Oreo Cheesecake Truffles

When I saw this recipe on one of my favourite baking blogs, Brown Eyed Baker, I knew I had to try it. And I'm glad I did - the use of simple ingredients and an easy technique (crush, mix, dip) just makes the whole experience more enjoyable, and people will think you spent a lot more time and effort in making these than you actually did. The texture is smooth and silky, yet the illusion of a crunch is created with the taste of the oreos. And as my sister intelligently observed: "Hey...it tastes like cheesecake...and oreos!" These truffles would fit in at any party or special occasion, they could be given as a gift or eaten as a treat - whatever your excuse, just find one quick and make these.

Chocolate Banana Cake

Happy New Year everyone! What better way to celebrate a new year by baking something delicious? Enter: Chocolate Banana Cake. The recipe, from the BBC, comes with a streusel topping consisting of butter, flour, demerara sugar and pecans, though you could use walnuts instead. It is completely optional as the cake on it's own is moist and flavoursome, but if you want the extra crunch, make the topping as when I made this cake without it, I felt there was an element missing. But it's up to you. Here's the recipe that will not only use up your bad bananas, but will make you want all your future bananas to blacken sooner as an excuse to make this cake.

Mint Chocolate Brownies

A deliciously minty flavour makes these squidgy chocolate brownies different from all the rest; a brilliant variation and refreshing change which will most likely become a favourite among all who try them!

Cookie Dough Brownies

Who doesn't enjoy secretly nibbling away at the raw dough of their unbaked cookies? The person who came up with the idea of putting egg-less cookie dough on top of a brownie is, in my opinion, a genius. These are very indulgent - make them soon if you don't want to spoil your new year's resolution, as you won't be able to stop at one!

Christmas Cake

This recipe is from years ago, passed down through the generations. Follow the recipe for the cake then decorate after letting it mature for a couple of weeks. A bit late if you want it for Christmas Day (tomorrow), but you could keep it for next year or just eat it through the year. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Although I don't like peanut butter on it's own, I love to use it in baking. I also love chocolate chip cookies. A hybrid is born with this recipe: one of the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had, enhanced by a hint of peanut butter. Even if you can't stand peanut butter, chances are you'll love this recipe, just like me.

Oreo Brownies

Lorraine Pascale's Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies are highly popular on the Internet, with many people re-posting the recipe on their blogs. And it's not hard to see why. A fudgy brownie with the crunch of Oreo cookies...what could be better on a cold winters night, washed down with a hot chocolate? Perfection!