Ice cream with different toppings

You can make more of ice cream than simply scooping it into a bowl with a splurge of shop-bought chocolate sauce.

Stewed fruit

The really important thing to remember when you are stewing fruit is that it’s best to decide for yourself how much sugar to add.

Stewed fruit crumble

Stewed fruit is the perfect base for a lovely home-made crumble. The crumble topping takes just minutes to prepare, then you let the whole thing bubble away in the oven until the top is all crunchy and delicious.

Apple pie

Obviously apple pie is one of the all-time classic desserts. The best apple pies I've ever made are from apples bought at farmers' markets where you can pick up lots of different varieties.

Baked apples

This is an absolutely classic dessert – it's so simple, and a great way to use up cooking apples.

Good old bread and butter pudding

Bread and butter pudding is one of those old English recipes that everyone loves. The addition of marmalade brushed over the bread makes it fantastically crisp, with a zingy orangey bitterness that just makes the whole thing superb. Try not to overcook it because you want to have the soft insides contrasting with the crispiness on top.