The First Baking Activity Book (Dorling Kindersley, £5.99) is a lovely book for first-time bakers. Here is one of the recipes – a Rich Chocolate Cake. The book also comes with stencils in shapes to help you decorate your cake. Serves 8–12Ingredients

Serves 6Ingredients3 eggs85g (3oz) granulated sugar85g (3oz) self-raising flour300ml whipping cream11/2 punnets strawberriesPreheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Using a hand-held electric whisk, whizz the eggs for a few minutes until thick and pale. Whizz in the sugar. Fol...

Creating these cakes is easy. Just make the basic sponge recipe (using the size indicated in each recipe, and in your child’s favourite flavour), then ice with a scrummy Buttercream, Chocolate Fudge Frosting or Glacé Icing.Vanilla SpongeExtra large

and a 20cm/8in round cake tin with greaseproof paper. Cream the sugar and butter together. Beat in the ground almonds and essences until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift the flours together, fold into the creamed

Makes about 18 small fish cakes – enough for 3 adults and 3 childrenIngredients2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2cm cubes50g (13/4oz) butter1 tbsp milk200g (7oz) cod fillet200g (7oz) smoked haddock3 hard-boiled eggs3 tbsp chopped

Pastel-hued and cute as a button, this super-sweet Duplo set is unashamedly girly and perfect for a make-believe tea party. The unique design allows pre-schoolers to create cupcakes, muffins, meringues or a full sized birthday cake from any

A fabulous chain of French cafés that has been around for 80 years with branches all over the country. They do majestic croissants, pastries and cakes, as well as a mean cheese toastie.For details, visit www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk

You can make these spooky red velvet cakes a day in advance but the marshmallow frosting should be made on the day of serving.Ingredients175g butter, soft250g caster sugar2 eggs, lightly beaten1 tsp pure vanilla extract½ tsp red food colouring125ml

Wooden Ice Lolly Set £15 from Great Little Trading Co.

Make these jellies on the morning of your party and then fill them with a gruesome combination of confectionery spiders, worms and teeth. They look particularly good if stored in small kilner jars – almost as if they are part of some mad scientist’s experiments which he has displ...