Sweet Things
The recipes on this page are sure to satisfy all your sweet cravings: cakes, bakes, biscuits and more!
Marshmallow Easter Eggs
Made from light, fluffy homemade marshmallow smothered in rich, dark chocolate, these Marshmallow Easter Eggs are sure to delight children and adults alike. The perfect homemade Easter treat.
New Zealand Afghan Biscuits (Cookies)
New Zealand Afghan Biscuits are crunchy chocolate and cornflake cookies, covered with melt-in-the-mouth chocolate icing and topped with a walnut half. A classic or the NZ kitchen, these sweet treats are loved by old and young alike.
Raspberry and Almond Cake
The perfect tea-time treat, Raspberry and Almond cake has a nutty crunch and bright pops of berry flavour. Quick and easy to make, this cake lasts for several days and is delicious warm or cold.
New Zealand Peanut Brownies
Soft, chewy, salty and chocolatey, New Zealand Peanut Brownie cookies are quick to make and utterly moreish. One cookie is never enough! A Kiwi classic recipe.
French Vanilla Custard Tart
French Vanilla Custard Tart or Flan Parisiene is a heavenly treat made with creamy egg custard and tender pastry. My easy recipe will show you how to make this tempting sweet at home.
Raspberry and Almond Friands
Raspberry and Almond Friands must be one of Australia’s best-kept culinary secrets. These incredibly delicious little almond cakes are one of the most popular sweet treats sold in Australian cafes and are perfect with a strong cup of coffee or afternoon tea.
Eierlikör Linzer Cookies
These perfectly crumbly Eierlikör Linzer Cookies are filled with Advocaat spiked pastry cream. They make a delicious addition to your Christmas baking, especially served with a big mug of eggnog or Glühwein!
Candied Orange Peel
Candied Orange Peel makes a great gift (especially when coated in lashings of dark chocolate). It’s easy to make at home and a great way to turn orange peel (which would usually be tossed out), into a tasty candy.
Classic British Christmas Cake
Even though I grew up on the other side of the world in New Zealand, it wouldn’t be Christmas Day without a Classic British Christmas Cake. This dense and sweet cake, packed with dried fruit, spices and plenty of brandy is an absolute must for the festive season and is something I look forward to every year.
Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti
Crisp, nutty and deeply chocolatey, my Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti are so simple to make and absolutely irresistible! This classic Italian cookie (known as Cantucci in the motherland) is ideal for Christmas baking and makes a perfect edible gift.
Fried Apple Rings (Apfelkücherl)
Sweet, juicy and fragrant with a cinnamon sugar coating, Fried Apple Rings or Apfelkücherl are one of my favourite German Christmas market treats. You don’t have to stand around in the snow to enjoy them though, with my simple batter they are super easy to prepare at home.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Crumbly, zesty and utterly delightful, my Lemon Shortbread Cookies are like a burst of sunshine on a winter’s day. These buttery cookies make the perfect gift for lemon lovers and are delicious alongside a cup of coffee or afternoon tea.
Cinnamon Star Cookies (Zimtsterne)
The ultimate German Christmas cookie, Zimtsterne or Cinnamon Star Cookies are deliciously chewy morsels, topped with a crisp layer of snowy white meringue.
Super Fluffy Donut Holes (Quarkbällchen)
Super light and fluffy on the inside and crisp and sugary on the outside, my German-style Donut holes or Quarkbällchen recipe is so easy it’s like kitchen magic. Made without yeast, they are ready in minutes. Perfect for parties or sharing with friends (or just eating all to yourself!)
Käsekuchen – German Cheesecake
Perfectly tangy, light and fluffy, a traditional German cheesecake or ‘Käsekuchen’ is a true baker’s delight. My tried and tested recipe works every time and is ideal for serving with coffee or as a dessert.
Lemon Ricotta Cake
Light and airy, my Italian-inspired Lemon Ricotta Cake makes a lovely, simple treat after a meal. With a delicate, creamy, fluffy texture and a fresh, lemony kick, it’s hard to stop and just one slice! (And let’s face it, one piece is never enough!)
Nussecken (German Nut Corners)
Nussecken or Nut Corners are a famous German Christmas time treat made from a buttery shortbread base, topped with apricot jam and a layer of caramelized hazelnut. After baking, they are sliced into triangles, and the corners are dipped in delicious dark chocolate. Let me tell you, they are completely irresistible!
Chocolate Hazelnut Babka
With layers of sweet yeast dough, lavishly smothered with chocolate and studded with crunchy hazelnuts, my Chocolate Hazelnut Babka is completely irresistible.
Easy Homemade Marzipan
My Homemade Marzipan recipe is super easy and tastes miles better than store-bought. This eggless, no-bake recipe comes together in minutes with just three ingredients. Perfect for Christmas time, fruit cakes, cookies, marzipan candy and more.
German Dominosteine Chocolates
Dominosteine are a traditional German Christmas praline made from layered gingerbread, fruit jelly and marzipan, all coated in a luscious layer of rich dark chocolate. These delicious treats are fun to make at home and are so tasty!
Soft Honey Vanilla Caramels
Lusciously soft, chewy and gently flavoured with a hint of honey, Honey Vanilla Caramels are pure pleasure. Homemade candy is easier to make than you might think!
Traditional German Christmas Stollen
German Christmas Stollen is always a real treat during the holiday season. Made from an enriched yeast dough, loaded with rum-soaked fruit and candied peel, Stollen is delicious served with a cup of coffee or a warming mug of Glühwein.
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
With perfect spirals of chocolate and vanilla, my melt-in-the-mouth Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies are as good to look at as they are to eat. Made from crumbly, buttery shortbread they make a perfect and beautiful Christmas gift, though they are delicious any time of year!
German Butter Cake (Butterkuchen)
German Butter Cake or Butterkuchen is like a big, soft hug from a German grandmother. This old-fashioned bake is made from an enriched yeast dough, topped with loads of butter, sugar and sliced almonds – and let me tell you, one slice is NEVER enough! Perfect to serve for Kaffee und Kuchen.
German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich)
Made from sweet yeast dough, vanilla custard cream and a crunchy honey almond topping – it can only be a Classic German Bienenstich or Bee Sting Cake. This most beloved of German cakes is perfect for afternoon tea and will surely have you coming back for more.
Easy German Apple Cake
My easy German Apple Cake recipe is a tried and tested family favourite. Known as Versunkener Apfelkuchen (sunken apple cake) around these parts, this traditional cake is very popular and totally delicious.
Homemade Chocolate Popsicles
Forget the ice cream truck! You won’t believe how easy it is to make the most DELICIOUS Creamy Chocolate Popsicles at home with just 2 ingredients. The perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, this delicious treat is so easy. The hardest part is waiting for your homemade fudgesicles to freeze!
Fresh Blueberry Pie
With sweet, plump summer blueberries encased in a flaky all-butter pie pastry, my recipe for Fresh Blueberry Pie is always a winner. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for guaranteed smiles at the table.
German Blueberry Streusel Cake
Packed with sweet summer blueberries, a hint of lemon and topped with gloriously buttery streusel, my German Blueberry Coffee Cake is incredibly delicious and simple to make. Perfect for a special occasion or just for snacking. Serve this sweet treat with plenty of whipped cream and a cup of coffee. Yum!
Blueberry Friands
Blueberry Friands are one of my all-time favourite tea-time treats. Made with ground almonds and fresh blueberries, these buttery little cakes are always a crowd-pleaser and seem to disappear faster than I can make them! This easy recipe is all made by hand, so no mixer is required.
Elderflower Cordial (with just 3 ingredients!)
Sweet, floral and so refreshing, my 3 Ingredient Elderflower Cordial recipe is simple to make. This delicious syrup is perfect for cool drinks on hot summer days.
Union Jack Sponge Cake (Coronation Cake)
My Union Jack Sponge Cake is the perfect cake to celebrate the Coronation! This gorgeous tray-bake is made from layers of light and fluffy sponge, rich custard cream and loads of fresh berries. Ideal for garden parties and feeding a crowd.
Simple Lemon Bundt Cake
My Simple Lemon Bundt Cake is bursting with fresh, citrus flavour. Made with yoghurt and oil, it has a soft and tender crumb. Perfect for coffee or morning tea!
Hot Cross Buns
Deliciously sweet and sticky, my easy Hot Cross Buns recipe is perfect for baking this Easter. Serve generously slathered with salted butter.
Krapfen – German Carnival Donuts
Light and fluffy, Krapfen or German Carnival Donuts are filled with jam and dusted with sugar. The perfect carnival treat and so delicious!
Old Fashioned Cherry Cake
My Old Fashioned Cherry Cake is a lovely, dense, rustic cake, full of deliciously tart sour cherries. Perfect for afternoon tea or to pack for a summer picnic.
Double Chocolate Lava Cakes
My foolproof, restaurant-quality recipe for Double Chocolate Lava Cakes gives perfect results every time! Perfect for date night!
German Strawberry Cream Torte
A light and airy sponge cake, filled and topped with whipped cream, quark or yoghurt and juicy, jewel-like strawberries. This cake is a classic of the German kitchen and is the perfect cake for a summer party or end to a romantic meal.
Raspberry White Chocolate Eclairs
Sweet, light and dangerously tasty, Raspberry White Chocolate Eclairs with fresh raspberries, pastry cream and white chocolate are the perfect bake for a romantic date or afternoon tea.
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Moist and delicious, my Banana Cake recipe is a great way to use up any bananas that may be past their best. With a tangy cream cheese frosting, this sturdy cake is perfect for parties and picnics. Nobody can resist a second slice!
Easy Mini Berry Pavlovas
My simple recipe for Mini Berry Pavlovas with lots of tips and techniques to make sure you get the perfect Christmas pavlova!
Mulled Wine Cheesecake
My Mulled Wine Cheesecake is full of Christmas’s rich spices and flavours. A deep-red, almost black mulled wine jelly on top of a creamy citrussy filling with a deliciously spicy base. This fabulous no-bake cheesecake is Christmas heaven!
Speculaas – Dutch Windmill Cookies
Speculaas or Dutch Spice Cookies are a wonderfully old fashioned Christmas treat and so delicious! These light and crisp cookies are full of fragrant and exotic spices, perfect for the festive season.
Millionaire’s Shortbread (Caramel Slice)
With a buttery shortbread crust covered in gooey caramel and topped with rich dark chocolate, Millionaire’s Shortbread is a seriously decadent treat. This classic recipe is also known as Caramel Slice, and one piece is never enough!
Homemade Almond and Cranberry Nougat
Sweet and delicious, it is easier than you think to make homemade nougat. This recipe has no glucose or corn syrup and can be made with ordinary household ingredients. Perfect for Christmas gifts!
Apricot and Almond Biscotti
Biscotti or Cantucci are a deliciously crunchy Italian treat. My recipe for Almond and Apricot biscotti is so easy and perfect for the festive season. Serve with a strong espresso or a glass of Italian vin santo.
Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Crescent Cookies)
Possibly the tastiest of all German Christmas cookies, Vanillekipferl are, crumbly, buttery crescent-shaped cookies, scented with heavenly vanilla. Yum!
Torta Caprese al Limone
Torta Caprese al Limone is a classic chocolate cake from the Italian island of Capri. With a mouthwatering combination of almonds, lemon and white chocolate and a soft and fudgy interior. Bonus: Gluten-free! .
Cinnamon Star Bread
One of my favourite Christmas bakes is Cinnamon Star Bread. With the delicious flavour of cinnamon rolls, this sweet bread recipe makes a beautiful loaf to feed a crowd. It is also actually much simpler than it looks, relying on clever cutting and twisting of the layers of dough to achieve the beautiful design.
New Zealand Louise Cake
Made from crumbly, buttery shortcake topped with a layer of tart berry jam and crispy coconut meringue. Louise cake is one of New Zealand’s favourite sweet treats!