Squidgy, fudgy and “mmm”

By Rosie Millen Serves 3-4 | Prep 15 mins plus resting | Cook 35 mins 2 x 400g tins of black beans, rinsed and drained125g pine nuts150g cashew nuts4 garlic cloves, crushed4 sage leaves, chopped50g oa

Ingredients (Serves 4) 1 tbs vegetable oil 1 red onion, chopped 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp chilli powder 400 g can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 400 g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 c

■ Serves 16 ■ Prep 45 mins plus cooling ■ Cook 30 mins 140g unsalted butter, plus extrafor the tin100ml grapeseed or anotherflavourless oil200ml milk3 tbsp yogurt1 tsp vanilla extract2 eggs, at room t

By Francesca Bonadonna (plantifullybasedblog.com) Makes 20 | Prep 35 mins plus chilling | Cook 10-15 mins FOR THE GINGERBREAD COOKIES 113g vegan butter, softened100g brown sugar45ml unsulphured molass

■ Serves 4 ■ Prep 30 mins ■ Cook 50 mins 4 large field mushrooms4 tbsp olive oil1 garlic clove, chopped400g spinach leavesflour, for dusting1 tbsp thyme leaves500g block all-butter puff pastry140g sti

They all started out on different paths – from sales offices to science labs – but each of these professional bakers found purpose and joy in baking. Here, they tell Jill Foster why it has become a passion that continues to nourish their souls