Rachel Allen's Cake Diaries

The chef demonstrates that cakes are suitable for a variety of occasions, from the traditional celebrations they are often associated with to more casual and intimate moments, and gives tips on icing, decorating, baking and serving. She begins with creations suitable for catching up with friends over cups of tea, including crunchy peanut butter muffins, banoffee blondies and a wheat-free chocolate, rum and almond cake.

A cake can make the perfect gift, so Rachel shares some that have fun, warmth and affection baked into their very heart. Cupcakes can be a great way to celebrate a new baby, so she makes strawberry for a girl and blueberry for a boy. Rachel's vegan raspberry muffins are a great gift for her vegetarian friend. Maple pecan and lemongrass coconut cakes make special treats for family and friends.

The chef demonstrates how to bake the perfect treats to keep a house full of sport-loving boys from getting hungry. She prepares marbled chocolate crumble cake and cheesecake brownies, as well as a golden syrup loaf ideal for picnics, and toscatarta almond cake - her husband's favourite snack.

The chef prepares birthday cakes, including teddy bear and princess creations based on simple sponges with impressive decorations. She also whips up chocolate cupcakes with a honeycomb topping as party treats, and combines sponge and chocolate into an easy-to-eat cake on a stick.

The chef makes cakes with summery flavours that are ideal for packed lunches to be taken on days out. Recipes include chocolate beetroot brownies, whose earthy richness Rachel believes will travel well, as well as lemon and rosemary polenta cake and Brittany butter cake, which are ideal for picnics. Plus, rhubarb and custard Swiss roll, which she recommends serving at the end of a barbecue.

The chef bakes for a variety of romantic occasions. She creates red velvet cupcakes as a Valentine's treat, a chocolate and hazelnut cheesecake that holds special memories of her honeymoon, a pistachio cake and a white chocolate anniversary cake.

The chef prepares cakes that make the ideal comfort food for people who want to spoil themselves or others. Recipes include carrot cake, sweet and filling banana, almond and honey muffins, spicy chocolate torte and a chocolate and toffee ice cream creation.

Anyone who bakes a cake wants to share it…but they also want to see some appreciation for their efforts, every cook loves a compliment after all. Hazelnut triple layer cake is a great centrepiece for a special occasion. Orange and almond syrup cake with chocolate icing is simple and sumptuous. Vanilla wedding cake, is an alternative approach for the big day. And chocolate mousse layer cake is a stunning cake to impress.

Cakes are not just for afternoon tea or special occasions, they can be great desserts on an everyday lunch or special dinner menu. Hazelnut meringue cake is a fabulous dessert, layered with fresh fruit. Irish coffee cups are a simple treat. Raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake is a sweet and divine pudding, and Swedish apple cake is the perfect way to follow a Sunday roast.

Sometimes less is more, and time and time again those recipes which are tried and tested are guaranteed to hit the spot. Rachel bakes a classic Victoria sponge, shows how to make the perfect chocolate fudge cake and adds peach and saffron to the classic upside down cake. Madeleines are a dainty treat that are quick to make and foolproof too.

We all love a bit of retro, whether it’s fashion, music or food…and there are some wonderful cakes that are just so reminiscent of life ‘back in the day’… Rachel shows how to make a delicious pink and white Battenberg, and demonstrates that old favourite arctic roll. She takes some after dinner mints and bakes them into a cake, as well as producing her version of a bakewell cake.

Many of us have a particular place that is special to us that we love to evoke through the food and flavours we associate with it…for Rachel it’s America with its wonderful traditions and inventions. She shares a classic NYC crumb cake, the light and the airy angel food cake. Sour cream features in much American baking, so she shows how to make orange sour cream cake. And then some North American ingredients combine in chocolate and pecan muffins with maple glaze.

Cake doesn’t have to be just for special occasions…but if there was ever a time when most of us think about getting the baking tins out – it’s Christmas. So if you fancy having a go at something slightly different this Christmas, Rachel has some great ideas. Her Clementine cake makes use of those lovely fruits that find their way into many people’s Christmas stockings. Mincemeat muffins with eggnog icing are a fantastic alternative to the traditional mince pie. Her Christmas cake is a rich fruit sponge covered in baked almond paste. And spiced pear and ginger cheesecake is a tasty alternative festive pudding.