6 glorious gluten-free treats to bake this half term

Though the name might suggest otherwise, buckwheat actually contains no wheat at all and therefore no gluten (but always make sure the bag of buckwheat you're buying is certified as gluten-free). What it does have is a distinctive nutty flavour that perfectly complements sweet flavours like chocolate, which in turn goes nicely with the mellow spice of ground ginger. If you’re looking for a crumbly biscuit, though, you won’t find that here; this is an American cookie in every sense of the word – chewy, malleable and best eaten warm.

The dastardly chocolate fondant has felled many a competent cook, but why? Fondants aren’t terribly hard to make, but they always play on our minds as we worry whether the centre will stay liquid or not. This recipe breaks things down to their most simple so you don’t have to worry about a thing; just melt chocolate, whisk eggs and sugar, fold with rice flour and then bake for twelve to fifteen minutes. Prepare for oozy goodness and some very happy children.

Bread has been a problem area for gluten-free flours in the past – it’s hard to recreate the tearable texture that comes from wheat gluten. Victoria Glass uses xanthan gum to help recreate some of that stretchiness in her dough, and adds vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to give the bread an extra boost as it rises. On the plus side, you don’t need to worry about any kneading! Just mix your ingredients, leave to rise in a warm spot then bake and top with a generous scattering of caramelised onions and thyme.

Banana bread is a real crowd-pleaser and ever so easy to throw together. This recipe was born out of the need to use up a variety of different nuts, dried fruits and flours, but the dense, chewy texture of a good banana bread actually means it often comes out better when made with gluten-free flour. Once you've mashed up your bananas, just stir in the rest of your ingredients, pour into your tin and bake. Delicious.

These chewy Italian biscuits look impressive, but are really simple to make. The decadence starts with butter, cream, sugar and honey, boiled together and mixed with glacé cherries, coconut, stem ginger and a bit of rice flour to help bind the mixture together. Give the florentines ten minutes in the oven and they're ready for the finishing touch – a layer of melted chocolate that sits nicely over the top. Perhaps keep these back for a special treat.