We first had raclette while on holiday in Switzerland and it is a great cheesy party treat. Raclette is a Swiss take on fondue, whereby you melt cheese onto a variety of vegetables, most commonly potatoes (or you can use bread). Tefal have created a

Ready Steady Party by Lucy Broadhurst (Murdoch Books, £12.99) is jam-packed with ideas for different party themes, as well as a variety of great party food and drink recipes, including these scrumptious Strawberry Pillows.Strawberry PillowsMakes 18

Ingredients For the sponge350g (12oz) caster sugar350g (12oz) butter, softened115g (4oz) ground almonds2 tsp vanilla essence1/2 tsp almond essence6 medium eggs, lightly beaten170g (6oz) plain flour4 tsp milkFor the almond buttercream170g (6oz) icing sugar85g (3oz) ground almonds ...

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 large350g (12oz) unsalted butter, at ...

Ingredients200g (7oz) unsalted butter200g (7oz) demerara sugar200g (1/2 cup) honey350g (12oz) jumbo porridge oats3 handfuls of dried fruit such as pineapple, papaya or cranberriesMethod Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Melt the butter, sugar and honey in a pan until th...

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

Makes 6 Younger children will probably prefer the taste of the milk chocolate, but for older ones use dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids as it’s full of antioxidants.Ingredients2 bananas, peeled150ml ( 1/4 pt) milk75ml (21/2fl oz

into the elegant historic room where the new range of childrens toys and clothing were on display. The new Christmas range had a focus on party wear satin dresses and fur boleros for the girls and tweed for the boys featuring waistcoats and blazers

Princess Party Cookbook by Annabel Karmel (Ebury, £12.99) is filled with sparkling recipes, there are healthy snacks, such as the Fruit Flowers, but these cupcakes caught our eye. Jewelled CupcakesMakes 10IngredientsFor the cupcakes125g (41/2oz

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