Nut

Originating in Italy, biscotti is a traditional biscuit that is mostly enjoyed with a strong coffee. A batch of these twice-baked goodies wrapped in coloured paper makes a thoughtful and delicious gift.

A sugar (candy) thermometer, available from kitchenware stores, is essential for this recipe. Yes, you need to get your timing just right, and making nougat can be a little fiddly, but it's totally worth it for the real deal.

These muesli bars are a particularly high energy food, great for kids on the go. Serve them up as an after school snack, or keep them handy on the weekends to refuel in between sporting commitments.

The beauty of this layered mango macadamia meringue cheesecake is second only to its delicate flavour. It takes some time to create but it's easier than you think, and your guests will love you for it.

As a side dish, or light and healthy lunch or dinner, try out this roast pumpkin and goat cheese salad. It's a perfectly satisfying meat-free dish, packed full of vitamins, minerals and flavour.

These striking caramel hazelnuts are really eye-catching, adding an extra dimension to this famous European layered cake. Perfect for any occasion where you need to make an impact.

Bread and butter pudding is as old as the hills and it's great for using up stale bread. There are many different ways of making it. This recipe is a bit of a departure from the traditional, with the addition of bananas.

These deliciously moist and sweet roasted hazelnut brownies are so rich you'll need just a half-slice with your morning tea to be completely satisfied. Save the other half for afternoon tea!

Originally invented in New York at the hotel of its namesake, this traditional Waldorf salad contains all of the original elements. Later editions include raisins and chicken, but we've stuck with the classic recipe, here.

Nougat recipes often require candy thermometers and exact cooking temperatures; this cranberry and nut version is much simpler. It also has a pretty stained glass effect and makes a lovely gift.

This classic Italian masterpiece never fails to please, and for good reason. Take your tiramisu to the next level by topping it with this magnificent hazelnut praline and you'll have your guests begging for more.

This is the perfect cake to serve at the end of an Italian meal, or with a cup of espresso when friends drop by in the late afternoon.

This delightful spiced ginger and orange biscotti gives a lovely Christmassy twist to this favourite Italian biscuit.

Try this sweet, spiced classic drizzled in honey syrup for a decadent but light dessert.

It's a win-win for this slice with chocolate, marshmallow and crispy biscuit pieces the kids will love and minimal time in the kitchen that you will love.

Finely chopped walnuts, hazelnuts or macadamias can be used instead of the pecans. Top each biscuit with a chocolate-covered coffee bean or an almond kernel, if you like. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

Full of hazelnuts, walnuts and cherries, this easy fridge slice makes a decadent treat with tea or coffee.

Pappardelle with silver beet, goat's cheese, chilli and lemon

Cinnamon, mixed spice and treacle combine together to give these cookies a rich, dark colour and flavour. Their crown of chopped walnuts make them the perfect treat for grownups.

Twice baking the choux pastry in this recipe will ensure a perfect result, and the addition of frangelico gives a lovely boozy twist on this French classic. You won't be disappointed, and neither will your guests!

Treat yourself to a piece of this nutty slice topped with milk chocolate icing.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

This recipe is gluten-free, yeast-free and wheat-free.

The classic combination of sweet chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts works perfectly together in this divine cake. Topped with an oozy chocolate ganache, this is indulgence at it's finest.

Served with chopped parsley and a drizzle of yoghurt, these spicy lamb pastry boats are fantastic for a party.

For a change, try filling the egg halves with Easter novelties or lollies before joining halves together. For a special touch, use coloured writing gel or fudge to decorate eggs with flowers of anything that takes your fancy. Find them in the baking aisle of your supermarket. Note

Zuccotto is a semi-frozen Italian dessert with a rich flavour and fabulous layers of texture. Often made with brandy or liqueur it also packs a little bit of a punch.

Grab a handful of this trail mix when you're hungry and after a quick healthy snack that will see you through to the next meal.

This creamy frozen dessert is rich in flavour, and most definitely a crowd pleasing dish.

These fruit and nut bars are easy to make and deliciously chewy.

This pretty marbled chocolate thins are easier to make than you'd expect, marbling the chocolate can be almost therapeutic once you get the hang of it. Avoid rapid cooling and don't put the sheets in the fridge to set, you want the chocolate to be set firm but not brittle when you're ready to use the cutters.

This pear and hazelnut bread are a delightfully fruity and crispy accompaniment to your morning or afternoon brew. They also make a lovely and thoughtful homemade gift.

This recipe is gluten-free, wheat-free, yeast-free and dairy-free. Note

Both crunchy and chewy, this easy no-bake slice is full of delicious fruit, nuts and chocolate.

These herby, juicy stuffed tomatoes make a fantastic side dish.

This delicious and impressive looking mandarin upside-down cake is a little tricky to make but is oh so worth it. Better still it is gluten-free so everyone can enjoy it. Use a microplane to zest the fruit for best results.

Cover macaroons with foil halfway through baking time if fruit on top starts to brown. You need about 50g (1½ ounces) of each glacé fruit. Note

The silken tofu gives this pesto a lovely creamy texture to complement its herbaceous flavours.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

You may need only half a clove of garlic in the dressing depending on the strength of the garlic. Note

Try this delicious Lebanese snack with a cooling yoghurt sauce and fresh mint.

It's time to jazz up the classic fruit cake to be enjoyed at any time for any season or occasion.

An updated version of the Armenian nutmeg cake, this cake uses different spices and is more like a slice having a cake-like topping. Any nuts, such as almonds, pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts, can be substituted for the pistachios. Butter should be chopped while still refrigerator-cold. Using a medium- to large-sized food processor or large blender […]

Rich, sweet and earthy, this hazelnut butterscotch self-saucing pudding is an excellent way to warm up this winter.

You can use a 300ml carton of cream in this recipe. Note

Make these delicious zucchini and pine nut bruschetta for a tapas-style tasty treat.

These crunchy Italian biscuits are irresistible with a cup of strong espresso.

This subtly spiced cheesecake is very festive in its flavours. Perfect to cosy up with in the cooler months.

These crispy, sophisticated pastry treats are delicious with hot espresso.

A timeless dessert, this super sweet sticky date pudding is served with an oozy toffee sauce to create ultimate dessert perfection.

We used a mixture of peanuts, cashews, almond kernels and walnuts. Note

Brownies are best made close to serving time. Sauce can be made a day ahead. Note

Soft, succulent and saucy, these individual self-saucing pear and caramel puddings are a fabulous winter dessert.

Packed full of fruit, nuts and all the good stuff, this is how you take out the stress of the morning rush.

A piping bag — available from cookware shops — is a really handy thing to have. They are easy to use, much easier than you’d expect, and make the dividing up of a mixture into trays quick and efficient. Buy a few different sizes and shapes of tubes — you’ll be surprised how often you’ll […]

Be careful to measure all the ingredients exactly, or too much or too little of some of the ingredients will affect the way the loaf rises. Note

Filled with a crunchy fruit and almond stuffing, these wholesome baked apples are perfect for both dessert and breakfast.

Plain biscuits will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Sandwiched biscuits will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 1 week. These bite-size biscuits hail from Piedmont in Italy, a region famed for the combination of chocolate and hazelnuts. Ground nuts lose their flavour quickly so, for a more […]

Filled with hazelnut praline cream, this stunning sponge is perfect for a special occasion.

fish option Grill white fish cutlets. Cool; flake into pieces. Top rice salad with fish. Note

Try this sticky Italian christmas classic with a chocolate and orange twist.

Ahh, biscotti. It's really a biscuit for grown ups. We've given it a little facelift here, and added some coffee flavour and toasted hazelnuts; hide from the kids and enjoy with your afternoon cuppa.

This salad takes the classic flavours of Provence and combines them to make an elegant and flavoursome starter that is still quite light. All the components can be made in advance and simply assembled when you are ready to serve.

There was usually a tin of condensed milk in the fridge at home when I was growing up and my guilty pleasure was drinking it out of the can!

Sharp feta and crisp pear make a fabulous combination with leaves, sprouts and walnuts in this sophisticated salad.

Drizzled in a toffee syrup and plump with fruit and nuts, this cake will be the centrepiece of your Christmas table.

Who can resist the decadent combination of hazelnut, chocolate and raspberry?

Warm and tender lamb fillets are dressed with a warm citrusy walnut dressing and served on a bed of crunchy witlof and baby spinach to make this delicious salad.

Buttered rum brazil nits

We all know that everybody likes parfait but with chunks of chocolate, nougat and a caramel sauce this is one parfait you'll be sure to love.

This rustic terrine makes a lovely lunch or starter. Serve with crusty french bread and cornichons (gherkins), if desired.

You can use orange juice in place of the sweet red wine if you like. Note

It is all in the title; delectable, rich and to add more, delicious and moorish. A great Christmas recipe.

We used Pedro Ximnez sherry, a dark syrupy style of sherry with a complex taste, however any sweet style is suitable. Note

You can use cognac or armagnac in place of the port when making this sophisticated tart for dessert.

Cherry Ripe is a chocolate bar filled with coconut and glacé cherries. Use a good quality ice-cream actual varieties of ice-cream differ from manufacturer to manufacturer depending on the quantities of air and fat incorporated into the mixture. Almonds coated in a toffee mixture are called vienna almonds, scorched almonds can be used instead. Note

Heady with Moroccan seasoning, this lamb with chickpea and almond rice makes a great lunch or light dinner.

Stunning and simple, this fruit cake tastes just like Christmas.

Use lightly oiled scissors to cut turkish delight. You will need about 35 sugar flowers per cake pop. Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for an extra-white finish Note

A slice of this dense, zesty cake goes wonderfully with a dollop of yoghurt.

Impress your guests this autumn with this simple, stunning dessert. The addition of thickened cream sweetened with maple syrup rather than the usual sugar is simply perfect.

Take one packet of chocolate cake mix, add bit of creativity and voila! A beautiful looking layered chocolate cake laced with Grand Marnier and sweet ricotta, decorated with toasted almonds.

This crumble goes well with custard. Note