Christmas baking recipes

Bake these lovely star-shaped biscuits to give as edible Christmas gifts for family and friends. They're easy to make, so kids can get involved too

Have some family fun making these carrot cake pops. Add pretzels to make the antlers and a sugar-coated chocolate red nose to complete your reindeers

No rolling required! Press the raw, crumbly pastry directly into your tin for a short, biscuity finish. Our easiest mince pie recipe and great fun to make with kids

Combine two favourites in this clever mash-up of brownies and mince pies. These sweet treats will prove a big hit throughout the festive season

Love crinkle cookies? Try our extra-festive version for Christmas, with orange zest, mixed spice and cinnamon – and not forgetting the classic fudgy centre

Try a modern twist on a traditional Christmas cake with this salted caramel version. Laced with chunks of toffee and dates, plus a crunchy, nutty topping, it’s a real treat

Get the kids involved in making these cute elf and Santa cupcakes with our template for the chimney-style paper cases

Bake this festive fruit cake in advance of Christmas and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist

A classic light, spiced Christmas pudding - so simple you don't even need any kitchen scales

Get ahead at Christmas with this showstopping cake boasting white chocolate, cherries and festive spice. You can bake the sponges, meringues and biscuits the day before assembling

Bake a batch of these Christmas tree-shaped biscuits over the holiday season. They're flavoured with green tea and coconut

Transform the yule log into a magical Christmas dessert using festive spices, a brandy butter filling and chocolate truffle icing for extra indulgence

Treat grown-up guests to these fabulous brownies inspired by a classic cocktail. They're a decadent ending to any dinner party

Make some gingerbread stars to hang from your Christmas tree. This biscuit dough is extremely forgiving if overworked, so it's perfect for baking with children

Pair chocolate and marmalade for a dessert made in heaven. The cream – which works with lots of other desserts, too – takes it up another notch

Even the smallest hands can help make these gingerbread men – perfect for Christmas. You can use raisins, sultanas or Smarties to decorate

Make these to give as an edible Christmas gift. Made with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana chips, they're all the taste of banoffee pie in one small bite

Make a Christmas staple with some homemade mince pies made with puff pastry. Serve for breakfast, or enjoy hot with vanilla ice cream for dessert

Have the kids help you make this snowy coconut loaf cake. Decorate with coconut shavings, ‘snowballs’, and anything else you like

When a mince pie meets baklava, it’s a match made in Christmas heaven. Serve warm with ice cream for dessert, or cut into smaller bites to enjoy with coffee

Create this cute gingerbread train for a fun Christmas centrepiece. The dough makes more than you’ll need, but having extra makes it easier to cut out neat shapes

Bake our festive cake filled with walnuts for an alternative Christmas dessert. It's topped with a stunning pomegranate molasses frosting and candied walnuts

Bake a batch of these moreish manchego and chorizo biscuits to serve as part of a cheeseboard. They make a lovely edible gift at Christmas, too

Try this lighter version of a classic Christmas fruitcake, bursting with festive spice and juicy fruit. Decorate with candied fruit and glacé cherries