Kate Bracks The Sweet Life Desserts from Australia’s Masterchef

(Random House Struik, R395)

Masterchef Australia Season 3 winner Kate Bracks brings you a mouth-watering collection of dessert recipes and baked treats, from traditional fare such as apple pie and chocolate cake to new ideas such as Kate’s legendary chocolate, date and hazelnut torte and decadent peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sandwiches.

This book is designed to guide you from the basics and includes sections on sauces and syrups, how to make your own pastry rather than buy it, how to make the perfect meringue and how to cook with gelatine.

You can then move to “beyond the basics” once your confidence in the kitchen has grown. There are some interesting recipes in this section. Try buttered popcorn ice cream with bitter caramel and salted almond crumb, mango panna cotta with orange blossom jelly, or have a go at Kate’s favourite – chocolate terrine with spiced praline, mandarin oil and creme fraiche.