Christmas Recipes Made Easy

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought now would be a good time to share all my Christmas recipes made easy from festive drinks and party nibbles to the main event with all its trimmings in one place. 

I have now been sharing my Christmas Recipes Made Easy for several years, old favourites mixed in with with some new ones. Slowly but surely I now have almost every recipe I need for the festive period on the blog.

From festive drinks and party nibbles to the main event with all its trimming.  As Christmas is always a busy time its helpful to be able to have them listed all together so you and I can lay our hands quickly on the ones we want. 

You will also find my Christmas Bakes and Makes Made Easy  which could be made in advance in one place but here I want to share with you the recipes that you need to make nearer the time be it for party nibbles to share with friends or the big day itself.

I also have a printable Christmas Day Plan, so along with that and all my recipes listed together Christmas planning and cooking has never been easier. Where I am still a bit on the light side with recipes, I have asked my blogging friends for suggestions to fill in the gaps.  So all that remains is for me to wish you a merry and delicious Christmas.

Festive drinks and Party Nibbles

Drinks

At this time of year for me, nothing gets me more in the festive mood than a warming hot toddy, which is why one of the very early recipes I shared with you was for my Mulled wine and cider. The photos aren't great but the recipes are! I've since added a delicious non-alcoholic cranberry punch.

Mulled wine

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie or two.

Recipe

Mulled cider

A warming winter drink, mulled cider makes a delicious alternative to the more familiar mulled wine.

Recipe

Mulled Cranberry Punch

This punch is a perfect alcohol free alternative to mulled wine. Enjoy all the spiciness and warmth of a mulled drink without the alcohol.

Recipe

I also have some great festive cocktails and some non-alcoholic soft drinks too. My non-drinking guests love my Apple & Ginger Fizz and Lime and Mint Spritzer .

Apple and Ginger Fizz

Clear apple juice and ginger ale make a simple and delicious alcohol free drink. Perfect for sharing at any time of the year.

Recipe

Lime and Mint Spritzer

A sophisticated and delicious alternative to a plain lime and soda. Low cal and non-alcoholic.

Recipe

Cranberry Champagne Sparkle

A festive champagne cocktail.

Recipe

Party Eats

When it comes to cooking for parties no one wants to spend too much time in the kitchen. My pesto Christmas tree uses ready-made puff pastry and is really easy and quick to prepare and yet makes a fun centrepiece for a buffet table.

Pesto Christmas Tree

This Christmas tree shaped savoury pastry is really easy to make. It makes a fun centre piece for your festive buffet spread.

Recipe

Crostini are quick and easy to prepare. The croutes can be baked in advance and will keep in an airtight container for a couple of days and the toppings can be made up to 24 hours in advance then its just a quick assembly job when required.

Christmas crostini

Topped with ingredients that you will are likely to have around at Christmas, these crostini are the perfect festive nibble.

Recipe

Red pepper crostini

Crunchy pieces of garlic flavoured bread, topped with a marinated red peppers

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Bean and Pancetta crostini

Crusty bread slices topped with a minted bean purée and crispy pancetta pieces

Recipe

Other recipes that go down well at my Christmas gathering include my spicy turkey nibbles, a dip or two and of course every one loves sausages on sticks

Spicy Turkey Nibbles

Delicious served hot or cold.

Recipe

Party sausages -Three Ways

These easy to make party sausages can be made with one of three glazes.  So simple so tasty.

Recipe

Carrot and Goats Cheese Dip

A quick and easy dip.

Recipe

THE BIG DAY

The Starters

If I'm honest I rarely serve a starter on Christmas day but I know a lot of people do. Keep it light and simple or choose something you can make in advance.

Fig and Goats Cheese Salad

A really delicious and easy to prepare starter that takes minutes to prepare and is cooked in 20 minutes.

Recipe

Smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber parcels

Cream cheese flavoured with chives and little cubes of cucumber, wrapped in smoked salmon.  An elegant starter that can be prepared in minutes and made ahead.

Recipe

Ham Hock Terrine

An easy to make tasty and economical terrine.  Serve as a starter, for a light lunch or as part of a picnic or buffet spread.

Best made the day before required as you need time for it to cool and set.

Recipe

The Main Course

For us, it has to be a roast turkey. As with any roast dinner success is really all about the timing which is why my time plan comes in so handy. 

We also like to have a gammon though that usually gets eaten on boxing day!

Traditional Roast Turkey

Traditional roast turkey is the number one choice at Christmas.

Recipe

Marmalade Glazed Gammon

A baked gammon joint glazed with marmalade and wholegrain mustard. Delicious served hot or cold.

Recipe

The sides

No roast dinner is complete without roast potatoes and a selection of seasonal vegetables

Perfect Roast Potatoes

Crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, no roast dinner is complete without perfect roast potatoes

Recipe

Braised Red Cabbage

This braised red cabbage has a delicious sweet-sour flavour enhanced by the addition of beetroot.

Recipe

Spiced Roast Parsnips

A simple way to upgrade the humble roast parsnip to the next level. The spices complement the natural sweetness and flavour of the parsnips perfectly.

Recipe

Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts

This classic combination of Brussels sprouts and chestnuts is really easy to make and is perfect for the Christmas table or with any winter roast.

Recipe

and all the trimmings

On my Christmas Day Countdown post you will find not only my menu and time plan but also recipes for everyone favourite Pigs In Blanket and the Gravy. 

 I for one love stuffing.  Sage and onion is the classic which I often make, I love the crispy texture. I also like to stuff the turkey with a Chestnut and sausagemeat stuffing.  If you prefer not to stuff the bird you can pack it into a loaf tin instead.

Sage and Onion Stuffing

A simple stuffing that can be made from store cupboard ingredients. Serve with pork, chicken or turkey. Sage and onion stuffing can be made a day ahead of time if desired.

Recipe

Chestnut and sausagemeat stuffing

A traditional stuffing for roast turkey.  This stuffing also goes well with chicken and pork.

Recipe

Finally I like to make my own Cranberry Sauce, which has a lovely tart flavour.

Cranberry sauce

A quick and simple to make classic cranberry sauce. Serve with roast turkey, chciken or pork.

Recipe

Vegetarian Options

If you are serving a vegetarian option this Christmas my Carrot and Feta Strudel will not disappoint.

Roasted spiced carrot and Feta Strudel

A simple to make vegetarian main dish ideal for special occasions.

Recipe

I sometimes serve a nut roast like this Lentil and Brasil Nut Roast form Tin and Thyme or this Vegan and gluten free Nut Roast from Fab Food for All.

For something a little unusual you might like to try Easy Peasy Foodie's Cranberry Feta and Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash.

Desserts

In the Bellefontaine house, we do love our desserts, so for Christmas, I really go to town. Christmas pudding with brandy butter is a must. 

Brandy Butter

Brandy butter is simple to make and can be made in advance. The perfect accompaniment to serve with Christmas pudding or mince pies.

Recipe

I also like to make something a little different such as my Christmas pudding ice cream as well as a meringue dessert of some kind (that's the boys favourite) and of course a trifle!

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.

Recipe

Chocolate Meringue Crown

Layers of crisp meringue, plain chocolate, cream and fruit are combined to make a stunning dessert, fit for a king.

Recipe

Raspberry syllabub trifle

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

Recipe