Christmas Bakes and Makes

Planning your Christmas baking? Need inspiration? Look no further I have rounded up some of my favourite festive foodie bakes and makes from Recipes Made Easy.

Depending on when you read this post, it could be because you like to make an early start on your Christmas baking,  just want to start to planning your festive cooking, or looking for some last minute ideas for Christmas bakes,  I thought I would round up some of the Recipes Made Easy Christmas Bakes and Makes in one place to make them easier for you to find.  Some of the early recipes don't have great pictures but they are too good to leave out.

The Christmas Pudding

Traditionally made on stir up Sunday the last Sunday before Advent. Tradition has it that everyone present should stir the pudding and make a wish. I actually mix up my Traditional Christmas pudding on Saturday, leaving it to stand overnight to allow the flavours to blend,  then on Sunday, there is plenty of time to give it one final mix make a wish and steam the puddings. 

If a traditional Christmas pudding is not your thing you might like to try Christmas Pudding Ice Cream

I usually make it with any left over pudding and serve as a treat over the holidays but if you buy a mini Christmas pudding you can make it in advance and serve it on the big day itself.

As well as the traditional Christmas pudding I like to serve a selection of desserts which always includes a Trifle and usually a meringue based dessert such as my Coconut and Pineapple Meringue Roll or a Pavlova.

No-Churn Christmas Pudding Ice cream

Rich and creamy with all the sweet Christmassy flavour you associate with Christmas pudding but in an ice cream.

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Raspberry syllabub trifle

Raspberry syllabub trifle An alcoholic raspberry trifle topped with a a boozy syllabub, this trifle make a fantastic indulgent dessert.

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Coconut and Pineapple Meringue Roll

A stunning dessert of coconut meringue filled and rolled with cream and pineapple.

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Berry Pavlova

Crunchy meringue with a chewy centre, topped with fresh berries and whipped cream make this a decadent and delicious dessert dish.

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Christmas Cakes

Mr B and I love a traditional Rich Fruit Cake so I often bake one at Christmas but my boys are not so keen. I don't mind as they keep well and can be made weeks in advance. Sometimes I decorate them, sometimes not.

Rich fruit cake

A rich fruit cake that is ideal for a traditional Christmas cake, or any special occasion where a good quality fruit cake is required.

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Special Fruit and Nut cake

Packed with fruit and nuts this easy to make and decorate cake tastes delicious and looks stunning. Special enough for any special occasion or festive table.

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Easy Retro Christmas Cake - Only Crumbs Remain

This Christmas cake is really easy to make using the simmer and serve method and is decorated with a retro-style snow scene which requires little cake decorating skill but still looks fabulous.

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If fruitcake is not your thing then a  Yule Log is a classic Christmas cake, that requires just the minimum of cake decorating skills and yet can make a stunning centrepiece.

I discovered the joys of a stollen after I left my childhood home and it is now part of my must make Christmas bakes.  As it is an enriched dough (with added butter and egg) it will keep for several days, but  it is particularly good on the day it is made, and at its very best while still warm from the oven. 

More recently I have discovered that Stollen tastes amazing lightly toasted. 

Panforte A chewy, nutty, sweet and spicy traditional dense Italian cake which is packed with fruit and nuts. Perfect for a treat with a cup of coffee or tea it also makes a great gift.

Of I am seeing any little ones over Christmas its fun to make up some novelty cupcakes like the robin cupcake on Only Crumbs Remain.

Yule Log

This traditional Christmas bake is a Chocolate swiss roll, decorated with a rich chocolate buttercream.

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Stollen

A classic continental yeasted Christmas cake which is fast becoming a favourite around the world. This Stollen is not too sweet and a perfect treat to have with a cup of coffee or tea.

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Panforte

Enjoy this Tuscan cake made with dried fruits and nuts with a glass of sweet wine or coffee, or wrap up and give as a homemade gift

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I also like to sometimes serve a couronne which is a French sweet yeasted bread traditionally served at Christmas.

Cranberry and Pecan Couronne – Only Crumbs Remain

A Couronne or Crown is a traditional French bread served at Christmas. This Cranberry and Pecan Couronne is so good I would happily enjoy it at any time of the year.

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Christmas Robin Cupcakes - Only Crumbs Remain

These fun Christmas robin cupcakes are perfect for the festivities ahead. They’re super easy to make, largely being shaped with a plain round cookie cutter, making them a fun bake for children to help with.

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Santa Cup Cakes – Only Crumbs Remain

These super festive cupcakes are a lot of fun, easy to make and would be the perfect addition to the party food for the Christmas festivities.

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Mincemeat

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Mincemeat. Home Made Mincemeat is so much better than the jars you buy which tend to be overly sweet. It's also very easy to make and makes a great Festive gift.

Of course you can use it to make mince pies but if they seem a bit fiddly and too much of a faff for you, why not try making one large tart like my Mincemeat and Pear Tart. Mr B sometimes complains that mince pies are too sweet for him so I came up with Cranberry and Marzipan Pies

Homemade mincemeat

Homemade Mincemeat Homemade mincemeat, less sweet than shop bought mincemeat and with a fresher flavour. Make a batch up now ready for your festive baking.

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Easy Mince Pies

Traditional Christmas mincemeat pies with a melt in the mouth almond pastry.

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Pear and mincemeat tart – Only Crumbs Remain

This delicious pear and mincemeat tart is made with a melt in the mouth hazelnut and orange flavoured pastry. The pastry top is cut out using cookie cutters to give an attractive finish to the tart.

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Cranberry and Marzipan pies – Only Crumbs remain

These individual sweet cranberry and marzipan pies are packed with festive flavours and make a delicious change to the traditional festive mince pie.

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Edible Gifts

A jar of homemade mincemeat is not the only make that is a great gift I sometimes give jars of my  Fruity Chutney to friends. It goes really well with cold turkey and ham.

Chocolates always go down well as a gift. My Hand Rolled Coffee Truffles remain one of my most popular recipes

and my Prosecco Truffles are also rather good.

My Almond and Cranberry Rochers and this White Christmas Rocky Road are quicker and easier to make but decadent enough to make them a real festive treat.

Whisky Fudge is also fast becoming a festive favourite of mine.

Cranberry and Pecan Biscotti keeps well and can be made in advance and these simple to make Caramelised Pecan Nuts can be given as a mini gift and are delicious with Christmas drinks.

Fruity Chutney

A spicy rich dark chutney made from dried fruits. Perfect to serve with cold meats and cheeses.

Makes about 1.5kg/3¼lbs 

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Coffee Truffles

Coffee flavoured truffles with a hint of Kahlua, hand rolled in chocolate. A perfect gift or treat. You will need about 1 hour hands on time to make the truffles but remember to extra time for chilling and setting.

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Prosecco Truffles

A light prosecco flavoured centre encased in creamy milk chocolate, these chocolate truffles are rich and luxurious and surprisingly easy to make.

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Almond and Cranberry Rochers

Quick and easy to make, allow time for the chocolates to set in a cool place.

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Nicola's White Christmas Rocky Road

A delicious mixture of toasted coconut, macadamia nuts, cranberries and marshmallow in creamy white chocolate is an easy to make Australian festive bake.  It is very rich so cut into small pieces.

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Cranberry and pecan biscotti

Whether you make these as a gift or fill the biscuit tin for when friends and family are around, these Italian biscuits are sure to be a hit.

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Caramelised Pecans

Quick and easy to make these crunchy pecans are delicious served as nibbles for drinks, sprinkled over cakes or dessert. They also make great little gifts for friends and family.

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Whiskey Fudge - Only Crumbs Remain

Indulge friends with this Homemade Whisky Fudge. Made using the traditional method, this fudge recipe is delicious carrying the flavour and aroma of whisky (whiskey). It’s perfect for offering as a gift to loved ones or even treating yourself.

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Turkish Delight – Only Crumbs Remain

Turkish delight or Lokum as it is also known is a sweet fragrant jelly confection traditionally flavoured with rosewater and heavily dusted with icing sugar and cornflour.

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Festive Savoury Bakes

This Festive Pesto Christmas Tree is fun to make and easier than you might think.  My Savoury Palmiers and Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls are also made with puff pastry and are quick and easy bakes for the festive season. Parmesan Crisps can be made in minutes and are great with festive drinks

Savoury Palmiers

These easy to make savoury biscuits make ideal pre dinner or party nibbles.

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Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls

The addition of cranberry sauce to the humble sausage roll lifts them to another level. Perfect for any party spread, picnics or lunch boxes

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Parmesan Crisps

Quick and easy cheese crips perfect for pre-dinner nibbles or parties

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Bakes for Special Diets

Even if you do not have to cater special diets day today, you may well have guests that have dietary requirements, so I ask my blogging friends to share their favourite Alternative Christmas Bakes.

Ricciarelli from Only Crumbs Remain – Gluten Free

Mini Christmas Cakes from Glutarama – Gluten free with nutfree marzipan

Vegan Gluten Free Christmas Cake from Rhian's Recipes – Gluten Free/Vegan

Christmas Banana Bread with Cranberries from Sneaky Veg – Vegan

Sticky Gingerbread Tray Bake  from Basement Bakehouse- Dairy Free