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....

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

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Crunchy salty goodness!

Makes 80-100 small crackers

1/2 c pumpkin seeds
1/2 c sunflower seeds
1/2 c sesame seeds
1/4 c black sesame seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp poppy seeds
2 c flour (I used rye and spelt)
2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and crushed
1 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 c olive oil
3/4 c cold water

Grind pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a coffee grinder or food processor until crumbly. Add to a bowl and mix in all the other ingredients by hand o...

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Great to make if you have any leftover egg whites or you can make with a can of aquafaba too.

3/4 c chopped (or flaked) almonds
2 c ground almonds
1 c sugar (I used coconut)
zest of an orange
2 egg whites

Preheat oven to 160C. Link a baking tray with baking paper.
Whisk egg whites until stiff peaks. Whisk in sugar and fold in ground almonds and zest. Take small balls of the mixture and roll into a little log. Roll int the chopped almonds and place on your baking tray in a crescent shape.
Ba...

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Z is for zucchini brownies. It's no. 26 of 26 alphabetical bakes! I've made a vegan version before and this is just as easy with a couple of eggs. I added my go-to vegan chocolate ganache, to make it extra special. You can make these in muffin tins or a round cake. Brownies are an excellent quick option for school or office bakes.
This is the end of my A to Z of bakes, a little Instagram project, but now I'll just bake with whatever letter I fancy. Keep calm and carry on baking!

2 cups zucchini...
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Y is for yoyos! Those classic filled shortbread cookies with a chocolate twist, aka melting moments. It is easy to make them vegan, as I have done.

Makes 40
250g non-dairy spread, or butter
100g coconut sugar or cane sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g flour (I used a gluten-free mix)
1/2 tsp guar or xanthan gum (if you're using g-f flour)
65g cornflour
40g cocoa powder

Buttercream filling:
50g non-dairy spread or butter
85g icing sugar
few drops of lemon juice

Ganache filling:
1/2 c coconut cream
50g dark cho...
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