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

You need a 7cm (2¾-inch) and a 5cm (2-inch) starshaped cutter. It’s best to use food colouring pastes rather than liquids. Roll, cut and bake one portion of dough at a time. While those biscuits are cooking , roll and cut the next batch, ready for the oven. 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, […]

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

Keeping time: 4 days. 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

Sugar flowers of many shapes, sizes and colours can be bought from most supermarkets and cake decorating shops. Note

For this recipe you need 1 large pomegranate (375g). 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

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.

This recipe also makes 12 standard muffins (⅓-cup/80ml capacity holes). Bake cakes for 20 minutes. Note

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 […]

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

Kids love funny faces so Merv is bound to create peals of merriment 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 […]

recipe best made just before serving microwave not suitable Note

17 paddle pop sticks halved crossways are 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 […]

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. […]

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: 2 x 12-hole (2-tablespoons/40ml) deep flat-based patty pans 24 standard paper cases (brown) 40cm-square prepared cake board decorations white and black decorating gel The recipe makes 24 cakes, however, we’ve only used 17 in our picture. Encourage the guests to bring their instruments, if possible, to a musically-themed party. A white board would make […]

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

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

Rugelach, while they can be eaten throughout the year, are a Hanukkah tradition. The dough is usually made with cream cheese, and the fillings can include fruits, nuts, jams and chocolate. Sprinkle the dough lightly with ground cinnamon for extra spice. Note

Use a palette knife to press dough evenly over base of pan. Note

This is a very quick and easy cake to make that only involves hand-mixing in one bowl. It is very important to thoroughly drain the pineapple, or else the cake will be doughy and heavy. Toasting macadamias brings out the flavour. There are two ways to toast them: spread macadamias onto an oven tray, toast […]

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

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

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 […]

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!

White ready-made fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes), silver luster and cachous can be found at specialty baking and cake-decorating stores. 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

Divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a long oval about 3mm thick. Note

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

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

You’ll have ¾ cup of the cake mixture left over, enough for another three cup cakes. Note

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

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

Velouté, a white sauce made from roux (a cooked butter and flour mixture) and stock, is one of the five “mother” sauces in French cooking from which all other sauces are derived. Note

You need two large (460g) overripe bananas to get the required amount of mashed banana. Note

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

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.

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. […]

You can use any flavoured jam you have on hand. Note

A delicious traditional treat.

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

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 […]

With a rich, tomato-based vegetarian filling and a bubbly, golden cheese topping , these buttermilk potato pancake rolls are our delicious take on Italian cannelloni.

Sun-dried tomato pesto can also be used. 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

Delicate and beautiful sweet violet cakes for sharing with family and friends.