The Bakinglady 

These decadent  little pine nut studded crisp/chewy cookies with a hint of citrus and heady almonds, hail from the south of Italy and the island of Sicily. They are a staple  in every bakery and are the absolutely perfect mid morning sweet treat with a strong cup of espresso or to enhance your festive sweets and treats at Christmas time...They make lovely little gifts, just pop into an airt...

I worked for many years as a lecturer at Blackpool and the Fylde college in Lancashire, from the beginning of November, right through to the middle of December the students would bake literally thousands of these delicious mince pies with a buttery, melt in the mouth Viennese topping. The last year I was there, I think we ended up baking over 22 th...

As my favourite time of the year rapidly approaches ( where has this year gone again!!!)  I start to plan and prepare my Christmas feast for family and friends and I  always create a special cake or cookie ready for guests dropping by. This year I decided on a luscious, creamy white chocolate frosting, atop a bright red, clementine infused cak...

I can't describe just how good this gorgeous tart is and is the perfect alternative to traditional mince pies at Christmas but its just as good eaten any time of the year. Cumberland Rum Nicky originated in Cumbria in the North West of England as a favourite of Sailors in the 1800's returning from the West Indies on ships laden with Rum, fruit...

Makes 12 large cupcakes

What you need

50g cocoa

6 tablespoons hot strong coffee

3 medium eggs

50mls milk

175g self raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

100g vegetable oil

300g soft light brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 level teaspoon vanilla extract

Frostin...

Makes 12

The first time I ever made these biscuits I ended up knocking the dried mustard powder everywhere, triggering a humungous sneezing attack, so rather than calling them something boring such as ‘seeded cheesy biscuits’ I decided to name them in honour of their first tumultuous baking in this world.

Perfect with drinks, they ...

I am truly fascinated by other cultures at Christmas time- or it could just be that I’m ultra nosy! And the food that is traditionally served as part of the yuletide festivities. I heard about this cake from Finland many years ago but was unable to find a recipe for it translated into English and unfortunately Finnish is most definitely NOT my second ...

Makes 12

Christmas is such a magical time with sounds, sights and scents evoking all that is wonderful about the season of goodwill.

For me it’s the aroma of zesty oranges the gleam of plump, ruby red cranberries and soft, golden apricots and of course all the beautiful array of totally divine chocolates, candies and nuts.

These Ch...

When I was young My Grandmother used to visit us at Christmas time, laden with our presents (normally socks and jumpers) and carrying a plate, covered in shiny silver tinfoil bearing the best festive treat in the world....Coconut Ice!

Christmas didn't start until my gran descended with her plate of pink and white, creamy squares of deliciousness ...

When I was a child I lived in Hannover, in Germany (my father was a soldier in the British army) and as a family we would visit the beautiful Harz mountain region. My overriding memories are watching colourful skaters gliding about on ice covered lakes and eating beautifully decorated soft gingerbread cookies, and to this day I cannot walk past the soft, warming s...

The North of England is renowned for its pastry, think Eccles or Chorley Cakes, Grasmere gingerbread and Betty's Hotpot but go further North and you will get to the Scottish town of Ecclefechan and their culinary offering the Ecclefechan tart. With its buttery rich filling, full of plump fruit, flaked almonds and a hint of orange they are ridiculously easy ...

Christmas is such a wonderful time for me filled with memories of all things edible and I can probably plot my life through my recollections of festive munchables. Year after year I surround myself with edible memories, hexagonal boxes of rose and lemon turkish delight covered in powde...

Tis the season to be jolly, get out the chocolate and make up some lolly... or two... or three...

These fabulous cake lollypops are totally edible including the sticks and just cant get any cuter, so get into the festive spirit, get out your mixing bowl, roll up your sleeves and have some 'Crimbo'  fun in the kitchen.

When I was a child my family lived in Hannover in Germany for a few years, and Christmas was just the most magical time.  We would wrap up in fifteen layers and venture out to the snow covered markets, and on some of the stalls were beautifully iced and decorated, hear...