Christmas wreath cake

Turn one fruitcake into two with these festive ideas – this one is a decorative holly ring with fondant icing (find the second recipe in ‘goes well with’)

Simple snow sparkle cake

This crunchy, sugar-snow topping is an easy way to transform a humble fruitcake into a celebration centrepiece

Show your spots cookie sandwiches

These dinky biscuits, stacked with buttercream and topped with Smarties, are perfect for bake sales and cooking with kids

Flowerpot bread

Baking homemade bread is a chance for children to get involved in the kitchen, and flowerpots just add to the fun

Medal cookies

Make these round vanilla biscuits, ice in bright colours, thread on a ribbon and give out as edible prizes

Five-spice mix

An ancient spice mix used in Chinese cooking that combines sweet cinnamon and cloves, fennel seeds and star anise, and tongue-tingling Sichuan pepper

Jerk spice mix

This combination of Caribbean spices creates a sweet and fiery flavour – you can add Scotch bonnet chilli to make it super spicy

Aromatic prawn & cashew curry

Garam masala provides the base spice for this creamy fish curry with nuts, green chilli and a tomato yogurt sauce

Garam masala spice mix

Garam masala is an aromatic mixture of spices, used as a base in many Indian dishes, like curry, to bring flavour and warmth

Ras el hanout spice mix

A North African medley of fragrant spices to be used in tagines, as a marinade and much more – add rose petals for extra authenticity