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

Blend smoked mackerel with soft cheese, horseradish sauce and lemon juice to make this easy paté. Top with a sprinkling of cayenne and serve with toast

Five minutes is all you need to whip up this creamy fish dish, great served as a dip or starter

Impress dinner guests with homemade port and chicken liver pâté, which takes just 30 minutes to make. Enjoy as a starter with our rosemary crackers

James Martin's luxuriously rich dinner party starter can be made up to two days in advance for fuss-free entertaining - serve with toasted brioche, cornichons and chutney.

These festive vanilla cookies make a beautiful edible Christmas tree decoration. Or, you could pack them into boxes to give as end-of-term gifts for teachers and friends.

Serve this easy vegetarian pâté as a starter at a dinner party. It's a great partner to toast, mini crispbreads and cornichons

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

Prepare these vegan pâté and candied walnut canapés ahead of time. When the party starts, all you need to do is plate them up

Need an easy dessert for a dinner party? Try this lemon meringue parfait. You can make it ahead of time and put it in the freezer until you're ready to serve

Whizz up this fish dip with hot tangy mustard notes, cream cheese, lemon and dill - great for a last minute party dish

This easy vegetarian dip is a healthy alternative to hummus and great with crudités in a lunchbox or served as a vegan pate as part of a snack selection.

These easy cinnamon flavoured Christmas biscuits are great for getting the kids involved in cooking, and they can also be used as edible tree decorations

An easy-to-make alternative to traditional Christmas cakes which requires no beating

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

Make our indulgent spring lunch, with a creamy and rich smoked salmon pâté and golden, butter-laden tear-and-share brioche. It's well worth the effort

Making your own paté is an extra-special touch- this version is flavoured with wine, cream, garlic and sage

A chunky fish terrine that's easy to make and delicious with toasted sweet bagels

Lightly crush new potatoes before roasting to create an extra-crispy skin and pair with smoked mackerel pâté

A rich, sweet pâté recipe using pineau - a sherry-like aperitif - great as a dinner party starter.

This delicious, unashamedly rich starter is the sort of dish that makes entertaining stress-free, as it can be made up to three days ahead

The secret to getting gloriously puffed-up Yorkshire puddings is to have the fat sizzling hot and don't open the oven door!

Need a quick, prep-ahead dessert? This raspberry and mango parfait is ideal. If you have any crumble mix leftover, you can eat it for breakfast the next day

This relaxed mackerel pâté starter can be whizzed up in just 15 minutes - and it won't break the bank either

A perfect match for cheese and cold meats, and delicious in turkey sandwiches