This is an adaptation of the first Christmas cake made in Italy. “It took us about 14 months and around 25 trials to bring out this delicacy,” says Chef M K Rajesh.

Cherry Genoa Cake by Miss Hope, author of Miss Hope's Teatime Treats by Hope and Greenwood (£12.99, Ebury Press) Genoa - as any fool doth know - is in Italy, adjacent to the seaside where doth ...