Everything you need to know for hosting your first Christmas

The easiest ever Christmas dinner

Cooking Christmas dinner might seem overwhelming (The juicy turkey! The fluffy roasties! Don’t forget the pigs in blankets!), but we've rounded up our easiest festive recipes to make sure you have a fail-proof dinner, from citrus sprouts to juicy turkey crown. Making a timeline is an efficient way to make sure everything comes together on time, so follow our step-by-step guide here.

There's no need to make everything from scratch, so feel free to cheat and buy in a few ready-made products to make Christmas Day stress-free. Check out the best cranberry sauce to buy here.

Easy turkey crown

Cooking a whole turkey can be overwhelming, and if you know your guests like white meat then try starting with a turkey crown which is easy to carve and slice. Our three-step recipe serves eight, plus you’ll make your own gravy in the process.

Pull-apart roast potatoes

There are only three steps and four ingredients to these impressive criss-cross, crispy roasties. Don't be put off by the cooking time as most of that the potatoes are in the oven.

Sprouts with ginger and orange

Love them or hate them, there's always a place for sprouts on the table, but jazz up the green veg with fragrant ginger and zesty orange for a fiery side dish that's ready in just 30 minutes.

One-tray Christmas dinner

Still unsure about cooking a feast? Make our all-in-one Christmas traybake for a super-easy dinner. The recipe serves two, but there'll be enough leftovers for your Boxing Day sarnies.

Chocolate and salted caramel ice-cream bombe

Want a fuss-free dessert that'll feed (and impress) a crowd? Our ice-cream bombe uses pre-made swiss roll, chocolate ice cream and salted caramel sauce, meaning all you have to do is put it all into a bowl and freeze!

Christmas morning ideas

Need some easy breakfast ideas for Christmas morning? Whether you want brunch to be a long, lavish affair (hello boozy bagel French toast), or want to save yourself for the big event, we've got easy breakfast ideas to try. Get yourself a glass of Buck's Fizz to serve alongside…

Smoked salmon and egg muffins

Our breakfast muffins look impressive but are easy to make if you’re feeding a crowd. All you need to do is rustle up a frittata, then pile into a bun with smoked salmon and slices of avocado for a vibrant brunch.

Boozy bagel French toast

We’ve put a spin on French toast by using ready-made cinnamon raisin bagels. Impress with our two-step recipe for a sweet start to Christmas Day.

The best sparkling wines for Christmas

Christmas is a great time to pop open a bottle of bubbles, be it for a glass of Buck’s Fizz or to sip alongside a smoked salmon brunch, but choosing the right bottle isn’t always easy. Get the lowdown on Italian sparkling wines, English sparkling wines and best cava wines to buy.

Easy drinks party ideas

When it comes to hosting a drinks party you want easy drinks and nibbles that can be made ahead (or rustled up in a few seconds). Look for recipes that only use a few ingredients, or make the most of spirits and condiments that you've already got in your cupboard.

Best UK gins to buy

From fruity gin and tonics to punchy negronis, gin makes a great spirit to use in festive cocktails, so check out the best British bottles to buy for your Christmas party, or to give as a gift.

Sherry sour

This recipe calls for a sugar syrup, but make a batch and it’ll keep for a month in the fridge, perfect for using on New Year's Eve (you can use it in this recipe, too). The easy-to-make egg white froth gives this drink an impressive finish.

Impressive Christmas cheeseboard

A Christmas cheeseboard is a great help-yourself snack for a drinks party. All you need to do is buy a few cheeses, some crackers and nibbles, then arrange on a board and let guests tuck in. We've got some great tips for how to slice the cheeses and how to fill in gaps, but you can personalise it with whatever you fancy.

Quick and easy camembert toppers

When it comes to Christmas parties, a baked camembert is the way to go. We've found four quick and easy ways to jazz up the oozing cheese, from pecans simply drizzled with maple syrup, to frozen cranberries with a splash of port. Put these on the table with some slices of bread to feed a crowd.

Easy party tartines

More substantial than a canapé, these easy open sandwiches are a great way to use up food in the fridge. All you need to do is toast some bread, then top it with a few ingredients. If you like, leave out bowls and let guests top their own.

Boxing Day ideas

There's no need to worry about throwing a Boxing Day feast, instead, check out our best recipes that make the most of Christmas leftovers, from lobster mac 'n' cheese to loaded spiced turkey naan.

Best-ever leftovers recipes

Cooked enough turkey to feed 50? Don't know what to do with your leftover ham? We've got you sorted with our imaginative leftover recipes which mean you won't be eating turkey sarnies for the next few weeks.

Mix and match mac 'n' cheese bar

If you've got a load of guests coming over on Boxing Day, a big one-pot is perfect to pop on the table and let everyone serve themselves. This comforting mac 'n' cheese can be pepped up with lots of topping, from leftover ham to streaky bacon and even shredded sprouts.

Christmas wines

There's no need to worry about choosing lots of different wines for Christmas as we've rounded up the best multi-tasking bottles for all occasions, whether you want an impromptu glass with neighbours who drop by for a drink, or for the main feasting event itself.

Our wine guides will give you everything you need to be clued-up on regional wine varieties. Check out the lowdown on oaked wines, best German wines to buy and best Greek wine to buy. If you're looking for some last-minute wine gifting inspiration, find out the best gifts to buy wine lovers.