Chocolate

To cut this dessert, use a large hot dry kitchen knife. Cut as many portions as you need, and freeze any remaining dessert covered with foil. Cut the dessert as soon as you take it out of the freezer, but wait about 10 minutes before serving. Note

Try this cheats version of a Croquembouche

When too much chocolate is never enough, take one more step over the line and there you'll find these decadent little triple choc muffins. They make a great treat for the kids, or for you.

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 dough is quite soft. If it becomes difficult to handle, roll it out, then refrigerate again until firm. Note

A slice of this rich chocolate torte sprinkled with crushed praline makes an excellent dessert or indulgent afternoon tea.

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

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

We used crème de cacao, but you could use any chocolate flavoured liqueur you like. Soufflés must be made just before serving. Note

The mousse can be made up to a week ahead; keep, covered, in the freezer. Note

Use lightly oiled scissors to cut turkish delight. You will need about 35 sugar flowers per cake pop. Note

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.

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

Creamy chocolate and refreshing peppermint - a match made in heaven. We've added some crispy ingredients to this delicious slice recipe to create a wonderfully indulgent dessert.

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

Truffles are a cook’s secret pleasure: they look splendidly impressive but are actually quite effortless to make. Basically a round of chilled flavoured ganache rolled in melted milk, dark or white chocolate with, perhaps, cocoa, coconut, chopped nuts or citrus rind, a truffle is refrigerated until it’s set then presented en masse or singly, with […]

Finished with a drizzle of melted chocolate, these nutty meringue sticks are excellent served with coffee.

Spiced honey muffins with chocolate chunks are topped with whipped cream and toffee bar shards in this decadent recipe.

White Christmas is taken to the next level with these sweet treats in the shape of mini Christmas trees.

Our fluffy buttermilk chocolate pancakes are for true chocolate-lovers only! Topped with a homemade thick and creamy chocolate custard and fresh raspberries, it's the ultimate chocoholics' dessert.

Decorate cake pops on the day of serving. Note

A light and creamy guilt-free chocolate mousse, for those times when you really want to treat yourself without over-indulgence.

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

These mousse-like layers have a light, delectable texture and are full of creamy flavours.

Accurately named in French as crème brûlée literally meaning 'burnt cream', this fabulous dessert is oozing goodness under that crunchy top.

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

Chewy, rich and gorgeously lush, these fudgy chocolate, cherry and coconut cookies are perfect served with a strong cup of coffee.

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

The whole orange at the heart of this jaffa steamed pudding perfumes the entire dish as it cooks.

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

Serve accompanied by fresh raspberries. Note

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.

Eating gluten-free doesn't mean your baking days are over! These gluten-free chocolate fudge brownies are dense, chocolatey and immensely satisfying.

Store bonbon s in an airtight container in th e fridge for up to 1 week. Use a good-quality da rk chocolate; one with 70% coco a (cacao) would suit this recipe . If you don’t have a silicone pan, turn this recipe into a trendy `rocky road’. Melt the chocolate and mix with the […]

Serve these rum-spiked chocolate cake pops at your next cocktail party and watch as they quickly disappear.

This spectacular layered chocolate cake with candied oranges is the perfect way to mark a special occasion.

These treats are best served while warm. Note

The kids will adore these little white chocolate cups with strawberries and fruche. For a more adult version, leave out the fruche and dip the strawberries in white chocolate before arranging them in the cups.

Packed with chopped dates, chocolate chips and chopped pistachios, these not-too-sweet muffins make a tasty morning or afternoon treat.

There are many flavours in this exquisite chocolate winter pudding, lavender, honey, chocolate and orange, that mingle and flow together to create something rather beautiful.

Delicious and divinely pretty, these Turkish delight cupcakes are an exquisite treat to make for an afternoon tea party or any other elegant celebration.

There's only one way to make a custard tart even better, and that's to add chocolate.

A bowl of these divine little frozen raspberry truffles makes for a visually arresting dessert that's as gorgeous to eat as it is to look at.

Delight your loved ones at Easter time or just as a special dessert with these white chocolate and passionfruit mousse eggs.

Make this rich, dark chocolatey cake once and it's guaranteed to become a favourite.

Nutty brownies are the best brownies, and these pecan and chocolate brownies are right at the top of the pile. Pecans mild flavour and soft texture makes them ideal for baking.

Sweet and tart, fruity and creamy, this dessert is a taste sensation that will impress any guest.

There's nothing like a piece of homemade rocky road, and the best thing is that you can play around with the ingredients, adding more or less of your favourite bits or choosing to use a different type of nut.

Now an established classic in the honour roll of great cookie recipes, these white chocolate and macadamia cookies are crisp on the edges and deliciously chewy inside. The perfect mid-afternoon indulgence.

This recipe is best made close to serving. Note

Temper the sweetness of caramel slice by adding a layer of delicious hazelnuts.

This delicious, layered nutty chocolate and coffee ice-cream cake is topped with a layer of tender pistachios and toffee coated almonds. An altogether grown-up take on the classic ice-cream cake.

You'll only need one slice of this dense, dark and rich chocolate mud cake to be utterly hooked, but you'll definitely want more. Just to be sure.

This chocolate nougat frozen parfait is incredibly simple to make, but is bound to impress. A great way to end a special dinner party.

This recipe can be made a week ahead. Note

If you want to whip up something a little bit fancy in a flash, this rocky road ice-cream is brilliant. You can make it as simple or gourmet as you like, we used Cherry Ripe instead of plain chocolate.

This crisp, biscotti-style chocolate almond bread makes a satisfying snap when you bite into it. Unless, of course, it's thoroughly dunked in your coffee first.

You can decorate these party patty cakes just like we have, or you can use your favourite lollies to make up your own designs. For a fun, if messy, party game place all the bits and pieces out on a long table, and let the kids decorate their own cupcake.

Choc-chip cookies are always a crowd pleaser and these mega choc-chip cookies will be hugely popular. Generously sized, crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle. Perfect.

Rich and chocolate-y cake, all rolled up.

Rich, crunchy, dense and caramelly, this upside-down chocolate caramel nut cake is a slice of pure indulgence. Perfect with coffee as a special afternoon tea, or served up to celebrate a birthday.

These mini choc chip friands can be made a day ahead if you're baking to entertain, and go down a treat with a cup of good coffee. They also freeze well, just don't ice them beforehand.

There are few more satisfying dessert experiences than plunging your spoon into a chocolate fondant cake and watching the molten centre run out.

Chocolate cake, while simple, can be the most satisfying desserts. And with a smothering of this rich fudge frosting you'll taste the decadence with every bite.

Sweet, rich and fudgey, these chocolate and macadamia squares are beautiful enjoyed with a mug of coffee for an indulgent afternoon tea or dessert.

This famous Viennese cake was originally made in 1832 by the grandfather of Eduard Sacher, founder of the Hotel Sacher, for the court of the Empire's Prince Metternich. The secret recipe was handed down to Eduard, who is responsible for popularising it on the hotel's menu.

Made from a combination of ricotta cheese and whipped cream studded with chocolate and candied peel and topped with chocolate curls, this Sicilian cheesecake recipe is a delight.

You can dip just about any fruit that takes your fancy into chocolate fondue, bananas would be a good addition, as would marshmallows.

Rich, fudgey and utterly decadent, the combination of chocolate and coffee flavours makes this mocha fudge irresistible. Serve with a shot of liqueur for a sophisticated dessert.

This very rich cake is perfect for the grand finale to a dinner party, and should be made ahead and served cold. The cake is almost like a huge truffle in texture; note that no flour is used.

You don't need to skip dessert on busy weeknights with this quick and easy self-saucing pudding. And there's no compromising on taste either!

Chocolate, lemon and thyme truffles

If using butter cream instead of vanilla frosting, you will need half a quantity of butter cream. We used a selection of small jelly beans, rainbow choc chips and M&M’s for the treasure. You will need 3 x 4-pack (460g) double chocolate chip muffins for this cake. Note

A super fast and easy recipe for classic hot cross scones with the distinctive chocolate cross on top.

We used plain un-iced Golliwog buscuits and an Aero peppermint chocolate bar in this recipe. Creme de Menthe is a mint- flavoured liqueur. Note

equipment two deep 15cm (6-inch) round cake pans 20cm (8-inch) round prepared cake board (page 110) or cake stand 2 piping bags fitted with small plain tube and small fluted tube Mud cake can be made two days ahead; store in an airtight container. Assemble and decorate up to six hours ahead of the party. […]

If the chocolate topping is too firm to cut, stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. This is very easy to make but impressive. It can also be served as a dessert with vanilla ice-cream. Note

This cake will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 2 months. Note

This king of the jungle cake will be a hit with young explorers at a jungle-themed safari. If the weather is wet or humid, chop the Violet Crumble bars and position them on the cake just before the party, as the damp air will make them sticky. You’ll have about 1 cup of cake mixture […]

Peppermint essence is an extract of distilled peppermint leaves Note

Delicious little French confectioneries that literally mean 'small oven'.