A good, basic muffin that you can jazz up with icing and sprinkles for the kiddies. Ok, they look like cupcakes now but you don't have to cream the butter and sugar in this recipe.

1 1/2 c flour (I used wholemeal spelt, you can use oat flour or almond flour for other gf options)
1 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c water, plus up to 1/4 c
1/2 c non-dairy milk
1/4 c coconut or rapadura sugar
1/4 c maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c coconut oil, melted

Icing:
1/2 c dairy-free butte...

I thought the time had come for me to introduce the joys of neapolitan to our 6-year-old. Marble cakes are fun and a relatively easy way to make an impressive bake. I think I might try neapolitan ice cream next - yum!

250g butter, softened
2/3 c caster sugar
1/2 c rice syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
3 eggs
1/2 c milk of choice (or yoghurt or sour cream)
2 c flour (I used white spelt and wholemeal spelt)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp milk of choice
2 tbsp strawberry ...

1/4 c ground chia seeds
1 c hot water
1/2 c coconut sugar or raw sugar
1/4 c brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1/2 c olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 c flour (I use spelt)
3/4 c cocoa or cacao powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c desiccated coconut
100g dark chocolate for dipping

Preheat oven to 160C. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.

Put chia seeds and hot water in a blender and let soak for 5 minutes. Add sweeteners, oil, vanilla and salt and blitz until smooth.

Sift flour, cacao...

When the 6-year-old won't eat porridge or muesli it's time to make cereal a bit more appealing. Homemade cacao puffs are simple to make and you can swap out with any puffed grain or activated buckwheat groats.

4 cups puffed spelt (or wheat, rice, amaranth puffs)
1/4 c coconut oil
1/4 c maple syrup or brown rice syrup
1/4 c cacao powder

Preheat oven to 170C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Put the puffs in a large bowl.

In a small bowl heat or microwave the oil until melted. Stir in...

Biscuits for grown-ups! And a sturdy bite for dunking.

Makes 20-24
1 tbsp espresso powder
1 tbsp boiling water
225g butter
3/4 c sugar (I used organic golden)
1 1/4 c flour (I used spelt)
1/2 c cornflour
1/2 c ground almonds
1/2 tsp ground coffee beans
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp icing sugar

Mix coffee powder and water, set aside.

Beat butter and sugar. Add cooled espresso. Sift in flour, cornflour and almonds and ground coffee beans. Wrap dough in cling film and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour....

Only 4 basic ingredients in these cookies! Inspired by Wholefood Simply, you can swap out nut butters, sweeteners and flour and add spices or dried fruit if you like too.

Makes 16-20
4 tbsp almond butter (or peanut butter or cashew butter)
3 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup or honey)
1 1/4c almond meal
1/4 c dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
1/4 c cranberries (this is my favourite combo to give the cookie some tartness)

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a ba...

If you can't be bothered baking for Halloween, just have some fun with pretzels and chocolate.

Makes about 16 webs and 24 spiders
pack of pretzel sticks
250g white chocolate (I use Whittaker's)
250g dark chocolate (I use Whittaker's 72% cocoa)
1 1/2 c coconut cream
cocoa powder to dusting
cachous (silver balls) for decorating

For the webs:
Line 2 trays with baking paper. Make sure they can fit in your fridge.

Melt white chocolate and put in an icing bag with a small nozzle. Layout 6 pretzel ...

Easy to spook up these meringues for Halloween with mini chocolate buttons.

Makes 25-35
4 egg whites, room temperature
1/2 tsp tartar
1 cup caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
mini chocolate chips or buttons

Preheat oven to 100C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whisk until soft peaks form. Add the sugar a little at a time until the meringue forms stiff peaks. Finally mix in vanilla extrac...

Happy halloween! I was determined to make something vaguely healthy for the school's Freaky Friday bake sale and for the trick or treaters. This is free of sugar, gluten and dairy. You can also make it paleo by using almond meal instead of flour.

Makes 16
1/2 c coconut oil, softened to the consistency of butter
1/3 c maple syrup (or rice syrup)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
pinch salt
1 1/4 c flour (I use spelt)
16 blanched almonds
black food colouring (if desired)

Strawberry...