16 vibrant, fresh and zingy meals for between Christmas and New Year
Feeling the post-Christmas slump? Create meals which are fresh, lively and full of the flavours we crave to revive us for the year ahead
After the indulgence and richness of Christmas, many of us find ourselves yearning for food that will revive our palates and reset our appetites. The days between Christmas and New Year are an ideal time to embrace vibrant, zingy dishes packed with fresh flavours, lively textures and a lighter touch. Think citrus notes, punchy dressings and crisp salads; meals that awaken the senses and bring a much-needed brightness to the table. Discover our best recipes for lunches and dinners that are bursting with flavour, full of crunch and guaranteed to lift the spirits. See our ultimate collection of dinner recipes, vegetarian recipes and vegan meals for more exciting ideas to try. 16 vibrant, fresh and zingy meals for between Christmas and New Year Clementine and bream crudo Thin slices of fresh bream are dressed with clementine juice, olive oil and sea salt, then topped with capers and microgreens. This effortless, no-cook dish is the ultimate palate cleanser after days of heavy eating. Miso-roasted cauliflower, avocado and lentil salad Roasted cauliflower is tossed in a miso and lime dressing, then paired with creamy avocado, pickled onions and earthy lentils. This salad is packed with fibre, flavour and texture — a nourishing bowl that feels as good as it tastes. Crispy plaice with Thai-style carrot salad Strips of crispy seasoned plaice are served alongside a vibrant carrot and green bean salad, with mint and coriander for a fresh, herby finish. Spicy prawn and peanut rice salad Toss juicy prawns, shredded veg and herbs in a punchy peanut dressing to make a salad that's fresh, spicy and zingy. This effortless rice-based salad can be easily doubled or tripled, too. Healthy turkey stir-fry Sauerkraut adds a delicious tang to this simple stir-fry, made with turkey mince. Balancing earthy broccoli and mushrooms with zingy fresh ginger, the dish is coated in a sweet and salty sauce that gives it a kick. Kimchi eggs Kimchi is a great way to keep friendly gut bacteria in check over the Twixmas period. Try these punchy fried eggs for a levelled-up breakfast or brunch, served on top of toasted rye bread. Leftover turkey ramen noodles Christmas turkey leftovers are transformed into a cosy bowl of ramen, complete with ginger-spiked broth, thick noodles and fresh coriander. Ginger soothes digestive discomfort and relieves nausea. Umami chicken soup with coriander chilli oil Divide this umami-rich soup between bowls, then drizzle over a herby chilli oil alongside lime wedges to squeeze over. Use up any leftover turkey meat instead of poaching the chicken, if you prefer. Simply shred and stir in at the end until piping hot. Hot-smoked salmon salad with chive buttermilk dressing Flakes of hot-smoked salmon are served over a crisp, crunchy salad and drizzled with a tangy chive and buttermilk dressing. The freshness of the herbs and the acidity of the buttermilk lift the whole plate. Fig, mozzarella and serrano ham salad Juicy figs, creamy mozzarella and salty serrano ham are layered with peppery rocket to make a salad that's vibrant, light and bursting with contrasting textures. Ham, pickled pear and blue cheese salad Transform leftover ham into a punchy salad with tangy pickled pears and creamy blue cheese. A scattering of walnuts adds crunch, making this a satisfyingly fresh lunch that cuts through festive richness. Catalan roast chicken, potato and pepper salad This Spanish-inspired salad features roast chicken, potatoes and sweet peppers, all tossed in a smoked paprika dressing. It’s light yet filling, with plenty of flavour from sweet smoked paprika. Parsley and pomegranate salad A vibrant plate of parsley and rocket leaves tossed with ruby-red pomegranate seeds, finished with a sharp citrus dressing. The combination is fresh, crunchy and wonderfully palate-cleansing. Winter panzanella A wintry take on the classic Italian salad, featuring chunks of sourdough, orange segments and blue cheese. Finished with a punchy vinaigrette, this dish is full of flavour and texture. Chargrilled chicken chimichurri salad Juicy chargrilled chicken is sliced and served with a lively chimichurri sauce made with fresh herbs, garlic and chilli. Serve over mixed leaves for a dinner that’s big on flavour but light on heaviness. Crispy plaice with Thai-style carrot salad Serve strips of crispy seasoned plaice with a Thai-inspired salad of crunchy carrots, cherry tomatoes and green beans. Finish with fresh mint and coriander for a colourful, flavour-packed meal for two.
Best festive afternoon teas in London 2025
Looking for a festive treat? We’ve found the best spots to take friends and family over the Christmas season, from traditional afternoon tea at The Ritz to afternoon tea with a view from The Shard
Treat loved ones and dine in style over the Christmas season with one of these festive afternoon teas for a Christmas treat. Classic afternoon tea menus of sandwiches, scones and perfect patisserie get a festive makeover at this time of year, from turkey sandwiches and cranberry jam to go with scones, to carefully crafted yule logs, Christmas trees made of cake, savoury mince pies and many more magical discoveries. You're sure to leave full and with a wonderful new Christmas tradition to return to year after year. If you're not after a Christmas theme, check out the best afternoon teas in London and the best across the UK, too. Best festive afternoon teas in London 2025 Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, Marylebone Known for its travel-themed Flavours of the World afternoon teas, this Christmas, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill has fittingly chosen Lapland as its destination inspiration for guests. However rather than just a few festively named desserts, the hotel fully embraces a sense of delightful theatricality, transporting guests on board a ‘Montagu Kitchen Airlines’ flight to Lapland. Upon arriving our hostess immediately donned a pillbox air stewardess hat, stamped our boarding pass ‘in-flight menus’ and escorted us to our seats ready for take-off. Our napkins were tied with a chic leather luggage tag, two of our three courses were gorgeously presented in multiple compartments of a suitcase, and champagne was offered upon lift off. Our in-flight menu boasted an array of spiced treats, including a tangy sweet water shrimp tartelette and, my personal favourite, a rich but light brioche roll topped with forest mushroom duxelles and Witheridge cheese. Following this there was the classic, traditional plain and raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam – it was however given an exotic twist by featuring a zesty passion fruit jam, all suitably located in the side compartments of our luggage. Lastly, the main part of our suitcase opened to reveal a vibrant display of sweet, delicate pastries – all appropriately Christmas themed, from a Santa Belly made of an almond financier, gooseberry compote and vanilla crémeux, to Scandinavian favourite, kaffe rulltårta, everything was beautifully light and rich in flavour. Price: Festive afternoon tea from £59pp Address: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH Book festive afternoon tea at Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill here. Corinthia London, Whitehall Corinthia London will be serving its festive afternoon tea in The Crystal Moon Lounge with a selection of festive treats from 14 November-4 January 2026. Relax in the stylish lobby under the glistening chandelier and listen to grand piano playing in the background while you feast on elevated turkey or honey roasted ham sandwiches, followed by scones with both strawberry and blackcurrant jams. Finish with the patisserie, including a black forest bûche de Noël, gingerbread and mandarin cake and pear and Tahitian vanilla choux, to name just a few of the many treats on this classically luxurious menu. Price: Festive afternoon tea from £95pp Mon-Thurs, £105 Fri-Sun, caviar afternoon tea from £150pp. Address: Whitehall Place, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD Book festive afternoon tea at Corinthia London here. The Ritz, Piccadilly The Ritz will be serving its traditional afternoon tea with a fun festive twist from 15 November-3 January 2026, with five sittings per day. Take in the luxurious surroundings while you feast on six different sandwiches (think classic cheddar and chutney, ham and mustard mayonnaise, traditional smoked salmon sandwiches and more), Christmas-inspired British pastries; and choose from over 20 different teas including a bespoke Ritz Christmas spiced tea. Price: £120pp; £79 per child (up to 15 years old), except for Christmas Day which is priced at £135 per adult and £90 per child Address: 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR Book the Ritz Christmas afternoon tea here. Festive afternoon tea by Lily Vanilli, Four Seasons Tower Bridge For a modern take on a a festive afternoon tea, head to Lily Vanilli at the Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge. The Christmas treat is served in the grand setting of the Rotunda Bar, complete with towering Christmas tree at the centre. There's no finger sandwiches here. Instead, the tea kicks off with a range of unique savouries including parmesan gougères, confit potatoes topped with smoked salmon and roe, and gildas with fiery pickled chilli. Even mince pies get a savoury twist, with buttery pastry holding a hearty cheese, cabbage and potato filling. Classic scones are served with clotted cream and blackberry compote. Make sure you save room for the sweet course, which includes mini lemon meringue tarts, and sticky toffee madeleines served with a generous cup of toffee sauce. The highlight is a grand mini chocolate salted caramel cake served on it's very own cake stand, adorned with gold baubles and decorated in Lily Vanilli’s signature style with rich, buttery icing. If you can’t slice into it there and then, the team will box it up for you to take home and savour later. Price: £65 per person Address: Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge, 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ Book the Four Seasons Tower Bridge tea here. oblix at The Shard Nothing starts off a festive afternoon tea like walking through a corridor lined floor to ceiling with sparkling fairy lights. Oblix, on the 32nd floor of The Shard, more than delivers that Christmas feeling. If you can tear your eyes away from panoramic views of London including Tower Bridge, the City and the Walkie Talkie building, then the Oblix tea has been given a Christmas makeover until the 4th January. Start with a plate of sandwiches including coronation chicken, egg mayo with generous amounts of truffle and classic smoked salmon. Cranberry scones are served with raspberry and orange preserve and clotted cream, whilst patisserie includes a Christmas tree carrot cake, festive chocolate bauble and snowflake mont blanc. Price: from £69pp Address: oblix East, Level 32, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY Book the oblix festive afternoon tea here. The Savoy, The Strand The festive afternoon tea at The Savoy is available now. You can expect classic sandwiches with a Christmas twist, such as oak-smoked cheddar with plum and ginger chutney, coronation turkey on cranberry bread, and a savoury parsnip and carrot cake. Traditional freshly baked plain and raisin scones come with strawberry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream to accompany festive spiced teas. To finish, enjoy a cluster of seasonal cakes and pastries such as the chocolate and orange log, fruit cake bauble and pistachio and redcurrant tree. Price: Afternoon tea starts at £95pp and £115 with a glass of Nyetimber. Address: Strand, London WC2R 0EZ Book The Savoy afternoon tea here. TĪNG Shangri-La, The Shard TĪNG at the Shangri-La is serving a 'Season of Wonders' afternoon tea until 6 January 2026. The first thing you'll notice are the striking views of London from the heights of The Shard. The stunning scenery makes this trip worth it alone. Then choose from the extensive list of signature teas or add a festive cocktail, mocktail or glass of champagne. The finger sandwiches include coronation chicken, roast beef and truffle egg mayo, while extra savouries include a smoked duck bun with blackberry vinaigrette. Warm scones are served with clotted cream and cranberry jam for full on festivities. Finish with pastries including a 'Festive bauble-choux' and 'Charmed snowy tree'. A vegetarian tea is also available. Price: £89pp, £99 with a glass of champagne. Address: 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU Book the TĪNG festive afternoon tea here. Fortnum & Mason, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Piccadilly Fortnum & Mason serves its seasonal afternoon tea in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. For the Christmas tea, you can expect classic sandwiches with a festive twist such as Christmas spiced ham, alongside familiar cucumber or egg mayo. Still-warm scones are served with Somerset clotted cream, strawberry and champagne preserve and orange curd, while cakes and patisserie highlights include a mince tart, mandarin mousse and sticky figgy loaf. Price: £84pp for traditional or vegetarian afternoon tea with a pot of Fortnum’s Tea Address: 181 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1A 1ER. Book the Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea here. The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Knightsbridge This festive afternoon tea served at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah until 11 January 2026 is inspired by Cadogan Gardens. It's perfect for a spot of indulgence after a shopping trip. Cosy up in their dedicated tearoom, complete with a warming fire and pastry counter. Start with a selection of sandwiches and savouries including a truffle beignet, lobster tartelette and Norfolk turkey sandwich. Expect the unexpected with the 'Scones Experience', with four different flavours of scones to enjoy. After a quince lollipop palate cleanser, the pastries to finish include a pear tart, chocolate pecan tree and apple bread pudding. The tea is accompanied by a selection of JING teas, chosen for flavour and wellness benefits. £1 from every tea is donated to The Felix Project. Price: from £85pp Address: The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, 1 Cadogan Pl, London SW1X 9PY Book festive afternoon tea at The Carlton tower here. Related reviews and recipes Best afternoon teas in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best afternoon tea recipes
Inspired by the sherry colada at New York bar Sip & Guzzle, we’ve mixed cream sherry with pineapple soda for this fresh, tropical, highly gluggable highball
Try our sherry highball, then discover our sherry sour, Tiojito sherry cocktail and frozen sherry cobbler cocktail. Also, try more Christmas cocktails. Sherry highball recipe
A Christmassy spin on a classic whisky cocktail, the cream sherry adds extra festive flavours to the drink
Try our sherry whisky sour, then discover our old fashioned, Manhattan, whisky highball, sazerac and more whisky cocktails. Sherry whisky sour recipe
Swedish Janssons frestelse (potato gratin)
Creamy layers of potato, onion, and tangy blue cheese bake into a golden, comforting gratin; it's the perfect indulgent side for a festive feast or a cosy Sunday supper.
Recipe author Sebastian Graus says, "Janssons frestelse translates as Jansson’s temptation and with good reason: layers of potato, onion and cream baked until golden. The classic Christmas version uses pickled sprats but here stilton steps in, adding a punchy blue cheese bite." Try Sebastian's Swedish Janssons frestelse (potato gratin), then check out our perfect roast potatoes, hasselback potatoes, tartiflette and other potato recipes. Swedish Janssons frestelse (potato gratin) recipe
This seriously swanky starter is made with some of my favourite winter produce: tart blood oranges and crisp fennel, doused in a lovely tangy dressing
Try our blood orange, burrata and fennel salad, then discover our Greek salad, wedge salad, goat's cheese salad and Sicilian salad, as well as more fennel recipes. The burrata (as always) steals the show and, to help you get that effortless ooze, just get it out of the fridge an hour before serving. Blood orange, burrata and fennel salad recipe
I’m a big fan of cauliflower – I always love to take humble ingredients and make them the star of a dish
Try Imad Alarnab's roasted curried cauliflower, then discover pan-roasted cauliflower steaks, bang bang cauliflower, Gobi Manchurian and more roasted cauliflower recipes. Roasted curried cauliflower recipe
In a new series our trends expert Gurd Loyal shares a recipe that is having a moment online and in the restaurant world – this month a Turkish dumpling with global reach
Try our lamb and hot pepper manti, then discover more Turkish recipes, such as Turkish eggs, Turkish gozleme, Turkish lahmacun, Turkish stuffed peppers and pide. Food and drink trends specialist Gurdeep Loyal says: "Manti are Turkish dumplings stuffed with whose tasty rewards more than warrant the effort – championed by top chefs like Selin Kiazim of Leydi and Hasan ‘Big Has’ Semay. For Özlem Warren, author of Sebze, they are particularly special. 'Manti always brings back fond memories,' she tells me. 'My grandparents, my parents, whoever was around, would gather round the table to join the manti-making ritual at home. Some would prepare the filling, some would stretch the dough, of course with a constant flow of tea, coffee and daily banter.' "The dough is hand-kneaded, rested, then rolled thin before being stuffed and shaped. The most traditional filling in Turkey is a combination of grated onions, minced lamb or beef (or both) and seasonings, shaped into square pyramids. They can be small ravioli-sized or larger dumplings, which are either boiled or steamed. "However, Özlem explains, regionally in Turkey 'we also make vegetarian manti, especially in the north-western part of the country, with a spiced, mashed chickpea and caramelised onion filling, shaped as small boats'. What makes manti especially suitable for a feast are the layers of flavour that come with them, as they’re always served with garlicky yogurt and a spiced oil or butter sauce. Özlem likes 'a mix of olive oil, pepper paste, dried mint, sumac and pul biber in my sauce – it’s a combination that makes manti an irresistible, melt in the mouth flavour sensation'. Her top tips for shaping are to lightly dust your fingers with flour, to seal the ends well and to par-bake the manti before boiling. "Variations on manti are found in Central and West Asia – particularly in Afghani, Uzbek and Armenian cuisines, where they can include ingredients like cabbage and pumpkin, and are often baked until crispy or fried. Head to restaurants like Yeni in Soho to try its manti with dried aubergine and double fermented yogurt; Noshe Afghan restaurant in Cambridge for its beef mantu dumplings on a bed of lentils; and Gözleme House on Green Lanes in London for its Turkish manti with lamb or potato." Lamb and hot pepper manti recipe
Slow roast rotisserie-style chicken with chicken fat potatoes
This uses a classic three-turn method in which the chicken is cooked first on either side, then on its back. This helps redistribute the juices and keeps the flesh extra moist
Try out slow roast rotisserie-style chicken with chicken fat potatoes, then discover leftover roast chicken pie, slow-coooked chicken shawarma, healthy roast chicken and more roast chicken recipes. Slow roast rotisserie-style chicken with chicken fat potatoes recipe
This Indian-style curry is based on a rogan josh which is often made with mutton. The meat comes from a sheep older than 24 months which gives it a much richer flavour than very young spring lamb
Try our slow-cooked mutton curry, the discover mutton keema, West Indian curried mutton and curried mutton pie. Slow-cooked mutton curry recipe
Braised Italian sausages with peppers, fennel and creamy parmesan polenta
It’s worth seeking out big, high-quality sausages as they are the star of the show here. You could switch out the basil for parsley or tarragon, if you prefer
Try our braised Italian sausages with peppers, fennel and creamy parmesan polenta, then discover sausage, spinach and chilli pasta, stuffed sausage pasta bake, crispy sausage orecchiette, or sausage pasta with broccoli. Braised Italian sausages with peppers, fennel and creamy parmesan polenta recipe
Small balls of bread dough baked together as a pull-apart loaf, coated in a sticky caramel glaze... perfect for sharing with friends over the Christmas holidays
Try Edd Kimber's sticky toffee monkey bread, then discover his devil's food cake, lemon and lime tart, brown butter blueberry and oat milk chocolate blondies or black and white tahini cookies. Baker, author and first ever Great British Bake Off winner Edd Kimber says: "Monkey bread is most commonly made in a bundt and make it in all manner of different bakeware. Personally I love making desserts in a cast-iron frying pan so that they’re served straight from the oven. But let’s back up, what is monkey bread? At its simplest it’s small balls of bread dough baked together as a pull-apart loaf, coated in a sticky caramel glaze. In this version this glorious dish is combined with sticky toffee pudding to make something spectacular. To ensure this is as sticky and saucy as the dessert, I make this dish a little differently than the classic method. The caramel-esque brown sugar sauce is not just added to the cast-iron pan and baked with the bread dough – half is reserved and added after baking, giving it a more generous level of sauciness, akin to a sticky toffee. Now you could of course serve the dessert as is but a drizzle of cream or custard would never go amiss." Sticky toffee monkey bread recipe
Impress guests over the festive season with our best Christmas baking ideas, from classic mince pies, stollen and Christmas fruit cake to decorated cookies
Looking for the best indulgent Christmas baking recipes? We've got everything from Christmas cookies to classic mince pies, Baileys chocolate tiffin to Christmas cupcakes, plus a crowd-pleasing white chocolate Christmas cake to treat yourself and loved ones during the festive season. We've also got plenty more indulgent Christmas pudding and dessert recipes to serve to your family and friends during the holidays. For quick and easy festive entertaining, check out our no-cook Christmas entertaining ideas, or for fun bakes which mash up festive flavours, check out our Christmas mash-up recipes. Get the big day off to a delicious start with our Christmas breakfast ideas and if you're looking for last-minute present ideas for the foodie in your life, our homemade edible Christmas gifts are sure to bring a smile to their face. Best Christmas baking ideas Bûche de Noël Serve this bûche de noël for a Christmas dessert showpiece. This festive log features layers of chocolate sponge, chantilly cream and chocolate buttercream. Cinnamon biscuits These crisp iced biscuits are flavoured with warming cinnamon and ginger spices. They are sure to fill your kitchen with enticing festive aromas. Buttermint madeleines Edd Kimber reimagines the nostalgic flavour of Murray Mints in these festive madeleines, made with browned butter and finished with a smooth white chocolate shell – perfect for afternoon tea. Classic mince pies It's just not Christmas without a mince pie. Making your own shortcrust pastry is easy, and investing in decent shop-bought mincemeat makes all the difference. Make-ahead Christmas cake Get ahead for Christmas by baking this classic festive fruit cake, covered in marzipan and fondant icing. With gentle spices, citrus flavours and ginger wine, this easy bake is full of flavour and sure to impress a crowd. Classic stollen This gently spiced, festive bake is bursting with dried fruit and marzipan. A great homemade gift or afternoon pick-me-up. Baileys cake A real showstopper of a cake, this three-tiered beauty is all dark chocolate and Baileys Irish Cream. It's perfect for an impressive Christmas dessert. Vegan gingerbread men Enjoy some festive nostalgia with a batch of vegan gingerbread men. They're easy to bake and fun to decorate. Stollen bites Make these pretty stollen bites for a fun Christmas baking project – you can use any mixed dried fruit, such as cranberries, sour cherries or apricots. Gingerbread cupcakes These moreish spiced cupcakes are great fun to make over the festive season for the whole family. Vegan Christmas cake Everyone will enjoy a slice of this Christmas cake, which can be baked and matured up to eight weeks before Christmas. Feed the cake weekly with your choice of brandy, rum or whisky for extra moisture and a warming flavour. Stollen buns The marzipan and dried fruit in stollen are quintessential Christmas flavours, reworked here into a snowball-like bun by London's Fortitude Bakehouse. Gluten-free chocolate fudge cake Turn your hand to baking this festive chocolate fudge cake this Christmas, which just happens to be gluten free. Cozonac Bake this sweet Christmas bread from Prestige Patisserie in Tottenham this Christmas. It’s studded with raisins, nuts, chocolate and Turkish delight and infused with rum. Pistachio and cherry nougat pandoro Cut corners by assembling this impressive festive centrepiece with shop-bought pandoro – it’s a bake which will get everyone in the festive spirit. Gingerbread pie Bake this glorious gingerbread pie, showcasing a blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, for a Christmas bake that’s designed to impress. Chocolate panettone We've given this sweet Italian bread a decadent twist with dark chocolate – the perfect treat to serve visitors over the festive season. Tiramis-czhoux tower You can guarantee friends and family haven’t come across this hybrid before, where balls of choux pastry are stuffed with coffee-drenched ladyfingers and boozy pastry cream. Christmas lamingtons Give lamingtons a festive makeover in this recipe from Morny Bakehouse, with white chocolate icing, a cherry yuzu jam centre and a buttercream crown. Christmas pavlova Individual pavlovas are filled with caramelised pineapple, topped with vanilla-infused cream and finished with a passionfruit coulis. This is a truly showstopping dessert by Covent Garden restaurant, Ave Mario. Christmas tart Fill a shop-bought tart case with brandy-soaked dried fruit and two types of almond for an effortless festive dessert, best eaten with brandy butter. Pandoro semifreddo This easy yet standout pandoro recipe is sure to bring the wow factor to any Christmas table. The chocolate and amaretto semifreddo is all encased in an Italian pandoro bread and topped with a crown of crunchy pistachios. Ecclefechan tarts A must-try alternative to festive mince pies, flavoured with very strong tea, grape molasses and brown butter. Christmas crumble Expand your Christmas repertoire with this festive take on your fave pud. Use up left-over mincemeat – jarred or homemade – for extra flavour. Lebkuchen Honey-sweetened German treats spiced with cinnamon and ginger, lebkuchen are famously festive biscuits. Bake a batch this winter to really get into the Christmas market spirit. Vegan raspberry and lemon trifle Impress your guests with this classic layered dessert. The easy homemade custard uses vanilla-flavoured soya milk and gives a traditional flavour and colour to the custard. Caribbean rum cake This decadent and boozy cake from Caribbean chef Keshia Sakarah is fed with spiced rum and traditionally served during the festive season. Panforte This Italian dessert is popular during the festive season. Chewy, nutty and sweet, it's packed with pistachios, almonds and dried fruits. Florentines A great little Christmas treat to bake at home. Hang them from ribbons as an edible Christmas tree decoration or stack them on a plate and enjoy with a comforting cup of tea over the festive season. Christmas fudge Check out this festive gingerbread fudge that takes just a few minutes to prepare. You can easily double the recipe to make two batches, so you have plenty for gifting. Christmas biscuits Looking for a foodie festive activity to do with children? Our spiced Christmas biscuits make perfect edible decorations to hang from your tree or mantle. You can leave them out for Santa or wrap them up as a gift, the possibilities are endless! Rum and raisin cake Stir up this make-ahead Christmas cake with a spiced, boozy twist and your kitchen will be filled with alluring, festive smells. Chocolate yule log Need a show-stopping dessert recipe to impress guests over the Christmas period? Check out our indulgent festive yule log with a boozy Baileys cream and crunchy hazelnut brittle, the perfect festive bake. Baileys chocolate tiffin Looking for an easy edible gift to give friends over the festive season? Check out these indulgent chocolate tiffins with our favourite Christmas drink in solid chocolate form. You don’t have to include the edible glitter but it does give added bling. Check out our other Baileys recipes here. Christmas cupcakes Looking for Christmas treats to bake? Soak up the cuteness of our melted chocolate snowmen cupcakes. These easy-to-make cupcakes are great fun to bake with the whole family and make for quick and easy Christmas party food. Street cart soft pretzels Soft yet slightly chewy, with a dark golden skin from being boiled before baking, these pretzels are slow-fermented for a richly flavoured dough. Finish with fat crystals of salt. Indonesian pandan, raspberry and white chocolate blondies Pandan and raspberries give a colourful and festive edge to these blondies, while the tartness offsets the sweet white chocolate perfectly. White snowball cake Need a show-stopping cake to serve family and friends over the festive season? Check out our indulgent white chocolate Christmas cake recipe. It might not be snowing outside, but one bite of this cake and you'll feel like you're in a winter wonderland. Filled with coconut and covered in white chocolate, it's sweet and indulgent. Sour cherry stollen bars Looking for Christmas treats to bake? Jazz up your stollen this Christmas with our easy sour cherry flavoured bars. The ingredients list may look lengthy but it’s all about building up the textures and flavours to make this the most moreish bar ever – way better than regular stollen. Check out our best cherry recipes here. Snowball madeleines Give the English madeleine a festive spin by infusing with the flavours of a classic snowball cocktail. After Eight cake This showstopping cake is a glorious combination of chocolate and mint that makes an excellent dessert for a festive party. White chocolate cranberry cheesecake blondies Make your blondies extra special with a festive sprinkling of cranberry flavour and a swirl of decadent cheesecake filling. White Christmas cake Want a show-stopping easy Christmas bake? Check out our super light vanilla cake, an easy alternative to serve on Christmas Day in place of a normal fruit cake. In order to keep the colour as white as possible, use a very light-coloured butter such as Lurpak or keep beating the butter until it lightens in colour. Looking for other show-stopping cake recipes? Click here. Mexican chocoflan This festive flan cake, featuring chocolate, caramel and cinnamon, is known as 'flan imposible' and combines two popular Mexican desserts. Black cake Make this classic Caribbean as a Christmas cake alternative – featuring port, dark rum and dried fruits, it's rich and decadent (and amazing at Christmas). Black forest gateau Turn the clock back with our nostalgic black forest cake with a modern twist. Christmas rocky road Traditional digestives are swapped for ginger biscuits, whilst cranberries and pistachios add some festive colour in this crowd-pleasing Christmas rocky road. Whisky crumble mince pies We've added a splash of booze and morello cherries to this classic Christmas treat and topped with buttery crumble for extra indulgence. Moldavian layered pie with hemp cream Traditionally made on Christmas Eve in Eastern Romania, this pie sees layers of flatbread soaked in a honey syrup and spread with a hemp seed filling. Rum and almond fruit cake Want an easy fruit cake with no fuss? Impress your guests this Christmas and jazz up your cake with rum and a simple almond buttercream. Make it now or save the recipe to whip up an easy Christmas baking idea. Nepali spiced fruit and nut tart Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger give this nutty tart a real festive edge. With a kick of spiced rum, it's a grown-up dessert that's perfect for Christmas. Baileys truffles Treat someone special this Christmas with these melt-in-the-mouth chocolate truffles with a boozy kick from Baileys cream. Gluten-free mince pies Christmas baking, gluten-free style. These boozy mince pies with meringue tops don't compromise on flavour or texture, plus they look impressive, too. Boozy mincemeat pie Want a boozy pie to feed a crowd over the festive season? Our elegant recipe turns the humble mince pie into a fantastic Christmas dessert. Use shop-bought shortcrust pastry and a good-quality mincemeat to save time. Finish with a dusting of silvery icing sugar. Click here for other exciting sweet pie recipes... Chocolate-dipped honeycomb Looking for easy edible gifts for Christmas treats to bake at home? Ready in 20 minutes, our quick and super fun honeycomb recipe is dipped in dark, milk and white chocolate, the perfect Christmas treat for someone with a sweet tooth. Try one of our other edible gift ideas here... Russian honey cake Check out our impressive Russian cake recipe with moreish burnt-honey icing. This layer cake takes a bit of effort to make but it's the perfect cake to show off to friends and family for any special occasion over the festive season. This Russian honey cake recipe is created by original GBBO winner and expert baker Edd Kimber. Baileys fudge Homemade fudge is a great little sweet treat for Christmas. Perfect with coffee to finish off a meal or as an energy booster, it keeps for up to a month in an airtight container. Plus we've got an easy how-to video and it only requires 4 ingredients, the perfect festive bake. Spiced rum bamkuchen Present this show-stopping dessert on Christmas Day for an impressive festive bake, packed with golden marzipan and dark rum. Slice it open to reveal the many layers which will wow your guests. It might take a bit of time to prepare, but it's worth the effort! Try more of our boozy cake and bakes here. Clementine yoghurt cake Move over Christmas fruit cake, our gluten free festive clementine cake is in town and it's zesty and super moist. Slice it up and watch everyone come running for a piece of this fruity and sweet, yogurty deliciousness. Mini Viennese mince pies How do you make mini mince pies taste even better? Add even more buttery goodness with a Viennese swirl biscuit topping, zesty oranges and boozy amaretto of course! Cranberry and ginger tiffin Make this simple, indulgent tiffin to treat someone you love this Christmas. You can swap the white chocolate for dark or milk – go for the recipient’s favourite. The cranberry and ginger flavours really lift the buttery biscuit. Ready in only 30 minutes. Gingerbread Advent cookies Looking for fun Christmas baking ideas? Make your own edible Advent calendar with our quick and easy gingerbread cookie recipe. The kids can eat them one day at a time or all at once! We have more biscuit recipes here. White chocolate roulade with Baileys Treat your loved ones to a great dessert with this luxurious festive bake made with white chocolate and Baileys. It's easy to make and requires very little effort – prepare it next time you host a festive dinner party. Chocolate, hazelnut and cinnamon kugelhupf Kugelhupf is a light Christmas cake similar to brioche or baba and is popular in central Europe. This version is made with chocolate, hazelnut and cinnamon, a great alternative to the traditional British Christmas cake recipe. Plus, it's easy to make, too. Christmas muffins These tangerine and marzipan muffins are easy to make and ready in under an hour – serve with an afternoon cup of tea or for an indulgent festive breakfast treat.
Check out our favourite trifle recipes for year-round easy entertaining – from a classic sherry to rich chocolate and even a Dubai chocolate trifle
Looking for the most impressive trifle recipe? We have plenty of twists on the classic trifle for an impressive summer dessert or a wintry festive showstopper. Our summer trifles use seasonal ingredients such as strawberries and peaches to festive showstoppers like sherry trifles, chocolate trifle and gingerbread flavour. Plus we have plenty of other sweet treats to choose from including our decadent chocolate recipes and indulgent cheesecake ideas. For more festive sweet treats, discover our Christmas desserts and Christmas baking recipes. Best trifle recipes Classic trifle Want a Christmas trifle recipe with a boozy twist? This indulgent sherry trifle uses Amaretti biscuits for a lovely texture and flavour. It's a perfect way to conclude your Christmas day meal. Baileys tiramisu trifle Our stunning Christmas trifle recipe with boozy Baileys, chocolate swiss roll and lightly whipped cream with espresso makes for an impressive centrepiece at your festive feast. Sherry trifle Want a classic family dessert recipe with a twist? Make our easy trifle recipe with boozy sherry. Dubai chocolate trifle Layer a chocolate Swiss roll, pour over amaretto and top with custard and pistachio cream to make a trifle inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar – it takes just 35 minutes. Raspberry trifle fridge cake All the flavours of trifle but in a layered no-bake cake. This is a great one to make ahead as it needs overnight setting. Lemon trifle Try this zesty spin on a classic for an impressive centrepiece at a feast. Vegan raspberry and lemon trifle Impress your guests with this classic layered dessert. The easy homemade custard uses vanilla-flavoured soya milk and gives a traditional flavour and colour to the custard. Mascarpone raspberry trifle terrine Impress your festive guests with our beautiful mascarpone trifle with juicy raspberries – it’s easy to slice and easy to make. It will keep for up to three days in the fridge, so you can make it ahead of Christmas day. Chocolate trifle Rich dark chocolate custard and hazelnut liqueur takes this trifle to chocolatey new heights – the ultimate Christmas dessert for chocolate lovers. Gingerbread trifle Add a hit of ginger to your English trifle this Christmas with these gingerbread trees. This creamy trifle with rum cardamom custard is the perfect sweet hit to finish your Christmas Day feast. Sour cherry trifle with almonds Dazzle your guests with the perfect Christmas day dessert – a trifle featuring irresistible layers of vanilla-flecked custard cream, sherry-soaked sponge, toasted almonds, and sour cherries. Sherry trifle cheesecake Impress guests during the festive season with this nostalgic pud with a modern twist. More cheesecake recipes to try here... Blood orange and amaretti trifles Need an easy yet impressive dessert for guests at your next festive dinner party? Try these quick individual trifle recipes with amaretti and blood orange. Clementine and prosecco trifle This boozy trifle recipe with clementines is a worthy dessert for all your festive gatherings. Our easy trifle is a great, modern twist on a traditional trifle. Freeze the egg whites until you want to make the prosecco sabayon. Winter berry trifle Want an easy berry trifle recipe for winter? Our impressive trifle pudding is an easy winter berry dessert recipe. Check out our collection of best ever fruity puddings for more inspiration. Stem ginger trifle Want to mix up your classic trifle recipe? Add ginger cake for an easy Christmas trifle recipe with a twist. This ginger cake trifle is an easy spiced grown-up dessert ready in 30 minutes. Check out more of our ginger recipes here... Cherry crunch trifle These individual chocolate cherry trifles make the best individual pudding to try over the festive seas0n. More cherry recipes here... White forest trifle Need a stylish Christmas dessert to make during the festive season? Ready in only 30 minutes, our fruity trifle will become a crowd favourite in no time. Raspberry trifle This impressive trifle, with sherry-soaked scones, juicy raspberries and silky clotted cream custard, couldn't be simpler to put together. A perfect, sunshiny dessert for a crowd. Strawberry trifle The easiest, quickest trifle recipe for summer: made with Madeira cake and strawberries. Topped with custard and cream, these individual pots make a perfect pudding. Peach and raspberry trifle Peaches and raspberries make the best fruit trifles. Shop-bought cake makes this classic pud so easy and individual desserts always look impressive. Summer fruit trifle Want an easy summer dessert? Check out this show-stopping trifle recipe with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream, this easy trifle recipe is a technicolour trip back in time. We've got plenty more strawberry recipes here too.
Radishes and butter are a perfect match and make a stunning little bite. You will need a terrine tin or small tin
Try our radish butter terrine, then discover miso radishes, chilli pickled radishes and more radish recipes. Radish butter terrine recipe
Made using just six ingredients, these surf-and-turf party bites would be perfect for a impressing a crowd
Try our prawn and chorizo skewers, then discover paneer tikka skewers, spiced paneer skewers, halloumi skewers, aubergine skewers. Prawn and chorizo skewers recipe
Crunchy potatoes make the ideal bed for spicy avocado. Serve these veggie nibbles with pink pickled onions and aleppo chilli flakes on top
Try our smashed parmesan potatoes with avocado, then discover smashed potato and halloumi traybake, rosemary roasted smashed new potatoes with mustardy chive aïoli, or crushed fried potatoes with curry powder salt, lime pickle yogurt and bombay mix. Smashed parmesan potatoes with avocado recipe
An update on the butter board trend, but here, the board becomes an edible base. Perfect for entertaining at Christmas
Try our salmon flatbread, then discover hot-smoked salmon vol-au-vents, cucumber, smoked salmon and avo stacks, hot-smoked salmon and courgette mini quiches, smoked salmon, beetroot and sorrel and more smoked salmon starter recipes. Salmon flatbread recipe
Whipped feta with apricots, olives and oranges
This savoury dip is great to kick off a party – loaded with festive dried fruits and nuts. The pomegranate drizzle adds an extra puckering twist
Try whipped feta with apricots, olives and oranges, then discover BBQ kofte with whipped feta and tahini slaw, whipped feta mousse with melba toast, or whipped feta and beetroot on toast with poached eggs and dukkah. Whipped feta with apricots, olives and oranges recipe
A quick pickle takes simple melon and parma ham skewers to the next level. Perfect for a Christmas or New Year's Eve canapé
Try our pickled melon and prosciutto skewers, then discover devilled eggs, blinis, pork belly canapés and more Christmas canapé ideas. Pickled melon and prosciutto skewers recipe
Swedish citrus-cured gravadlax with juniper and pink peppercorns
This Gravadlax recipe (buried salmon) is one of my favourite Swedish holiday dishes. I make a variation of it every Christmas and Midsummer
Try Sebastian's Swedish citrus-cured gravadlax with juniper and pink peppercorns, then discover hot-smoked salmon vol-au-vents and more smoked salmon starter recipes. Also see more Scandinavian recipes, such as our smörgåsbord, Swedish meatballs and Scandinavian scallops. Most farmed salmon from the UK and Norway is safe to eat raw without freezing. If you’re using wild salmon, or want extra reassurance, freeze it for 24 hrs before thawing and curing. It’s normal for liquid to pool in the dish during curing – just pour it off to avoid over-curing. Once fully cured, the salmon will last for four days covered in the fridge. Swedish citrus-cured gravadlax with juniper and pink peppercorns recipe
Kick Christmas Day morning off with a vibrant blend of champagne, pink grapefruit juice and blanco tequila
Try our Paloma champagne cocktail, then discover homemade grenadine, bucks fizz, kir royale, French 75 and more champagne cocktails. Paloma champagne cocktail recipe
We’ve used Aperol here but you could swap with another Italian aperitif like Campari or Select Aperitivo for a more bittersweet flavour
Try our Aperol spritz punch, then discover sloe gin fizz, Christmas spiced negroni and more Christmas cocktails. Aperol spritz punch recipe
Feeling too stuffed for dessert after a big dinner? Enter the pudding cocktail: sweet, creamy and boozy, it’s the perfect end to a meal. Here we’ve used the flavours of a classic Italian dessert to make a decadent treat
Try our tiramisu martini, then discover our passion fruit martini, French martini, vesper martini and more easy martini recipes. Also try our recipes for homemade coffee syrup and other coffee cocktails such as our revolver cocktail. If you are entertaining, our espresso martini cheesecake makes for an impressive dinner party dessert, or make our fun espresso martini cake pops for a grown-up treat. Tiramisu martini recipe
Sweet potato dauphinoise pithivier with toasted almonds and shallot green beans
This pithivier reheats really well – any leftovers can be revived for 20 minutes in the oven until piping hot
Try our sweet potato dauphinoise pithivier with toasted almonds and shallot green beans, then discover our mushroom wellington, Christmas nut roast, vegetarian Christmas wreath and more vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes. Sweet potato dauphinoise pithivier with toasted almonds and shallot green beans recipe