20 sweet shop-inspired bakes

For more recipes perfect for teatime, check out our afternoon tea recipes.

2. Toasted marshmallow & ginger cake

This showstopping cake is a bit of a challenge, but it's sure to wow your friends and family. Decorative Italian meringue coats a spiced, moist ginger cake, layered with ginger buttercream. Top with three sparklers if you like, for extra pizzazz.

For more cakes to impress your friends, try our showstopping cake recipes.

And what better way to showcase your masterpiece than with our best cake stands for showcasing your bakes?

3. Gravity-defying sweetie cake

Another cake that's perfect for showing off your skills is our gravity-defying sweetie cake. Coat a straw in chocolate, and build up with colourful sweets to create the illusion of falling. Then, place a skewer through the bend in the straw and top with a sweet shop paper bag. Perfect for both kids and adults!

For more imaginative, fun and simple cakes for your child's birthday, check out our kids' party cakes.

4. Sweet shop chocolate slab

This sweet shop chocolate slab is great for making with the kids as it takes only 30 minutes to make. Under your guidance, have the children help you melt the chocolate and pour it onto a baking sheet to cool. Do the same with the white chocolate, then let them decorate with their favourite treats.

For more recipes that make use of leftover chocolate, try our melted chocolate recipes.

5. Rhubarb & custard blondies

Enhance a classic blondies recipes by combining them with rhubarb and custard. Adding custard powder to the blondie mix creates an extra fudgy texture. To create a beautiful, marbled effect, add rhubarb compote and a few extra dollops of custard and swirl with a skewer before baking.

For more gorgeously gooey blondies, try our blondies recipes.

6. Lemon sherbet jammy dodgers

Our lemon sherbet jammy dodgers give everyone’s favourite jam biscuit a zesty makeover. Sandwich two biscuits with lemon curd and sprinkle with sherbet for an extra zing. The tingling on your tongue will make you nostalgic for your first-ever taste of sherbet.

For more biscuits, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea, try our biscuit recipes.

7. Sweet grazing wreath

Create a beautiful dessert centrepiece without spending hours in the kitchen. Decorate with faux charcuterie by melting chocolate and adding crushed biscuits and pretzels to create a sweet ‘salami’ slab. Then, throw back to an old favourite and decorate melted white chocolate buttons with sprinkles to make jazzies. Serve with your sweet shop favourites, from sugared mice to chocolate coins.

Try more of our treats, such as sugar mice and sweet snowballs, with our confectionery recipes.

8. Chocolate rocky road cake

Pay homage to the tremendous rocky road with this deliciously indulgent chocolate cake. Using butter, oil, yogurt and milk makes this cake incredibly moist, and adding coffee helps to bring out that beautiful chocolate taste. Top your sponge with sweet and salty rocky road toppings, from digestives to popcorn or glacier cherries. This is a joyous cake!

For more indulgent chocolatey bakes, try our chocolate cake recipes.

9. Chocolate honeycomb

Honeycomb makes an excellent homemade gift and is surprisingly simple to make. The whole process only takes 15 minutes! Gently heat sugar and golden syrup until the sugar has dissolved, and turn up the heat. Once the mixture has turned caramel, take it off the heat, tip in bicarbonate of soda, and beat until the mixture is foaming. Scrape into a tin and leave to cool for 30 minutes before breaking into shards and dipping in chocolate.

Try our honeycomb recipes for more cinder toffee and honeycomb ideas.

10. Maple & pear ruffle cake

A sophisticated twist on the flavourings of a traditional sweet shop favourite: the pear drop. A lightly spiced sponge is sandwiched with pears caramelised in maple syrup and topped with a delicately piped meringue buttercream to create a lovely swirling effect. For some extra sparkle, finish with a coating of edible gold spray.

For more desserts starring juicy pears, try our pear dessert recipes.

11. Mint chocolate bark with pretzels

Another great treat to cook with the kids. Under your supervision, have children melt the chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl over a saucepan. Once both the white and milk chocolate has been melted, add mint essence. Then, line a baking tray with parchment and pour one chocolate on top of the other, using a skewer to create a swirling pattern. Sprinkle with broken and whole pretzels and leave to harden. These are great for a party, and make an attractive edible gift.

Make the most of this salty snack with our pretzel recipes.

12. Unicorn hot chocolate

This rich, pink-hued hot drink is any young child’s dream. Perfect for a treat on film night or a fun midnight snack at a sleepover. It’s made from white chocolate and milk, topped with rainbow-dyed whipped double cream, sweets and sprinkles.

For more variations on the traditional hot cocoa, try our hot chocolate recipes.

13. Marshmallows

These vanilla marshmallows are incredibly fluffy, perfect for sandwiching between s’mores, popping into an indulgent hot chocolate or giving as a thoughtful homemade gift.

Look no further for plenty of moreish marshmallow recipes.

14. Peppermint creams

You can make these creamy peppermint treats using only a handful of simple ingredients. They’re great to give as a homemade gift or to clean your palette after a meal. Plus, they’re fat-free!

For a variety of recipes showcasing the cool, fresh taste of mint, try our mint recipes.

15. Chocolate marshmallow wheels

These buttery vanilla biscuits are combined with marshmallow and a sweet raspberry jam before being encased in a crisp dark chocolate shell. They’re great with tea and as a packed lunch treat.

16. Rhubarb & custard tart

This tart captures the flavour of everyone’s favourite boiled sweet. The use of forced rhubarb makes it incredibly vibrant – a showstopping treat for any picnic or summer party.

Celebrate spring with this wonderfully bright seasonal fruit with our selection of rhubarb recipes.

17. Crunchy peanut & toffee bonbons

These chocolate, peanut & toffee balls are a great party snack, and they can be made in three simple steps. Make it a fun activity, having the children roll out the balls, dip in the chocolate and coat in the peanuts. It’ll get messy, but what fun activity doesn’t?

For more recipes using peanut butter, either smooth or crunchy, try our peanut butter recipes.

18. Vanilla fudge

Fudge is an excellent homemade gift. Try making it with kids, and teach them about the importance of cooking at the right temperature with a sugar thermometer. This recipe calls for precision, and what better way to demonstrate this than with wonderfully sweet success.

Check out more of our creamy fudge recipes.

19. Toffee apple pops

These bite-sized versions of the classic toffee apple are a great party addition. We suggest topping with melted chocolate and chopped nuts, but you can add any of your favourite sweet treats.

For more tempting toffee treats, try our toffee recipes.

20. Ubercorn ice cream cone cakes

These adorable ice cream cone cakes are the perfect addition to any kids' unicorn party. Hidden inside the cone is a beautiful cake surprise that you ice with delicious mascarpone icing and decorate with icing fondant. Cover in a selection of multicoloured sweets, and you’ve made a magical little treat.

For ideas on throwing a unicorn-themed birthday party, check out our unicorn party ideas.