Baking

Light as air sponge layer cakes are easier to make than you might think. There are a few little tricks that certainly help though. Use room temperature eggs as cold eggs don’t whip well. Don’t omit the salt from the...

An easy dessert that makes the most of any surplus limes during citrus season. Ingredients 300g chocolate wheat biscuits -1 1/2 packs approx 110g melted butter 3 eggs 1 300ml can condensed milk A handful fresh mint leaves ¾ cup...

Mandarins, Clementine’s, Satsumas – these small sweet citrus fruits have a more delicate flavour than oranges so work well with creamy custard. This tart is easy and the candied fruit decoration is optional. Ingredients 2 sheets sweet shortcrust pastry, defrosted...

I use this recipe as a base and vary it according to what I fancy - plain, seeded, spicy and fruity... I feel that for the time and effort involved I should get a decent yield, so this recipe makes...

This easy yeast bread recipe makes lovely savoury cheesy scrolls. Great for filling up the kids or serve with a warming soup on a chilly night. Ingredients 3 cups plain flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar  1/2 sachet instant...

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are a super easy treat and totally addictive. Ingredients 1 packet of Malt biscuits, approx 250g 2 cups icing sugar 200g butter or margarine, melted 1 cup "crunchy" peanut butter 225g dark chocolate 30g Kremelta...

Make the most of summer stone fruit in this easy tart. Ideal for using up whatever is in the fruit bowl before it gets overripe and no one fancies eating it. You can mix and match the fruit or use...

Lovers of this bakery classic will be delighted by a customisable home-made option. Swap the passionfruit for vanilla, or lemon or whatever flavour you fancy. Ingredients 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, defrosted ½ cup custard powder ½ cup caster sugar...

I often call these little tartlets my "anti Christmas mince pies", as they're a deliciously festive alternative to mince pies during the festive season (something to offer all the people who don’t like fruit mince) they're also are great with cuppa...

This slice makes around 24 pieces and a great way to use up surplus persimmons when they're in season Ingredients 2 cups self-raising flour 1 tsp ground ginger 1 cup sugar 100g butter zest of a medium lemon 2 eggs 2-3...

Makes 1 big loaf, or double the quantity and freeze one for later. The “hands-on” time for homemade bread is only around 15-20 min but it does need time to rise, so allow a minimum 1 ½ -2 hours, longer...

This recipe is a classic “boiled bagel” the brief plunge into boiling water with a hint of molasses creates the characteristic chewiness of a real bagel, and in order to retain the rounded shape and not create a flat bottom,...

Beer bread is incredibly simple to make. I like to rest it for ½ an hour before baking which lightens the texture but if pressed for time you can mix and bake immediately. Like scones and other quick breads its...

A really good cheese scone is good fast food, make them up in bulk and freeze for the lunch boxes, or bung a batch together to serve with soup, toss into the picnic basket or toast em and have for...

Red velvet cake has become very fashionable. The contrast between the cream coloured frosting and the striking red tinted interior makes it a serious contender as show- off cakes go. Buttermilk makes the batter very tender and I think its...

One of the first things I baked as a child – some people call them “children’s cakes” because they are so easy and quick to make, they are ideal for impatient eager young bakers. Rock cakes are a bit like...

Costs less than $1.00, requires literally no bread making skills and  no yeast. It's also ready in under an hour and makes a very tasty loaf. Best eaten the day it is made, soda bread is great with soup, dips or...

These crackers are really cheap and easy to make and almost too good – you may want to double the quantity. Perfect with cheese or as part of a home made gift hamper, you'll be ruined for bought ones after...

Roti are tender, versatile and very cheap to make. Use as a wrap, a tortilla, a snack or to mop up gravy. Recipe makes 8 but can easily be doubled. These roti are quite easy to roll so the kids...