Make-ahead Christmas recipes

Make our easy eggnog recipe for the perfect festive party tipple. This traditional Christmas drink uses just five ingredients, including egg yolks and brandy

Decorate these gorgeous Christmas biscuits with candied orange peel, flaked almonds or freeze-dried raspberries. Star- or tree-shaped cutters also work well

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

You can make this no-cook tiramisu ahead to save on time when hosting a party. Made with Baileys, it's a truly grown-up dessert

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

Add sage and onion to Yorkshire pudding batter for a delicious side dish to go with a Sunday roast or your Christmas dinner

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

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

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

Save time on Christmas Day and make this apricot and pistachio stuffing on Christmas Eve. It makes an excellent accompaniment to festive turkey

Give millionaire's shortbread a makeover with our rum and raisin traybake. It makes a delicious surprise for far-away friends as it can slot through a letterbox

Try this tart as a veggie course at Christmas or other celebration. With cheesy pastry and a cheese and spinach filling, it's sure to be a crowdpleaser

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

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!

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

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