SERVES 12 Topped with a chocolate butterscotch sauce, this makes a great alternative to traditional Christmas pudding. YOU WILL NEED 375g Medjool dates, pitted,roughly chopped5 balls stem ginger in sy

IN LIEU OF A TRADITIONAL DESSERT, TRY ONE OF HELEN’S FESTIVE ALTERNATIVES

Ingredients (Serves 8) ◆ 240g baking margarine ◆ 240g caster sugar ◆ 4 medium eggs ◆ 300g self raising flour ◆ Yellow food colour gel ◆ 1tsp natural orange extract ◆ 25g cocoa powder ◆ 125g chocolate

Scarily tasty goodies the whole family will love

THIS MONTH Christmas cake

■ Serves 10 ■ Prep 30 mins plus setting and overnight chilling ■ Cook 15 mins 4 tbsp custard powder2 tbsp caster sugar500ml double cream2 raspberry swiss rolls, cut into2cm-thick slices200g fresh or f