This is essentially a shortbread but, when you add self-raising flour instead of plain flour, the texture changes and becomes lighter and more crumbly. The French call it sablé Breton so, if you hear somebody talking about that, you can give a knowing look. Serve it...

Often a ‘rum and raisin’ recipe will ask for rum essence but it’s nowhere near as good as the real thing that we use here and, because of that, these biscuits have a bit more of a kick. There is a warning in the recipe which says not to overwork the buttercream, so...

Autumn brings an abundance of fruits, the flavours of which are greatly enhanced by gentle poaching. Damsons and quinces work well in this recipe too, if you can get hold of them. It’s important to poach each type of fruit separately, as they all cook at slightly...

This is not your regular muesli – we have incorporated a crumble into the mix which makes it a bit richer. If you do not have all of the nuts or fruits which are called for in the recipe, don’t worry, just substitute them with whatever you do have in the...

Our version of the nostalgic British biscuit, these make a legendary addition to any tea break. You can also try them filled with White chocolate icing or Salted butterscotch (see here and here). Or, if you can’t be bothered to make either of those, just have the...

This recipe has a neat little trick involving chocolate flavoured popped rice cereal; the kernels give an interesting crunch to the biscuits. Be careful when heating the chocolate, as it can burn easily. MAKES 8For the biscuits220g self-raising flour1 tbsp bicarbonate...

A little twist on a good old British favourite, as these are made with almonds and mixed peel. Although one of the more time-consuming recipes in this book, these are fun to make at the weekend and well worth the extra effort. The aroma as they bake is incomparable!...

Essentially a brioche recipe, these light, melt-in-the-mouth buns are great to make at the weekend when you have a bit more time than usual. It is a tricky and time-consuming recipe but, when you see the results, you’ll feel like a professional. The dough can be...

This recipe is gluten- and dairy-free and has a texture similar to that of fruit cake. It’s so simple to make and can be prepared in advance for the week. There do seem to be a lot of ingredients, but if you do a lot of baking you will have these things in your...