feed it with brandy in the run up to Christmas. Heat the oven to 150C/130C Fan/Gas2. Grease a 20cm/8inch round or an 18cm/7inch square cake tin and line the bottom and sides with baking parchment.

The super popular Christmas Tree Cakes are pretty much the Zebra Cakes ... shaped like an evergreen rather than a square.

for how to create the simple Christmas decorations in the photo. This recipe makes enough for a 18cm/7in round cake or a thin covering on 18cm/7in square cakes and 20cm/8in round cakes.

Put the mixture into the prepared cake tin ... paste or ice closer to Christmas. Line the base and sides of a 9 inch (23 cm) round, or an 8 inch (20.5 cm) square tin, with brown paper and ...