Christmas Recipes

Here is my page of Christmas Recipes - bakes & no-bakes, sweet & savoury, super simple & tasty, all suitable for a Christmas table or food gifting this holiday season.

**More still to be added that were on the old website, as well as new ones. So keep checking back regularly.

Close fornt on shot of a deep brown fruit cake with one to the background and both British Christmas cakes.

Sweet Christmas Recipes

Overhead photo on black slate and darksetting, a chocolate covered yule log and a slice served.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE YULE LOG – That Just Happens To Be Gluten & Flour Free Too

Here is my detailed tutorial and video for making this amazing chocolate & orange flavoured Yule Log (Bûche de Noël). So much easier to make that it looks, don’t be afraid to make a Swiss roll/Jelly roll, and any cracks can be covered by the ‘chocolate bark’. And because the cake is flour free, it is also gluten free too.

Go to Gluten Free Flour Free Chocolate Orange Yule Log

Watch Yule Log Video Tutorial

Or the 30 second YouTube short

Christmas table with white tree plate and Scottish shortbread round biscuits half coated in chocolate and shortbread with pink napkin.

CHOCOLATE & COCONUT SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD

Using my Traditional Scottish Shortbread recipe, I developed this chocolate and coconut version, with just a hint of anise! Still with the same melt in the mouth texture, I have been told my shortbread is so much better than a certain popular brand you can buy!

You can read feedback and see readers’ bakes on Reader’ Feedback & Photos page

Go to Chocolate Coconut Scottish Shortbread recipe.

While you are here, why not check out a quick video of a hack to soften butter in about 10 minutes?

Watch my review of Softening Butter In About 10 Minutes

Very close shot of various sizes and shapes of Scottish shortbread, with star shapes & an orange glaze & zest on top, with tartin napkin.

Orange Glazed Scottish Shortbread

Try my very popular, authentic and traditional, Scottish shortbread using a recipe we use here in Scotland.

This time the shortbread is cut using holiday cutters in any shape you like and is topped with a simple but tasty orange glaze.

Easily customizable.

Go to Orange Glazed Scottish Shortbread.

Photo of a vanilla sandwich cookie filled with buttercream and lemon curd and with Christmas decorations to the back and titled Christmas dodgers.

CHRISTMAS DODGERS

Try my take on British biscuit/cookie Jammy Dodgers. Themed as a Christmas recipe, they are filled with jam & a firmer buttercream, so perfect for a sandwich cookie.

Christmas Dodgers Cookies

SPEEDY MINCE PIE SWIRLS

Here’s a sweet version of my Speedy Cheese Swirls recipe. Speedy Mince Pie Swirls have the same minced fruit filling of your favourite mince pies, but can be made much easier and quicker too than making pastry.

Go to Speedy Mince Pie Swirls

Madeira cake partialy sliced, on top of a black slate board, on a pale blue background, with whisky glass, Baily's drink, fancy knife, red berries, red napkin and Scottish tartin bow.

EASY MADEIRA LOAF CAKE

Madeira Cake is a classic British bake & also synonymous with New Year in Scotland. No Scottish New Year (or Hogmanay party), is complete without the addition of our Scottish shortbread and a slice of Madeira cake. A very simple bake, and not too sweet, this cake is liked by all. Try the new fresh cranberry orange version too.

Go to Madeira Cake recipe

Overhread shot of a golden cake loaf with red cranberry pieces, on a wooden board with crnaberries and orange halves, on a white table with xmas decorations, and title cranberry orange Madeira cake. — *Cranberry orange Madeira cake*

close shot of 2 finger sof Scottish shortbread with a glass of whisky and bottles to the back.

TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD

Trust me when I say this is an authentic Scottish Shortbread recipe, with the delicate melt in the mouth texture – I am a Scot after all.

Go to Traditional Scottish Shortbread

Slice of boiled fruit cake on plate on table with Xmas decrations and hand reaching for plate.

SIMPLE FRUIT CAKE – No Hassle Boiled Fruit Cake For Afternoon Tea

This simple fruit cake, is perfect for an afternoon tea, & so easy to make. A popular classic British bake, it is enjoyed by all. Also called a Boiled Fruit Cake, part of the ingredients are boiled before adding the dry ingredients & baking. The high sugar content from the fruit also means the cake will last that little bit longer too.

Use as an alternative to a British Christmas Cake. Be sure to make day before you intend eating, as it tastes better day after.

Boiled Fruit Cake

close partial shot of mint green coloured meringue trees with sprinkles and gold star to represent a Christmas tree.

MERINGUE CHRISTMAS TREES – RECIPE REVIEW

Mrs D’s review of Good Housekeeping’s Meringue Christmas Tree recipe. Ideal for baking with the kids and gifting this holiday season.

Go to Meringue Christmas Trees Review

Close front on photo of a slice of mincemeat filled baked treat on a plate labelled Christmas in a slice.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT SLICES

Try this traybake, a great way to use up mincemeat from other Christmas recipes, or as an alternative to mince pies. “Christmas In A Slice!”

Christmas Mincemeat Slice

CRANBERRY, ORANGE & PECAN SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD

Try my Scottish Shortbread, this time flavoured with orange, and added nuts and cranberries. Not just part of the Christmas recipes, these are a favourite year round.

Go to Orange Cranberry Nut Shortbread

Close front on shot of a deep golden round fruit cake with one to the back and small ones off to the side.

TRADIONAL BRITISH CHRISTMAS CAKE BAKE-TOGETHER

A series of posts for making a 100 year old traditional British Christmas cake. Including video and fondant tutorials.

Go to Christmas Cake Bake-together

Front on angled shot of a cut gingerbread cake, with glaze and crystalized ginger pieces on top.

EASY BRITISH GINGERBREAD CAKE RECIPE

Sweet lesson number 3 is this easy traditinal British gingerbread cake with golden syrup and black treacle. Make as a 2lb loaf cake or use the 12 mini bundt gingerbread cakes recipe & make 6 cakelets.

Go to Gingerbread Cake

Extra close photo of front on a ginger crinkle cookie in half, and stacke don top of more cookies.

GINGERBREAD CRINKLE COOKIES – Recipe Review

This is my review of Anna Olson’s recipe for Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies.

I was on the hunt for a new gingerbread cookie, that would not only bake off soft, but stay that way, as well have a nice chewy texture. Read on to hear my thoughts on this recipe by Anna Olson.

Go to Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies recipe review

Close partial shot of a plate of mini mince pies with Christmas shaped marzipan and pastry cut out tops.

MINI MINCE OR JAM PIES WITH MARZIPAN TOPPERS

What Christmas recipes would be complete without mince pies? Use my simple sweet shortcrust pastry tutorial to make these mini mince pies (made from minced dry fruit, meat free) & topped with marzipan. Don’t like mincemeat? Then use alternative fillings such as jam/jelly or peanut butter.

Go To Mini Mince Pie recipe

CHOCOLATE & ORANGE SANDWICH COOKIES – Can Be Made Gluten Free Too

Here’s my ‘Oreo-style’ cookies, Chocolate & orange sandwich cookies, themed for any holiday and filled with an orange flavoured buttercream. Can be made with Gluten free flour too.

Go to my Chocolate & Orange Sandwich Cookies recipe.

More biscuits &cookies recipes

Fondant penguin and snowballs scene on top of fondant covered Christmas fruit cake with title fondant tutorial.

FONDANT PENGUIN CHRISTMAS CAKE TUTORIAL

Here’s my easy step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make this cute fondant penguin cake topper. Use this penguin & create a snow scene for your Christmas Cake this holiday season.

Go to Fondant Penguin Christmas Cake

Need a traditional recipe for a British Christmas Cake? Try this one used in the photo above, and in our Bake-together.

Go to Traditional British Christmas Cake

For more, go to the Fondant Tutorials Page

brazil nuts coated in caramel on a wooden background with pink flowers and blue napkin.

BUTTERED BRAZILS

Buttered Brazils are whole Brazil nuts encased in smooth butterscotch caramel, they are ideal as a gift at any time of the year and easy to make too.

Go to Buttered Brazil Nuts

close partial front on shot of glass plate of brandy snap tubes with cream and strawberries pieces.

BRANDY SNAPS – A Recipe Review

Here’s a review by Mrs D, of Mary Berry’s Brandy Snaps recipe. A British classic!

Go to review of Brandy Snaps

For something less traditional ….

BROWNIES

Try one or all 3 of my popular Chocolate Brownie recipes to make this simple but impressive Brownie Stack. In the photo is my Chocolate Orange brownie, the Browned Butter Hazelnut Brownie, decorated with caramel & Hazelnut Spikes. Or see ways to decorate for the holidays – seasonal brownies

SAVOURY CHRISTMAS RECIPES

party table with cheese pastry twists, drinks, party poppers and bottles.

QUICK CHEESE PASTRY TWISTS

Here’s my quick & simple recipe for making Cheese Pastry Twists, using shop-bought puff pastry. A perfect, quick bake, great for entertaining & sure to please your guests.

Go to Cheese Pastry Twists

Round plate of puff pastry swirls on a dining table.

QUICK CHEESE PUFF PASTRY SWIRLS

Here’s my simple recipe for making Quick Cheese Puff Swirls, using shop-bought ready-made puff pastry. A perfect, quick bake, great for entertaining & sure to please your guests.

(Prep. Time – 30 mins, Chill Time – 30 mins & Cook Tim – 30 mins)

Quick Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls

extra close shot of deep brown/red coloured smoked paprika almonds with salt and shinny highlughts.

ROASTED, SALTED SMOKED PAPRIKA ALMONDS

Try this great savoury snack, that’s perfect for parties and even as giving out as gifts at Christmas.

Go to Roasted Smoked Paprika Almonds

cheese snacks in squares and stars, on top of a wooden board on pale blue background with yellow flowers, whisky glass and mini Christmas cake.

EASY PEASY SMOKIN’ CHEEZEE SQUARES (& Stars!)

Love cheese? Then these you will love too and so easy to make and great for nibbles and gifting.

Go to Smokin’ Cheeze Squares

Binus recipe, a spicy version!

Go to CHEESPICY SMOKIN’ SQUARES

SAVOURY TURKISH BISCUITS – Tuzlu Kurabiye

Try these super simple, but very moreish, savoury snack from Turkey. My take on a Tuzlu Kurabiye, it it literally translates as ‘salty biscuit’ (cookie). These are perfect for pairing with your favourite cheese, but equally good snacked on alone.

Can also be made with different shaped cookie cutters for a theme. See my Halloween bat shaped version below.

Go to these Cheesy Biscuits/cookies, or the plain savoury version below – Go to Savoury Biscuits recipe

Bright shot with a Fall decorated table of ornaments and various small Fall shaped savoury cookies served. — Turkish Savoury Biscuits

roasted seasoned pumpkin seeds on 3 small square black slate pieces on wooden board, on top of pale blue backdrop, with xmas bell decorations in red and white, drinks, wooden decoraion and green napkin.

ROASTED FLAVOURED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Read how to use every part of a pumpkin or squash, including drying, flavouring and roasting the pumpkin seeds, for a healthy & quick snack.

Go to Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

SPEEDY CHEESE SWIRLS

Speedy Cheese Swirls, are an easy, yeast-free, cheesy snack, & an alternative topastry, that is ideal for entertaining. Great for beginner bakers or when short on time.

Speedy Cheese Swirls

Extra Close shot of tall British cheese scone on pink vintage plate, with more to the background, pink napkin and butter dish to the background.

BRITISH CHEESE SCONES

Here is my savoury version of our British Scones. Learn all the tips & watch the video tutorial, to achieve a classic rise to your scones. Perfect for those who don’t like sweet bakes, so pop in a pretty basket and gift as a tasty treat this holiday season.

Go to my Cheese Scones recipe

Or Air Fryer Cheese Scones.

QUICKER ITALIAN BREADSTICK – A Recipe Review

Using a revolutionary new method for working with yeast dough, read my review for soft large breadsticks in 90 minutes. See my Savoury Lessons for more recipes.

Go to 90 Minute Italian Breadsticks review

More Quicker Breads & Rolls

Collage of8 different rolls and breads with title quicker yeast breads and rolls.

NO BAKE

Here’s my recipes that don’t require any baking in the oven.

Front on photo of Christmas pudding-like decorated cake truffle with others around it and Christmas box and decorations to the back.

TROPICAL CAKE TRUFFLES USING LEFTOVERS

Try these amazing cake truffles, using leftover cake and cookies. No need for buttercream or cream cheese, these truffles, last longer and are used with pantry staples.

Tropical Cake Truffles

Black small box with 6 cake truffles and lid open and one split in half showing texture. — *Tropical Cake Truffles*

Pink plate with chocolate truffles and pink napkin.

‘PROTEIN POWER-BALL’ CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Try my easy no-baking required, Chocolate Truffles. Includes how to easily make ganache and these perfect gifting treats.

Go to my Chocolate Truffles recipe

EASY MICROWAVE CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Easier, safer and quicker way to make chocolate fudge. Add orange extract, or some Baileys! And some cranberries, nuts, or sprinkles.

Go to Microwave Chocolate Fudge

Close shot of honeycomb or sponge candy half dipped in chocolate and stacked.

HONEYCOMB & CHOCOLATE DIPPED HONEYCOMB

New no-bake recipe, for honeycomb, that is ideal for food gifting this holiday season. Make with or without a chocolate coating.

Go to Honeycomb recipe.

Peanut Brittle - caramel peanuts up extra close with text on top

PEANUT BRITTLE – Recipe Review

Read Mrs D’s review of this no-bake sweet treat, ideal for gifting.

Go to Peanut Brittle Review

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