For those of us on kitchen duty over Christmas, the festive period can be a blessing and a curse. Many Christmas recipes are a joy to make and we can experiment and indulge unashamedly in what we eat and drink, but let’s not forget that everyone’s favourite time of year can bring with it everyone’s least favourite things — tricky timings, multi-pan dinners and one too many sherries making everything just that little bit trickier. More than a few of us are kept up at night throughout December, haunted by the ghost of underdone turkeys past and cold roasties, fearful of what this year's festivities may bring.
Christmas is coming, and so are the unexpected visitors! Get ahead of the game this festive season with our Christmas tips, features and recipes and keep your potatoes crisp, cocktails punchy and the biscuit tin filled with festive bakes.
After last year's lockdown Christmas, we're all eagerly looking forward to something a little less solitary (or most of us are, anyway!). Whether you're cooking for two or twenty, with just a little menu planning you can be ready to take it all in your stride. We have all the necessary recipes for the perfect Christmas dinner, along with all the other festive accoutrements you might need including Christmas biscuits, cranberry sauce, dinner party ideas and wickedly potent Christmas cocktails. You could be after something new and unusual or just looking to hone the traditional Christmas dinner to perfection; either way, read on for everything you need. From icing the cake to keeping stockings stuffed with edible gifts, our guides, recipes and menu ideas will see you through every stage of the Christmas season.
Master the basics
Swipe to scroll through images
Mince pies
by Shay Cooper
Adam’s mulled wine
by Adam Gray
Mulled cider
by Sally Abé
Christmas cake
by Karen Burns-Booth
Panforte
by Louise Robinson
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.
