Our five most popular recipes of the year

5TH PLACE: HEDGEHOG SLICE
A favourite with hungry teenagers, Jane Smith (The Shady Baker) always makes a batch of these ahead of the school holidays. Full recipe here.

4TH PLACE: HONEY AND VANILLA CAKE
With just a few pantry staples, you can make this cake in time for afternoon tea. Recipe by Jane, available here.

3RD PLACE: EASY APPLE PIE
Another one of Jane’s comforting recipes, this pie can be made with either stewed apples or tinned ones. Her aunty, Trish Palmer, gave her the recipe shortly after Jane married. “Trish often baked this as a slice for smokos when her five children were all still at home,” says Jane. Full recipe here.

2ND PLACE: THE VISITOR CAKE
Start now and you’ll have Sophie Hansen’s simple butter cake in the oven within the next 15 minutes. What’s more, you probably have all the ingredients on hand (though some raspberries and a dollop of cream will take things to the next level). It’s an adapted recipe from Sophie’s treasure of a cookbook, In Good Company. Full recipe here.

1ST PLACE: WHITE SOURDOUGH BREAD
When it comes to sourdough, Jane knows her stuff. She once ran workshops and baked loaves for cafés in Broken Hill, New South Wales. “Many trends have come and gone in my life, but bread baking has remained a steadying influence,” she says. “Perhaps it is because, like yoga, it is almost impossible to multitask while bread baking.” Full recipe here.

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