
Make-ahead Christmas recipes
Showing items 1 to 24 of 119
Tuscan sausage, kale & ciabatta stuffing
Prep this sausage, kale and bread stuffing up to two days in advance, then bake on the day. If your favourite part of stuffing is the crispy bits, you’ll love this recipe
Sunken chocolate, olive oil & hazelnut cake
Indulge in a cake with a lovely crunchy topping that gives way to a soft, gooey middle. With its flourless sponge, it's ideal for guests who can’t eat gluten
Pheasant casserole
Make this festive pheasant stew in a sweet-and-sour cider and clementine sauce up to a day ahead, then simply reheat until piping hot when you want to serve
App onlyMincemeat flapjacks. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.
Make some Christmassy flapjacks using mincemeat. They make the perfect travel companion, and are great if you’re craving some festive flavours
Gingerbread tres leches cake
Give this Mexican-inspired cake a festive twist using ginger and cinnamon. The cake is soaked in a trio of sweetened milks, then topped with whipped cream
App onlyElote muffins. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.
Get inspired by the Mexican street-food snack, elote. These savoury muffins make an excellent breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up when you’re on the go
Ham hock, cheese & potato pithivier
Make this domed puff-pastry pie as a Christmas centrepiece. With a crumbly pastry exterior and packed filling oozing with gooey comté, it's a wow dish
Classic Christmas cake
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
Herb-buttered baby carrots
Make the herby mustard butter a few days ahead, then microwave your carrots on the day for a speedy vegetarian side. It's the perfect dish for Christmas dinner or a Sunday roast
Festive rum & ginger punch
Prepare this festive punch before your guests arrive for a stress-free party. It uses our mince pie rum, but can also be made with spiced rum
Turkey crown kiev
Apply the flavours of a chicken kiev – garlic, parsley and butter – to a succulent turkey crown, and you'll be in for a treat. It's a great Christmas main
Pistachio tiramisu
Delight guests with a pistachio twist on tiramisu, with a pistachio cream filling and pistachio topping. It's a perfect dessert for a dinner party
Air-fryer carrot cake
Make a classic carrot cake with the help of your trusty air fryer. Top with soft cheese icing and crushed pecans, then kick back and enjoy with a cup of tea
Eggnog
Make our easy eggnog recipe for the perfect festive party tipple. This traditional Christmas drink uses just five ingredients, including egg yolks and brandy
Christmas shortbread biscuits
Decorate these gorgeous Christmas biscuits with candied orange peel, flaked almonds or freeze-dried raspberries. Star- or tree-shaped cutters also work well
Christmas lasagne
Make a festive lasagne, with cinnamon-spiced port and beef ragu, enriched with dark chocolate and layered with chestnut béchamel, it's ideal for a gathering
Irish cream tiramisu
You can make this no-cook tiramisu ahead to save on time when hosting a party. Made with Irish cream liqueur, it's a truly grown-up dessert
Bread sauce with flaked almonds & caramelised shallots
Take the stress out of Christmas dinner by making this bread sauce ahead. It's topped with flaked almonds and caramelised shallots for a boost of flavour
Sage & onion Yorkshire puddings
Add sage and onion to Yorkshire pudding batter for a delicious side dish to go with a Sunday roast or your Christmas dinner
Apple, cardamom & stem ginger granola
Gift this granola at Christmas for a thoughtful present. Packed with dried fruit, nuts and stem ginger, it will keep in an airtight container for up to a month
10-minute mincemeat
Make your own mincemeat this Christmas – and not just for mince pies. Try it in Chelsea buns or sweet samosas. You could also give jars of it away as gifts
Cider-braised cabbage wedges
Make these cider-braised cabbage wedges up to three days ahead for a stress-free Christmas dinner. The dish makes an ideal accompaniment to festive turkey
Apricot & pistachio stuffing
Save time on Christmas Day and make this apricot and pistachio stuffing on Christmas Eve. It makes an excellent accompaniment to festive turkey
Wild mushroom, port & thyme turkey wellington
Looking for a stress-free main course for Christmas? It has to be this mushroom and port turkey wellington. The assembly can be done a day or two in advance