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SNICKERDOODLES

A somewhat soft and cakey biscuit with a spicy, autumnal flavour.

MAKES ABOUT 26 BISCUITS

125g (4½oz) butter, softened

110g (4oz) caster sugar, plus 1 dsp extra, for rolling

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

250g (9oz) plain flour

½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

¾ tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

1 dsp ground cinnamon

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4.

2 Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the 110g (4oz) caster sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.

3 Sift in the flour, nutmeg, baking powder and salt and gently mix together to form a dough.

4 Mix the dessertspoon of sugar and the cinnamon together in a medium-sized bowl. Using your hands, roll the dough into walnut-sized balls then roll in the sugar and cinnamon mixture and place on two baking trays (no need to grease or line), each ball spaced about 3cm (1¼in) apart. Flatten them down with the palm of your hands.

5 Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until they feel firm around the edges.

6 Allow to stand for 2 minutes on the baking trays, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool.

DATE BARS

We used to make these sticky sweet bars when I worked in a food shop in Vancouver. They’re great for a little afternoon pick-me-up and much better than any bought variety. They are perfect for lunchboxes, too, and will keep very fresh in an airtight box for up to a week. They can also be frozen.

MAKES 16 BARS

250ml (9fl oz) water

200g (7oz) dates (stoned weight), chopped

175g (6oz) plain flour

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

175g (6oz) soft light brown sugar

100g (3½oz) porridge oats

Good pinch of salt

175g (6oz) butter, diced

20 x 20cm (8 x 8in) square cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4. Butter the sides of the cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

2 Place the water and chopped dates in a medium-sized saucepan and bring up to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, uncovered, on a low-medium heat until the date mixture is very soft and thick, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

3 Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Add the sugar, oats and salt and mix well. Add the butter and, using your fingertips, rub it in until moist clumps form.

4 Press half of the oat mixture evenly over the base of the prepared tin. Spread the cooked date mixture over this, then sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture. Press gently with the palm of your hand to flatten it on top.

5 Bake in the oven for approximately 40 minutes or until golden brown at the edges and set in the centre.

6 Allow to cool completely in the tin, then cut into bars and serve.

PEANUT BUTTER AND WHITE CHOCOLATE BLONDIES

Tired of brownies? Try blondies! These little squares are great on their own; eaten with ice cream they are simply sinful.

MAKES 12 SMALL SQUARES

125g (4½oz) plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

100g (3½oz) butter, softened

150g (5oz) crunchy peanut butter

175g (6oz) soft light brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

75g (3oz) white chocolate, chopped

20 x 20cm (8 x 8in) square cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F), Gas mark 3. Butter the sides of the cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

2 Sift the flour and baking powder into a small bowl and set aside.

3 In a large bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter together until very soft. Add the sugar, egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and the chopped chocolate and mix to form a dough.

4 Place the dough in the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and almost firm in the centre.

5 Allow to cool in the tin, before removing and cutting into squares.

CARROT AND PECAN SQUARES

These are denser and richer than Carrot Cake. The recipe uses a classic cream cheese icing, but the cakes are equally good un-iced.

MAKES 16 SQUARES

175g (6oz) wholemeal self-raising flour

½ tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground ginger

50g (2oz) raisins (optional)

150ml (¼ pint) sunflower oil

150g (5oz) soft light brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

225g (8oz) carrot, finely grated

50g (2oz) shelled pecans, chopped, plus 25g (1oz) for sprinkling

1 x quantity cream cheese icing

20 x 20cm (8 x 8in) square cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4. Butter the sides of the cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

2 Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and spices into a large bowl. Add the raisins (if using) and mix well.

3 Whisk the oil, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, grated carrot and chopped pecans in a separate bowl, then mix in the flour and spice mixture. Spoon into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until springy to the touch and a skewer, when inserted in the centre, comes out clean.

4 Allow to cool, then remove from the tin and place on a serving plate.

5 Make the cream cheese icing, then, using a palette knife or back of a spoon, spread the icing onto the cooled cake. Sprinkle with additional chopped pecans and cut into squares to serve.

LIGHT SWEET SCONES

My friend Oisin makes these divine scones. He uses a very light Italian flour, but you can use plain flour if you wish.

MAKES 10-12 SCONES

500g (1lb 2oz) light Italian or plain flour

1 rounded tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 rounded tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp sea salt

125g (4½oz) unsalted cold butter, cubed (if you are using salted butter, decrease the salt to ½ tsp)

25g (1oz) caster sugar

1 egg, beaten

275ml (9fl oz) buttermilk or milk, plus extra for the egg wash

50g (2oz) caster or granulated sugar (optional)

6cm (2½in) cutter

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F), Gas mark 7.

2 Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar and salt into a large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mix well.

3 Set aside about a third of the beaten egg and combine the rest with the buttermilk, then add to the flour mixture and mix briefly to combine into a moist dough. Place on a lightly floured work surface and knead ever so slightly to bring together, then press or roll out to a thickness of 2cm (¾in).

4 Using the cutter, cut out approximately 12 scones and place on a floury baking tray. Add about a teaspoon or so of buttermilk to the remainder of the beaten egg to make an egg wash.

5 Brush the scones with the egg wash (and dip the tops in sugar if you wish) and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on top. Eat as soon as possible!

VARIATIONS

Cinnamon: Add 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon to the flour.

Orange: Add the finely grated zest of 1 orange to the flour.

Chocolate chip: Add 100g (3½oz) of dark or milk chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) to the dry ingredients before you add the liquid.

Sultana or raisin: Add 100g (3½oz) of sultanas or raisins to the dry ingredients before you add the liquid. I also sometimes add 100g (3½oz) dried cranberries or dried blueberries instead of the sultanas.

CINNAMON PECAN BUNS

These sweet, buttery and nutty treats are delicious with a cup of tea or coffee. Normally made with a yeast-risen dough, the buns in this recipe are made using a slightly faster method.

MAKES 12 BUNS

For the filling

100g (3½oz) butter, softened

1 tsp ground cinnamon

100g (3½oz) soft light brown sugar

100g (3½oz) toasted pecans, chopped (see Rachel’s baking tips opposite)

For the dough

375g (13oz) plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

25g (1oz) caster sugar

50g (2oz) butter, softened

1 egg, beaten

200ml (7fl oz) milk

For the icing

75g (3oz) icing sugar

1½-2 tbsp boiling water

25cm (10in) diameter cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 230°C (450°F), Gas mark 8, and butter and flour the cake tin.

2 First, make the filling. Cream the butter and cinnamon together in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy and then stir in the chopped toasted pecans. Set aside (not in the fridge).

3 Next, make the dough. Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon together into a large bowl. Add the caster sugar, then add the butter and, using your fingertips, rub it in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Whisk the beaten egg and milk together in a separate bowl, then make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in most of the liquid (all but 60ml/2fl oz). Using one hand with your fingers outstretched like a claw, move your hand around in one direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise) until the dough comes together. You may need to add the rest of the milk as the dough should be soft and a little sticky.

4 To make the buns, tip the dough out onto a floured work surface and dust with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until it is a 35 x 25cm (14 x 10in) rectangle and about 2cm (¾in) thick.

5 Spread the filling all over the rectangle, then with the widest end facing you, roll up the dough away from you so that it resembles a Swiss roll. Cut the ‘log’ 11 times to make 12 slices, each 3cm (1¼in) thick. Place the pieces cut side facing up, with a tiny bit of space between each ‘swirl’, in the prepared cake tin.

6 Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F), Gas mark 6 and cook for a further 25-35 minutes or until risen, golden brown and cooked in the centre. They should have joined together to make a lovely cluster of buns.

7 Allow to stand in the tin for 2-3 minutes before carefully turning out and cooling on a wire rack. When cool, transfer to a serving plate or cake stand.

8 To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of boiling water and mix well, adding another ½-1 tablespoon of boiling water if necessary, until the icing is soft but not too runny. Drizzle the icing over the buns. To serve, break each bun off with your hand or cut into slices.

VARIATION

Cinnamon scones: Instead of rolling up the dough and cutting it, you could make simple cinnamon scones. Roll the dough out until it is about 3cm (1¼in) thick, then cut into ten squares or rounds, each about 6cm (2½in) in diameter. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then dip the wet top into crunchy granulated sugar so that they are covered in an even layer. Place on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 230°C (450°F), Gas mark 8 for about 10-15 minutes or until golden on top and sounding hollow when tapped on the base. Allow to cool then split in half and serve with the cinnamon pecan filling spread on each half.

RACHEL’S BAKING TIPS

* To toast the pecans, roughly chop them and then spread out on a baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 230°C (450°F), Gas mark 8 for 4 minutes. Allow to cool before using.

* To reduce the cooking time, place the buns on a baking tray, spacing them further apart than in step 5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden on top and firm at the edges.

ECCLES CAKES

An Eccles cake is a small, round cakey biscuit made with puff pastry, filled with currants, sugar and spices and topped with crunchy demerara sugar. They are named after the town of Eccles, near Manchester, where they have been made for the last 250 years!

MAKES ABOUT 24 CAKES

300g (11oz) good-quality bought or homemade puff or flaky pastry

1 egg, beaten

For the filling

40g (1½oz) butter, melted

75g (3oz) currants

75g (3oz) soft light or dark brown sugar

40g (1½oz) mixed peel, chopped

Finely grated zest of 1 orange

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

For the top

About 2 tbsp milk

About 2 tbsp demerara sugar

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F), Gas mark 6.

2 Mix all the ingredients together for the filling and set aside.

3 On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry to a thickness of 2-3mm (¹/₁₆-⅛in) and cut into 8cm (3¼in) discs. Bring the pastry scraps together and roll them out too.

4 Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the centre of each disc. Lightly brush the edges with beaten egg or water and bring the edges together into the centre, ‘wrapping up’ the filling. Turn the disc over, seam side down, and flatten it slightly with the rolling pin until it is about 5cm (2in) in diameter.

5 Brush the tops with milk, then sprinkle with demerara sugar (you can dip the tops in the sugar, if you wish). Make three incisions with a knife, about 1cm (½in) long, and place the cakes on a baking tray (no need to grease or line), spaced slightly apart to allow room for spreading.

6 Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. The currants and sugar caramelise through the holes in the top of the little cakes. Carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool.

VARIATIONS

Mincemeat: Replace the filling with mincemeat. Place 1 teaspoon in each disc and continue as above.

Orange and almond puffs: Replace the filling with 1 small beaten egg, 100g (3½oz) ground almonds, 50g (2oz) caster sugar and the finely grated zest of 1 orange. Mix together and continue as above.

LEMON CUPCAKES

I love these zesty little treats with an afternoon cup of tea.

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES

125g (4½oz) butter, softened

125g (4½oz) caster sugar

Finely grated zest of ½ large lemon (keeping the zest of the remaining ½ lemon for the lemon icing—see below)

2 eggs, beaten

150g (5oz) plain flour

¼ tsp baking powder

For the lemon butter icing

75g (3oz) butter, softened

175g (6oz) icing sugar, sifted

Finely grated zest of ½ large lemon

1-2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

12 crystallised flowers (optional; or make your own)

12-hole fairy cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4. Line a 12-hole fairy cake tin with 12 paper cases.

2 Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and grated lemon zest and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs, then sift in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. Alternatively, whiz all the ingredients together in an electric food mixer.

3 Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, until risen and golden. When cooked, the centre of each cake should be slightly springy to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool before you ice them.

4 To make the lemon butter icing, cream the butter in a bowl with a wooden spoon or hand-held electric beater until very soft. Gradually add the icing sugar and beat into the butter, along with the lemon zest and enough lemon juice to soften the icing to a spreadable consistency.

5 When the cupcakes are cool, spread a generous heaped teaspoon of lemon butter icing over the top of each one. Decorate with the crystallised flowers (if using).

FAIRY CAKES

These are the prettiest little cakes for a birthday party or just for a special treat; they are also known as butterfly buns.

MAKES 24 MINI OR 12 MEDIUM-SIZED FAIRY CAKES

125g (4½oz) butter, softened

125g (4½oz) caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

150g (5oz) plain flour

¼ tsp baking powder

For the filling

100ml (3½fl oz) raspberry or strawberry jam (or make your own)

200ml (7fl oz) crème chantilly) or vanilla buttercream icing

Icing sugar, for dusting

Dragées (metallic sugared balls), to decorate (optional)

12-hole fairy cake tin

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F), Gas mark 5. Line a 12-hole fairy cake tin, or a 24-hole tin for mini cakes, with 12 (or 24) paper cases.

2 Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

3 Add the eggs, one at time, beating continuously, then sift in the flour and baking powder. (If you are pushed for time, and the butter is sufficiently soft, put the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and baking powder into an electric food mixer and briefly whiz just until the mixture comes together.)

4 Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases using two teaspoons for mini cakes or two dessertspoons for larger ones. Cook in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until golden and springy to the touch. (The mini cakes may take just 5 minutes.) Transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool.

5 When cooled, cut the top off each cake, then cut the tops in half to make the butterfly wings. Set aside. Spread half a teaspoon or so of jam on the top of the cut cake, then spoon or pipe the crème chantilly or buttercream on top of the jam. Arrange two butterfly wings at an angle on top of each cake. Dust generously with icing sugar and decorate with dragées, if using.