Halloween Baking Inspiration

I have a love hate relationship with Halloween.

The hate is pretty simple - I'm a scaredy cat. I rarely make plans that involve leaving the house on Halloween, basically because I just can't handle it. Case in point - last year I ventured to the library and popped into a shop on the way. I ended up shouting at someone who jumped out at me in fancy dress, then burst into tears and went home. I know. A complete over reaction. I felt really terrible for shouting at the person afterwards.

So, I favour house parties, and then, I love it. I love dressing up, I love decorating the house, having people round and seeing what they're dressed as, but most of all, I love all the fun you can have with Halloween Baking. Above are a few highlights of Halloween from the last few years. As you can see, I like it cute. Little faces on food, pumpkin bunting and bows in my hair.

I thought I'd kickstart everyone's inspiration with a few bakes I've seen floating around online,

1. We'll start simple, with a Halloween twist on the classic Gingerbread Man - Gingerbread Skeletons from Betty Crocker

2. Have you seen all those cakes with stuff falling out the middle - the Pinata Cakes? This takes it one step further, Trick or Treat Cookies from not martha

3. These are up there with the cutest things on the list, Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats from Food, Family and Finds

4. Did I include these cute little ghosts just because I thought the name was hilarious? It's possible. Good old BBC, never let you down, especially not with Malloween Ghosts

5. These Brownie Owls from Pink When are quite American in their ingredients, but I think the only thing you can't get over here is the little orange corn thingy? I think an upside down gummy bear (sorry gummy bear) would do just the trick instead

6. Delightful and Made have a suitably delightful recipe for Spooky Spiderweb Cupcakes

7. There is a huge collection of Halloween Marshmallow Pops over at You Wash I Dry but these little bats are the cutest things ever! In my opinion...

8. Things are getting a little classier now, with this beautiful Marble Pumpkin Cheesecake from Roxana's Home Baking

9. Classy is now at the next level. This cake from The Cake Blog is quite the show-stopper

10. We're going back to the super cute for the last bake on the list from A Spicy Perspective

Easter Baking Inspiration

Usually on a Sunday I post seven photos from my week, but as that will be a little late this week, I thought I'd treat you to seven Easter bakes. Easter. After all the good behavior in Lent, how could I not post baking inspiration?

1. Easter Bunny Cookies from Created By Diane

2. Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes from My Baking Addiction

3. Easter Bunny Bark from Blooming on Bainbridge

4. Easter Chick Macarons from Sweet Explorations

5. Hot Cross Buns from BBC Good Food

6. Fluffy Lamb Cake from Handmade Charlotte

7. Simnel Cake from the good old BBC

Valentines Day Baking Inspiration

I don't ever need an excuse to bake, but if you're still trying to keep your healthy New Year habits going, but need a great excuse to tuck into some sweet treats, look no further than Valentines Day. If you're coupled up, baked goods are a thoughtful, loving, cheap present. If you're boyfriend is playing badminton on the 14th (naming no names...) then even better - all the cake for you. If you're single, it's a fantastic reason to get together with your friends and have a movie night with the best sort of snacks. Sometimes it's easy to lack inspiration, and so I've trawled the internet to find 10 valentines bakes that will have your mouths watering just looking at the photographs.

1. Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes from Annie's Eats

2. Frosted Berry Hand Pies from Foodie Crush

3. Love Letter Sugar Cookie from Country Living - there's no recipe with this. I'd use the sugar cookie recipe below, bake in the rectangle shape, leave to cool, smother with a thin layer of your favourite buttercream recipe and then roll out a thin piece of fondant icing the same shape as your biscuit and stick it on. Then all you need is a food pen, and you're all set.

4. Bakewell Ombre Cake from BBC Good Food

5. Decorated Sugar Cookies from Cooking Classy

6. Strawberry Heart Pancakes from Weelicious

7. Rose Cake from Gimme Some Oven

8. Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies from Sally's Baking Addiction

9. Brownie Bites from The Farm Chicks

10. 2 Ingredient Strawberry Fudge from Sweet Little Peanut