Cracking festive recipes!

With cosy season just around the corner, try one of these tempting treats that taste as good as they look

■ Serves 8 ■ 20 mins plus 1 hr chilling ■ Cook 5 mins 50g frozen mixed berries4 tbsp golden caster sugar4 tbsp crème de cassisabout 250g madeira cake, sliced250g mascarpone500g fresh custard2 tsp vani

‘Almond, cherry and chocolate… what can go wrong? This tart has a simple sweet pastry base, topped with layers of cherry jam and almonds, then filled with a chocolate ganache. You can get cherry jam everywhere but people just don’t use it – they always go for raspberry or strawberry, but cherry and chocolate is one of the great combinations.’

Make something delicious for the weekend with these sweet, simple recipes

Why not take a cake to your next summer gathering?

MAKES 36 PREP 20 mins plus overnight setting COOK 35 mins MORE EFFORT V 300g green shelled pistachios2 tsp flavourless oil, such assunflower oil1 tbsp cornflour1 tbsp icing sugar2 x 20cm square sheets