Sugar

The mix of textures, flavours and temperatures combine in the classic king of desserts, the bombe alaska, to create a sensationally sweet dish.

EQUIPMENT 30cm x 40cm (12-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board You can use butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting. We used a variety of different jubes to get different shapes. Note

This impressive cake is brought to you by the classic Australian Women's Weekly birthday cake cookbook.

Macaroons will keep in an airtight container for about a week. Note

8cm x 25cm x 7cm (3¼-inch x 10-inch x 2¾-inch) bar cake pan deep 25cm (10-inch) round cake pan 45cm (18-inch) square cake board. Be careful when cutting the jubes as they tend to stick to the knife. To avoid this, dip the knife in hot water and dry it before cutting. Note

These romantic cupcakes are ideal for an engagement party or baby shower.

Try this gorgeous blue gluten-free cake for your child's second birthday party. The number 2 cake pan can be hired from cake decorating shops.

These preserved citrus fruits are great to use as a base for a whole range of desserts dishes such as pies, puddings, cakes and crumbles.

This is a great activity to do with the kids, as well as a gorgeous treat to make for them. Delight family and friends with these DIY Easter eggs.

Have butter at room temperature. Beat butter in a small bowl with electric mixer until very pale. Add half sifted icing sugar and half milk; beating until well combined. Add remaining icing sugar and milk; beat until mixture is smooth. Note

Completed cookies can be made up to 4 weeks ahead; store at room temperature in an airtight container. Note

Equipment 21cm x 32cm number 1 cake pan (see tip) 35cm x 45cm covered cake board. After turning the first cake out of the pan, wash the cake pan and rinse it in cold water, then dry, to remove any residual heat. Note

Any birthday boy or girl would spin “round the world” after this spectacular bright-coloured cake. Note

Makes about 24 Note

This burnt brown sugar ice-cream pudding with its crushed pistachio praline crust is simply divine.

These puffs are best eaten soon after baking. Note

Inspired by Aboriginal legend, this striking cake is distinctively an Australian original. Note

Little tennis lovers will rejoice in this delicious and impressive birthday cake.

Make your baby shower special with these delicious chocolate and orange cupcakes.

Thrill your child on their birthday with this gorgeous hot-pink dragon cake.

This cake can be made two days ahead. Note

This is an extraordinary cake, perfect for a special occasion dessert or afternoon-tea. The crisp toffee shards, moist little apple cakes and maple frosting make an exquisite combination.

This decadent almond crunch is a stunning accompaniment to hot espresso.

Swimming in a sea of blue jelly, this cheeky jellyfish will delight the kids.

The hardest part of making this cake is making the butter cream smooth on the sides of the petals where the cake has been cut. If you freeze the cut cake pieces for an hour or so, it will help minimise the cake crumbling.

This recipe cleverly combines a honeycomb texture with toffee flavours to make a fabulous dipping dessert.

EQUIPMENT 30cm (12-inch) round cake board, plastic sandwich bag, oven trays test kitchen tips If using butter cream instead of the chocolate frosting, you will need two quantities of chocolate butter cream . Use a variety of chocolate bars – such as Flakes, Violet Crumbles or Tim Tam biscuits – for the campfire logs. The […]

Any tart fruit makes an excellent base for a meringue pie, including pineapple and passionfruit, both of which would make delicious substitutes for the citrus we've used here.

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

No one need ever know that these delicious cakes came from a packet. Jazz them up with a few extras, and everyone will think that you are so creative. Note

Granny Smith apples are best for this recipe; they add a wonderful tart characteristic for a good balance of flavours.

20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pan; 8cm x 25cm (3¼-inch x 10-inch) bar cake pan; 35cm x 45cm (14-inch x 18-inch) rectangular cake board Note

This summer fruit dish is so quick to put together, looks good and tastes great!

These colours are so vibrant together and create the perfect sweet treat.

You will never want store-bought again after trying this delicious recipe for moist date rolls.

Praline, otherwise known as nut toffee, is a versatile confection and can be used in many ways, but it's hard to go past a sprinkle on top of a dish of ice-cream for delicious simplicity.

Fun and great for sharing; white choc-chip orange and cranberry muffins from Australian Women's Weekly.

EQUIPMENT 1 x 20cm (8-inch) cardboard cake board; 2 x 8cm (3-inch) cardboard cake boards; paper piping bag; 50cm (20-inch) square-cake board. We used ganache in this recipe to hold the larger drum in place as it sets firmer than the frosting. Note

Drizzled in sweet lemon syrup, these crispy almond and walnut pastries are a delightful accompaniment to a cup of hot coffee.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Note

You can make these egg-and-dairy-free cupcakes in either vanilla or chocolate flavour, or if you're catering for many, make a batch of each.

Studded with chopped up Chokito bars, these chewy chocolate caramel cookies are perfect for afternoon tea-time treats.

Deep 26cm x 36cm (10½-inch x 14½-inch) baking dish; 25cm x 40cm (10-inch x 16-inch) rectangular prepared cake board. Note

Brownie will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 4 days; in the refrigerator for 1 week; or frozen for up to 2 months. Note

Spoil your family and friends this weekend with stacks of these glorious buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and whipped praline butter.

Rum adds a grown-up edge to that classic childhood favourite, pineapple upside-down cake. Delicious served warm with cream or ice-cream.

test kitchen tip Use iced chocolate doughnuts as nests instead of the cinnamon doughnuts. Note

The difference between 100% corn (maize) cornflour and wheaten cornflour (cornstarch) is that wheaten has gluten, whereas 100% corn is gluten-free. The gluten adds height to the sponge and gives it a lighter texture. Note

EQUIPMENT 26cm x 35cm (10 inch x 14 inch) baking dish 30cm x 40cm (12 inch x 16 inch) rectangular cake board bamboo skewer. The grommets have gone a-surfing — even fussy teenage boys and girls will want to ‘hang 10’ with this cool pair of board shorts. Use a skewer to make holes for […]

If you can’t find Candy Melts, use white chocolate Melts. Note

35cm (14-inch) square cake board These cute little cakes would also be a welcome treat at a halloween party for younger children. Cupcakes should be decorated the day of serving as the Minties will dissolve if left overnight. Store cakes in an airtight container at room temperature. If you can’t find un-iced cupcakes, use iced […]

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

Check the cookies a few minutes before the end of baking time if they feel a little soft, but firm, give one cookie a gentle push with the side of your thumb. A cooked cookie will slide easily on the tray. The cookies will become crisp on cooling. Note

These grilled pears with vanilla ice-cream make a simple, elegant dessert.

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

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

Bringing your favourite confectionery treat together with a delectable baked good to make a fabulous dessert recipe.

Fun envelope cookies for special occasions like weddings and engagement parties.

Toffee apples can be made up to two days ahead. Place in paper cases and wrap in cellophane or use cellophane bags. Note

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

While the cooking method may stray from tradition, there are only pure, classic, mouth-watering flavours to be found in these delicious brownies. This recipe is an easy crowd pleaser.

Citrus lovers will adore these fluffy puddings drizzled in marmalade syrup.

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

A refreshing, sensational summer dessert with subtle spicy flavours brought to you by Australian Women's Weekly.

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!

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

You might have a few puffs left over; freeze them, unfilled. Valentine’s croquembouche Fit a large piping bag with a plain tube (or without a tube); three-quarters fill the bag with pastry mixture. Hold the bag upright, pipe the pastry into 2cm (¾ inch) rounds. Working quickly, use tongs or forks to dip the puffs […]

Fruit can be cooked a day ahead, keep, covered, in the refrigerator. Make bread topping and bake puddings as required. Note

Thrill the trick-or-treaters with these clever (and easy) Halloween cupcakes.

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

Also known as turón, these popular Filipino deep-fried bananas make an excellent dessert with refreshing coconut ice-cream.

These colourful vanilla cupcakes will be very popular with the kids.

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

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.

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

The word 'junket' normally conjures up images of politicians on 'work' trips in exotic places, or unappetising, lumpy bowls of custard. This dish is, thankfully, neither. It is a smooth, sweet, gingery bowl of goodness.

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 […]

When this classic French dessert is done well, nothing can beat its silky, cream texture. Don't forget to sieve your custard and remember to insulate with a tea towel so the outside doesn't cook too quickly.

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

This dessert is pure bliss . Creamy orange custard with a quintessential toffee topping. Note

Edible gift tag cookies are an adorable way to personalise your presents this Christmas - but perhaps wait until Christmas Day to attach them to your gifts.