Mix dried fruit, nuts, cranberries and maple syrup on Stir-up Sunday for this crowd-pleasing Christmas cake that improves as it keeps

Blend white and dark rum with lime juice, pineapple juice and a splash of grenadine to make this ghoulish Halloween cocktail. Garnish with cherries and mint

Our tropical, rum-based hurricane cocktail is easy to make and sure to get your party started. Garnish with orange and cocktail cherries for a kitsch touch

Combine vodka with peach schnapps and cranberry juice to make a classic sex on the beach cocktail. Garnish with cocktail cherries and orange slices

A tasty cake with no added fat or sugar - try it to believe it. Plus it's easily made gluten-free

Toast rice in brown butter, cook in coconut cream and lace with rum and raisin syrup to make this rice pudding. It's a world away from school-dinner versions

Make these decadent treats for serious lovers of chocolate. They make a gorgeous Christmas gift for family and friends – and they're surprisingly easy to make

Combine dark rum, ginger ale and citrus to make a classic dark & stormy. Once you've mastered the cocktail favourite, try our three twists...

Shivi Ramoutar's recipe for this classic Caribbean cocktail combines sweet and sour flavours for a fruity weekend tipple

A dense, dark and devilishly delicious cake, this will be gone before you know it

Pair dark chocolate and rum for this grown-up dessert. With raisins and a decadent, hidden layer of salted caramel, they're also completely make-ahead

This recipe makes the bottom layer of our three tier wedding cake or a simple delicious chocolate cake, perfect with a touch of cream

Make the foil parcels for these BBQ rum bananas in advance, then place them in the dying coals while eating your main – the perfect end to a summer barbecue

This dessert is dark and dense, but not so rich it defeats you. It freezes brilliantly too

Fudgy dark chocolate sponge, the perfect party cake, afternoon-tea cake or any-excuse cake

For big celebrations this cake is a must, four layers of moist sponge, lashings of chocolate ganache and the crunch of Maltesers

Plenty of fresh ingredients lift this simple mezcal cocktail to create a sweet, light and wonderfully balanced drink

Roasting a pineapple whole gives you the best of both worlds – the outside is hot and sticky, but the middle is juicy and sweet, making the perfect summer treat

Enjoy a springtime twist on a brandy alexander with a white rabbit cocktail. It's a blend of amaretto, cream, lemon curd and vanilla, finished with flowers

Looking for a spooky cocktail to serve at a Halloween party? With its bright green colour, this minty grasshopper cocktail will certainly look the part...

Lipsmackingly sweet and sour, the Cosmopolitan cocktail of vodka, cranberry, orange liqueur and citrus is a good-time in a glass. Perfect for a party

Make a classic gimlet, combining gin and lime syrup, stirred to the perfect dilution with lots of ice. A refreshing cocktail to enjoy with friends

The perfect party drink, as it can be made well ahead, then brought out of the fridge as guests arrive – or serve it hot for a traditional winter warmer

Treat yourself to these moreish biscotti or box up as a gift. This twist adds espresso to the mix, enhancing the creamy richness of the chocolate

An elegant vodka-based drink that'll wow your guests - it's made with creamy advocaat liqueur and homemade fruit syrup

Keep your party guests content with this creamy, fruity drink with Malibu, coconut milk, pineapple and mango juice

Bake this cake as a centrepiece dessert when entertaining. It's sure to go down a storm with its stunning pineapple design and sunny Caribbean flavours

Warm up in winter with a glass of fabulously decadent cinnamon butter rum. It's the perfect tipple to enjoy at a festive gathering over the Christmas season

This classic retro starter packed with juicy prawns will never go out of fashion

This clever cocktail packs all the classic flavours of spiced, fruity mincemeat into a perfect Christmas party cocktail