Covered in an assortment of lollies, this gorgeous yellow dragon cake is sure to be a winner with the kids.

With layers of almond sponge, raspberry mousse and cream, this spectacular cake is delectable and perfect for a celebration.

Use a cake mix that does not require butter to be added. Note

For a gift-giving idea, spray a bamboo steamer (available from Asian food stores) with silver spray, line with tissue and fill with little cakes. Wrap it completely in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Substitute brandy for Irish whiskey, if you like.

This lemon tea cake is made something special when you layer it with lashings of lemon mascarpone frosting.

Put the kettle on and treat yourself to a thick wedge of this gingery lemon and apricot cake, best served with a dollop of yoghurt or whipped cream.

This cute and colourful 'under the sea' birthday cake is perfect for little ones who love animals or spending time by the ocean.

Boris the clown is a fun and delicious cake for children's birthday parties.

Brought to you by the classic Australian Women's Weekly birthday cake cookbook.

You need to buy triple the quantity of the ingredients for this recipe. You will need to make three separate batches: do not double or triple this recipe. It’s important to measure the cake mixture carefully so the cakes are all the same depth. The mixture will be fine standing at room temperature while you […]

To keep the glossy finish to the frosting, the cake needs to be frosted up to an hour before the party. The frosting soon dries out to resemble cooked meringue. Note

There's nothing abstemious about this gluten-free chocolate cake recipe, especially not with the luscious chocolate frosting all over it.

The smooth, truffley mousse layered on top of a rich chocolate cake gives this dish a particular depth of flavour and texture. Perfect for a special celebration.

Did you know? White chocolate is not considered real chocolate because, while it has cocoa butter,it does not have chocolate liquor, which comes from the finely ground nib (centre) of the cocoa bean.

Plump raisins and tender pecans make this fruit loaf a great choice for breakfast or afternoon tea.

Try this delightfully citrusy orange flavoured macaroon cake next time you're asked to 'bring a plate'. The unique combination and texture of coconut and orange will be a sure fire winner.

Use any berries you like in this cake; they will all marry happily with the orange flavour. The mascarpone adds an extra level of decadence.

Replace toys with caramello koalas or teddy bear biscuits, edible flowers and lollies shaped like picnic foods, such as fruits, hot dogs and pizza. You’ll find lots of toys to easily decorate cakes in variety shops or toy stores. Note

It's not that hard being green... there's a pond, plenty of water, lily pads and a rainbow connection... Why, there's lots of fun to be had!

Fruity and fabulous, this cheesecake is perfect for picnics, parties or just dessert.

This cake is perfect for a first birthday party. It's quite simple to make, so you're not spending lots of time on a creation that probably won't be given its due attention by the birthday child.

When folding flour into egg mixture, you can use a large metal spoon, a rubber spatula, a whisk or use one hand like a rake. “This is my mum’s recipe, and whenever I go home, I’ll always find one waiting in the cake tin.” Note

This little extra-terrestrial is so likable that even a horde of hungry alien task force officers may have trouble cutting into it.

This teacake is best eaten the day it is made. Note

Cake is best made on day of serving. Not suitable to freeze. A slice of this hearty, healthy cake is a decent breakfast on the run or a reliable mid-morning pick-me-up. Note

Combine chocolate cake, chocolate custard and chocolate ganache and you've got this fabulous chocolate on chocolate torte, with cherries on top.

Celebrate your child turning four with this awesome birthday cake for car lovers.

Beat butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer until as white as possible. Beat in rind and sifted icing sugar until smooth. Whoopie pies are best eaten the day they are made. Note

We used a Granny Smith apple in this recipe. You will also need one medium overripe banana for this recipe. Keeping time: 1 day. Note

Don’t thaw the frozen blueberries before using as they will bleed colour into the cake batter. Note

The chocolate fruit cake can be baked in a 14cm x 21cm loaf pan, bake in a slow oven about 1½ hours. walnuts marry well with apple and can be used in savoury as well as sweet dishes Note

Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the ripeness of the pear. Store loaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note

Keeping time: 2 days. We used 3 bananas for this recipe. Note

These simple little strawberry shortcakes are made using pastry rather than shortbread, making them lighter and quicker to bake.

Show off your MasterChef skills by making this traditional croquembouche. You will need a croquembouche stand, and if you've got a silicon liner to help slip the finished tower from the stand all the better. It'll be worth the work to see the look on your guests' faces when you present them with croquembouche.

These mini banana loaves with muesli topping by the Australian Women's Weekly make a perfect nut-free addition to the kids' lunch boxes or even a delicious and nutritious breakfast on the run.

A classic teacake, the kind you hope to find on the cake stall at a school fete or church bazaar. Raspberry swirl cake is simple to make, looks impressive and tastes wonderful.

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

This plump, sticky fruit loaf is a cinch to make and simply delicious.

Be sure to remove toothpicks from cake before cutting and serving. Raspberry straps, cut into strips, can be used instead of red licorice rope. Sandwich the two cakes together with a little blue butter cream. Spread the cake with coloured butter creams. Insert candy cane into centre of red icing ball to make drumstick. Note

Keep things simple with this delicious, plump sultana cake.

Mango puree helps turn this classic coconut tea cake, and the coconut frosting, into a moist, fruity delight. Lovely served with a cup of tea or coffee.

Pop this one on the party table for an eye-catching cake. From The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook, it's sure to be a hit with younger children.

Filled with raspberry jam and whipped cream, these lamington-style cakes make the perfect morning or afternoon treat.

Buy small brioche from the bakery section of your supermarket or from any French cake shop. This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Ice-cream bombe mixture needs to be prepared at least a day ahead, keep in the freezer until required. Cake base can also be prepared a day ahead, keep in an airtight container. Cover bombe with whipped cream just before serving. Note

Fill your house with the warm, comforting scent of apple streusel cake.

Locking in the base of a springform pan upside down, makes it easier to remove the cake later. Blowtorches are available from kitchenware and hardware stores. Alternatively, you can place the tray of figs under a hot grill to caramelise the sugar. Note

The birthday child and friends will be thrilled with these individual tortoise cakes covered in chocolate freckles.

This colourful cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook is bound to be a hit with Mr or Ms. Two!

EQUIPMENT 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake board We used Tic Tacs to make the ladybird `trail’. Use as many ladybirds as you like to decorate the cake board. Use any critter lollies you can find, sour worms work well, or even use plastic spiders, if you like. If using non-edible decorations, make […]

None of are too grown-up for an ice-cream sundae. Especially ones that look as good as these.

Delicious and impressively decorated cupcakes that resemble dazzling kaleidoscopes.

Sweet, dense and nutty, this gorgeous banana, date and peanut loaf is wonderful enjoyed warm or cold with a slather of butter for a decadent morning tea.

This spectacular cake is topped with sweetened crème fraîche and candied beetroot chips.

A crunchy almond topping makes this delicious Christmas fruit cake different from the rest. Perfect served with a pot of hot tea.

The ganache can be made 2 days ahead; store in the refrigerator. When ready to use, beat with an electric mixer until it is of a spreadable consistency. Decorate the log with fresh cherries, if you like. Note

The crunchy cashew layer turns this simple loaf, into a spectacular sweet dessert or afternoon tea snack.

Drizzled in orange blossom icing, these dense almond and orange cakes are perfect served with a pot of hot tea.

You can substitute the same weight of mandarins for the oranges. storage Cake will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Note

Like a cocktail in a cake, this pineapple malibu cream cake makes a fabulous centrepiece for a special celebration. You can use well crushed fresh pineapple if you like.

Named for it's shape, this roulade is a filled cake that has been rolled into dessert perfection!

We used a blackboard as a serving plate for this fun spaceship cake. Get the party goers to create their own universe using chalk.

Trim and position licorice bootlace to outline the windows. Position silver lollies between windows and around base; position one silver lolly on top of the flying saucer. Trim and position blue sour strings to outline base of flying saucer. Using picture as a guide, decorate flying saucer with remaining lollies. Sculpt the cake so it […]

Mint Slice is a biscuit with a light, crisp chocolate biscuit base, a thick layer of mint cream and a smooth coating of dark chocolate. Note

A classic afternoon tea cake, this cherry almond cake is dense, fruity and utterly delicious.

You will need, Oven tray large piping bag fitted with 1cm (½-inch) plain tube. 8cm x 26cm (3¼-inch x 10½-inch) bar cake pan 20cm (8-inch) ring pan 30cm x 45cm (12-inch x 18-inch) rectangular prepared cake board Note

These teacakes are best eaten the day they are made. Note

Ensure the safety pins are removed before serving cake. Assemble cakes then, using image as a reference, cut out cake. Use a toothpick to mark out Joe’s features on cake. To make facial stubble, use toothpicks dipped in black colouring. Note

Decorate cake pops on the day of serving. Note

These miniature wedding cakes would make a lovely gift to hand around to friends at a bridal shower or engagement party.

To keep the glossy finish to the frosting, the cake needs to be frosted up to an hour before the party. The frosting soon dries out to resemble cooked meringue. Note

Top this dense white chocolate mud cake with a smooth, sweet ganache for the ultimate cake treat!

This dense chocolate cake is filled with orange zest, chopped walnuts and almonds. A delicious sweet treat for an afternoon tea.

In China, dragons traditionally symbolise good luck, which, along with this dragon, is a pretty nice gift to give as a birthday present.

To prevent icing from becoming too thick, keep it over a bowl of warm water. Prepared sponge cake can be used instead of the Madeira cake. Alternatively, you can use your favourite buttercake recipe ­ it is best made the day before making the lamingtons. Note

On a surface dusted with icing sugar, mould the balloon end from the reserved icing Dust your hands with icing sugar then gently mould the icing into a balloon shape When icing is large enough to cover the cake, carefully lift icing over cake using a rolling pin Using a toothpick or skewer, make small […]

deep 25cm (10-inch) round cake pan 35cm (14-inch) round cake board 1 toothpick 2 packets strawberry sour straps 2 rolls yellow fruit and cola wheels 6 coloured sugar-coated almonds 1 Twix Bar 1 mint leaf Make a hole in the side of a Twix Bar with a toothpick. Push one end of the mint leaf […]

equipment 31cm x 34cm teddy bear cake pan 38cm x 47cm covered cake board Allen’s Peaches & Cream and Strawberries & Cream can be found in Allen’s Party Mix. Note

It's the mixed spice, a blend of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, coriander and ginger, that makes this carrot cake so heavenly.

If you're in the mood for something deeply indulgent, you can't go past this moist flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake. As a bonus, it is gluten-free, wheat-free and yeast-free.