping for these light, fluffy pancakes. Drizzle with syrup and add a dollop of cream or ice-cream for a truly decadent dessert.

If you don’t have a candy thermometer, boil the syrup until it’s thick with heavy bubbles. Remove from heat, let bubbles subside, then reassess the thickness of the syrup. Note

The sauce is not suitable to freeze. Note

It’s important to not grease the tube pan, the cake mixture needs to cling to the pan as it rises during the baking process. Tube pans are large smooth-sided ring pans with small “feet” to support the inverted pan while the cake cools. If the cake doesn’t drop from the pan when it becomes cold, […]

Variation; for an orange blossom and mint tea syrup cake, omit the french earl grey tea in the cake and instead add 1 tablespoon orange blossom water with the lemon juice in step 3. Omit the earl grey syrup and instead make ‘orange blossom and mint tea syrup’. Serve the cake drizzled with syrup. Note

Equipment Deep 15cm (6-inch) round cake pan Deep 23cm (9¼-inch) square cake pan 15cm (6-inch) round prepared cake board 30cm (12-inch) square prepared cake board 2 medium piping bags fitted with medium plain tubes Tracing wheel 3 bamboo skewers Use any leftover butter cake mix to make cupcakes. The decorated cake can be completed two […]

If you don’t have an 11cm round cutter, simply use a saucer or bowl instead. Add an icing bow to the ear for a girly elephant or use a pretty ribbon. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. You need 1 sponge cake round and […]

This cake is good for a younger child’s birthday. Use any colours you like. Equipment 32cm (13-inch) square wooden cake board 18cm (7-inch) square wooden cake board Smoothing tools 4 wooden skewers Paper piping bag Tape measure Plastic ruler Pizza cutter Fine artist’s paint brush 5cm (2-inch) round cutter 4cm (1½-inch) round cutter 2cm (¾-inch) […]

A sweet, tangy and refreshing sorbetto that is perfect for a summer's evening.

Macaroons are available from specialty bakery shops and select supermarkets. We used ganache to cover the cake as it will set and hold the macaroons in place. We bought 15 packets of macaroons to get the 30 pink, 6 brown, 19 vanilla and 18 light brown colours used in this cake. To save money, use […]

Edible glitter is available from specialist cake decorating shops Note

The cake and persimmons can be made a day ahead. Store cake in an airtight container at room temperature; store persimmons in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

storage Friands will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 days, or in the freezer (without frosting) for 2 months. Note

Use a serrated knife to cut the cakes. These cakes will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for four weeks; the toffee will soften after a few days, depending on the weather. Note

This moist cake can be eaten warm or cold. Note

Store-bought sponge cakes can also be used in this recipe. Note