Make-ahead Christmas recipes

Double or triple the quantities of this festive cranberry and lentil bake to serve more people, if you like. You can make it up to two days before serving

Save precious time when planning a group meal by prepping and freezing your potatoes in advance.

A twist on the classic Christmas pudding, our cherry version is served with silky dark chocolate, a rich brandy sauce and a dollop of double cream

Flavour red cabbage with port, prunes and orange for an indulgent festive side dish that delivers two of your 5-a-day. It can be made in advance and frozen for up to three months

No festive meal is complete without cranberry sauce. Try this version, which includes sloe gin for a modern twist on the classic Christmas relish

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

This custard tart has a tropical twist with sunny Caribbean flavours. Bake it for your next dinner party and we guarantee your guests will go back for a second helping!

Pack in three times the flavour with these triple pigs in blankets. You can prepare them a day or two in advance and keep on a baking tray in the fridge

This make-ahead main of pastry-wrapped fish and rice is an extra-special way to serve seafood for a dinner party, spiced with cardamom, cloves and chilli

Put some welly in your Christmas dinner. Make these vegan wellingtons ahead of time for a less stressed Christmas dinner. Even the meat eaters will love them!

We've blended two tempting sweet treats – rocky road and cheesecake – to create this irresistible make-ahead dessert.

Make this uncooked dough as a gift for the future. It can be kept frozen for up to three months, ready to be sliced and baked for a welcome sweet treat

No one will guess that this easy, rich and creamy no-cook, make-ahead cheesecake uses only 4 ingredients - ideal for a dinner party

Make this rich turkey and chestnut gravy to accompany your Christmas dinner. If you use goose fat or butter, it can be made ahead, chilled and frozen

Try this ultimate make-ahead dessert for Christmas: meringue, white chocolate, cream and cherries are combined to make a luscious centrepiece

Make some gorgeous red velvet blondies with a cheesecake swirl. They're ideal for the cake tin over the Christmas period when you may have guests dropping by

Keep these festive favourites nice and simple or spice things up with some imaginative twists

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

This warming ginger beer-spiced ham is great for Christmas entertaining as it's simple to prepare ahead of time

This make-ahead festive dessert is deliciously different and incredibly simple to make, with amaretti biscuits, fresh oranges and double cream

Enjoy a festive crumble made with apples, cranberries and mixed spice. Serve warm with cream or custard for the ultimate comfort dessert

Make these fun festive biscuits as a Christmas gift for friends and family. They're made with our universal dough recipe, raspberry jam and icing sugar