Boxing Day is best spent in your PJs, gorging on a Christmas selection box and watching the telly. The fridge will be overflowing with leftover turkey and half eaten trifle, so when it’s time to think about food again, why not lay on an easy yet impressive spread?
Hot-smoked salmon and watercress pâté with bagel crisps
Smoked salmon is a classic Christmas indulgence. Whether you’re eating it for a starter or having it for brunch in a bagel, there’s always some left over. Try whizzing it up with some watercress and cream cheese to make a smooth pâté that can be eaten with crackers and crisps. It’s quick to make so you can whip it up while you’re in your PJs!
Posh sausage roll
Everyone loves a good old sausage roll. Whether you’re a fan of lots of buttery pastry, or prefer a herby centre, you can’t go wrong with making a batch for a buffet. Our posh sausage roll has a layer of chilli jam to give it a spicy kick and is topped with sesame seeds. It can be sliced into as many pieces as you like, but we suggest making two… it’ll disappear quickly!
Turkey and ham raised pie
Ever ordered a turkey that serves 10, even if there’s only four to feed? We have! After a while, the turkey sandwiches get a bit boring, so give this pie a go. It takes a bit of time to make, so why not give yourself a lie in and have a buffet come dinner time? ‘Duffet’, if you will!
Fig and goat’s cheese puffs
If you’re planning a fancier Boxing Day buffet, and have friends and family coming over, these fig and goat’s cheese puffs are the right balance of easy to make yet impressive to look at. They can be made in less than half an hour and popped on the table. They’re a great way to use up leftover goat’s cheese that you don’t want stinking out the fridge.
Ultimate Boxing Day stacked sandwich
While the Christmas Day feast is a great part of Christmas, another highlight is the Boxing Day sandwich. It can include whatever you like, whether you want to keep it simple with turkey and stuffing, or go all out and throw a roast potato and sprout in there, too! Our ultimate Boxing Day stacked sandwich is ultimate for a reason. It’s sweet, salty, indulgent and delicious. Everything that Christmas should be.
Beetroot and gin-cured salmon
You’ll have to prep this salmon in advance, but it’s worth the wait. Pop it in the centre of your buffet table to wow your family. The orange gives it a slight sweetness while the gin gives it a great boozy kick. If you have leftovers, it’ll still taste great for the next couple of days. What better way to carry on the festivities?!
Sausage twist
If you want to jazz up run of the mill sausage rolls, make this sausage twist for the buffet. It’s filled with lots of festive flavours: pistachios, apricots and cloves. Why not serve this as the centrepiece and eat it with some leftover meats and cheese for the second festive feast of the season.
Barwheys savoury biscuits
A Boxing Day buffet table wouldn’t be complete without cheese and biscuits. Whether you’re a fan of smelly stinking bishop, or prefer a milder Wensleydale, it’s important to have some great crackers to match. These Barwheys savoury biscuits are rich and crunchy. Forget the average cream cracker, these are the only biscuits for the table.
Baileys tiramisu
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an abundance of desserts. Be it a boozy trifle or a creamy cheesecake, you can never have too many. This Baileys tiramisu has it all: the booze, the cream and the chocolate. It’s perfect for a buffet table. Just pop some bowls and spoons beside it and let people dig in. Don’t hope for leftovers though, this will be gone in minutes!
Posh yule log
A chocolate yule log is an exclusive Christmas treat. With all the pigs in blankets and crunchy roasties, the yule log is often left to one side. Why not make it the centre of the Boxing Day buffet so people enjoy it in all its glory? This recipe uses Baileys in the filling for extra indulgence. We suggest eating it all day long… because if you can’t eat Baileys yule log on Boxing Day morning, when can you?
Mince pies with shortbread pastry
You’ve probably been eating mince pies since the end of October, so why stop now? If you’ve got lots of mincemeat left to use up, make another batch of pies to have on Boxing Day. They’ll always get eaten, whether you have them with mid-afternoon coffee or with a late night glass of mulled wine. We suggest making them up until New Year – you may as well make the most of this festive favourite.
Dark chocolate florentines
If you fancy having something sweet to snack on, but don’t want a big dessert, give these florentines a go. They’re sweet enough to satisfy your craving and have a great crunchy texture from the nuts and dried fruit. Pass them around on Boxing Day to nibble while you watch the TV repeats.
Written by Ellie Edwards
olive magazine podcast ep78 – Christmas condiments, fancy brunches and our foodie guide to eating and drinking in central London
This week on the olive magazine podcast we talk Christmas condiments, the rise and rise of fancy brunches, and where to grab the best food and drink in central London while Christmas shopping.
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