| OPENANDSHUTCASE | For the solver, a piece of cake (the canapes sound revolting) |
| ETC | Enjoy the canapes, first of all, and the rest (3) |
| CHANDLER | Solver a shade upset about Paul, ultimately, as writer (8) |
| EUREKA | 'Aha!', said solver, 'A stinker!' (6) |
| SADIST | One who likes to see suffering solvers, a devilish invention scrambling their heads (6) |
| IDLER | The setter had left tips for the solver: bummer! |
| CRUFTS | Clues roughened up for the solver originally show the setter can win! |
| PEEL | Candied for mincemeat or Christmas cakes, the zest of a lemon or the fruit sometimes studded with cloves for a seasonal pomander (4) |
| SETTEE | This should be comfortable for the solver? (6) |
| YOURS | Heard tropical disease is for the solver to deal with? |
| THYME | Fragrant plant no longer for the solver and setter |
| YOUTHEN | Make less old for the solver, in that case (7) |
| YOU | Some way out for the solver |
| ICING | The --- on the cake, the best aspect (5) |
| UNPROVEN | A foreign electoral system takes the cake - the jury is still out on whether that's true (8) |
| YES | What you probably say if someone asks you if you would like some cake (the opposite of no) |
| ANGELICA | With stalks that are often candied for cakes, the "holy herb", named for its apparently heavenly scent and miraculous healing properties (8) |
| GULP | Swallow cake the wrong way (4) |
| EWE | The sort of beast the solver sounds like |
| HOURLY | The solver is on the phone as Jesus saves - several times a day! (6) |
