Nuts about christmas!

Get the mixing bowls out for traditional cakes and bakes that will fill your home with warming aromas as they cook

Expect lots of admiring comments when you round off your celebratory meal with an impressive prep-ahead dessert

Ingredients (Serves 12) ◆ 140g dairy or plant butter ◆ 45g golden caster sugar ◆ 185g plain flour ◆ 50g golden syrup ◆ 45g each flaked almonds, sultanas and glacé cherries ◆ 25g chopped mixed peel ◆ 2

Torta di castagne, cioccolato e nocciole SERVES 6-8 Ingredients 250g cooked chestnuts150ml full-fat milk75g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids),roughly chopped50g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped60g unsal

SERVES 8 | PREP 10 MINS PLUS COOLING | COOK 20 MINS | EASY 10g butter, softened, for brushing200g plain flour, plus extrafor dusting100g polenta1½ tsp baking powder200g caster sugar1 large orange, zes

■ 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