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

Impress guests with this vibrant vegan starter. Plant-based soft cheese, herbs and beetroot combine to make the terrine, topped with a walnut brittle for texture

Try this easy terrine for dessert, layered with ice cream, dark chocolate and marbled with a zingy raspberry purée. Prepare it ahead to wow your guests

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.

A light, elegant make-ahead starter to ease you into the Christmas Day blow-out, or to kick off a dinner party menu

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

Whet the appetite for the main event by serving guests this special chicken terrine with leeks and apricots. It can be made up to three days ahead

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

Set aside a couple of hours and enjoy every minute of making this impressive terrine

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

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

Mix up your festive main with this fabulous Christmas dinner wellington. A make-ahead meal in one, it incorporates stuffing and cranberry sauce, so all you need to think about on the big day is the veg and gravy

Substitute eggs for chia seeds in this vegan take on a traditional Christmas cake. The coconut oil adds a great background flavour and keeps the cake moist

Make this decadent chocolate and caramel terrine for a sophisticated dinner party dessert. Dust generously with cocoa powder before cutting into slices

Combine the best bits of a Christmas dinner in one moreish bite with these canapés. Ideal for a festive buffet

Make the most of seasonal cranberries with Christmas jam. You can add edible glitter to make it extra-special, if you like – it makes a great gift for friends

A super easy brownie recipe for a squidgy chocolate bake. Watch our foolproof recipe video to help you get a perfect traybake every time.

Update the traditional Christmas pud to include more of what you love - cherries, almonds and figs are a feature of this pudding and make it super special

Use your choice of dried fruit, nuts, citrus zest and booze (or even tea) and get this simple Christmas cake made up to six months in advance

A decadent dinner party pudding or family afternoon treat

This posh pud is much easier to prepare than it looks and can be made ahead of time

Combine a few key Christmas flavours here to make a pie that both children and adults will adore

Try this twist on a favourite childhood ice-cream dessert with coffee and chocolate layers. Made with just five ingredients, it's a great make-ahead pud

Cured slow-cooked pork is a great foundation for a coarse pâté style starter and can be made in advance

Switch up your traditional Christmas pudding with this sticky toffee version. It's a great modern twist on the classic festive dessert

A show-stopping layered fish centrepiece with cream cheese and lemon filling, flavoured with dill and chives