Big finish christmas cakes & desserts

By California Walnuts (californiawalnuts.co.uk) Makes 12 | Prep 10 mins 75g California Walnut pieces100g dried apricots100g dried figs, halved2 tbsp mixed seeds 1 Place 25g walnuts in a food processor

By Charlie Tomlinson (wildroot.kitchen) Serves 6 | Prep 25 mins plus chilling | Cook 50 mins FOR THE FILLING 1 tbsp olive oil1 onion, diced4 garlic cloves, crushed10g fresh sage, finely chopped2 sprig

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

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

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