Love a flexible recipe. And this is what Jo Pratt is all about. Her recipes can be adapted to be gluten, dairy or nut free and vegan. I've been enjoying her latest, The Flexible Baker (White Lion, 2022). I usually make cheese scones but mushrooms are a nice change for a savoury bite.

Makes 8

15 g dried porcini mushrooms

4 Tbsp boiled water

1 1/4 c  / 175 g Tbsp oats

3/4 c / 75 g ground almonds

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp sea salt

1/2...

A delightfuly easy one-bowl recipe. No creaming, just mix!

Makes 24

2 1/4 c flour

1/3 c granulated sugar (I used coconut)

1/2 c soft brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

zest and juice of 2 oranges - juice simmered until reduced by half

170 g butter or dairy-free spread, at room temperature

2 eggs

200 g dark chocolate bar, broken into small squares

In a large bowl or food processor whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda and zest. Add the juice, butter and eggs and be...

Easy buns! For us non-religious types, why don't we make hot cross buns all throughout the year and just call them not cross buns?

Makes 12

500 g flour

2 1/2 tsp dried yeast

1/4 c caster sugar

1 1/4 c mixed dried fruit (I used mixed peel and prunes)

1 Tbsp allspice

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 Tbsp apple sauce

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 c dairy-free milk

1/2 c warm water

Cross

2 Tbsp flour

3 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp apricot jam

In a large bowl mix together the flour, yeast, sugar, fruit and spices. 

Mix in the apple...

The healthiest, fudgiest brownie you'll ever make.

3 Tbsp ground flaxseed

6 Tbsp milk of choice

2 cups dates, pitted and soaked in boiling for 15 minutes

2 Tbsp almond butter

2 Tbsp milk of choice

1 c flour of choice (I used ground almonds)

1/4 c cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 c milk of choice

200g dark chocolate, melted

1/2 c chopped macadamias plus 1/4 c

1/4 c dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 20 cm square tin with baking paper.

Mix the flaxseed and milk together in a small bowl a...

Makes 24

2 egg whites

1 c caster sugar

1 1/2 tsp honey

1 tsp vanilla paste

zest of a lemon, orange or grapefruit

3 c ground almonds

1/2 tsp sea salt flakes

1/2 c icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Beat egg whites in a large bowl until frothy. Add sugar and beat until thick and glossy. Mix in honey, vanilla and zest.

Stir in the almonds and salt with a spoon or spatula until just combined. It will be a soft ...

2 c flour (I used gluten free and added 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

110 g milk chocolate

140 g butter or dairy-free spread

1 c sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt

 3 eggs at room temperature

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c coconut milk or cream

1/3 c desiccated or shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 160C. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.

In a small bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and baking powder t...

Another easy ginger biscuit with crystallised ginger for extra chewiness and sweetness. Mary Berry's recipe doesn't disappoint.

50 g butter or non-dairy spread

1 Tbsp golden syrup (or rice syrup, maple, agave)

175 g self-raising flour or normal flour with 1 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp ground ginger

75 g crystallised ginger, chopped

1 tsp baking soda

50 g demerara sugar

50 g light brown sugar or coconut sugar

1 egg, beaten

Preheat the oven to 160C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Heat the butter and ...

I dedicate this to my friend who gave me limes from her tree. It's a lemon bar recipe but you can substitute with any type of citrus.

Makes 16 squares

Base:

160 g flour

50 g sugar

120 g cold butter or dairy-free spread, cubed

Filling:

160 ml / 2/3 c lime juice (about 8 small limes)

zest from limes, optional

250 g coconut cream

250 g caster sugar

6 Tbsp cornflour

few drops green food colouring (if you're using lemons you can add 1/4 tsp turmeric or yellow food colouring)

icing sugar to dust

Preheat oven to ...

This decadent recipe is by Dorie Greenspan (Baking with Dorie, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021). She calls it her Lisbon Chocolate Cake, after tasting something similar at Lisbon's Landeau Chocolate cafe. She says the three layers are essential to make the whole - a fudgy brownie-like cake, a whipped moussey ganache and a cocoa dusting.

1/3 c / 28 g cocoa

1 1/2 Tbsp cornflour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

113 g butter or dairy-free spread

142 g dark chocolate, chopped

1/2 c sugar

3 cold eggs...