Christmas baking recipes

Christmas baking recipes are some of the most enjoyable treats to cook over the festive season. Whether it’s sweet and spicy bread, cakes, or mince pies, savoury sausage rolls with melt-in-the-mouth pastry, homemade crackers for your cheeseboard, or party nibbles, you’ll find my favourites here.

PORTER CAKE

Fruity and spicy, this is a lighter alternative to Christmas cake. It takes its name from the inclusion of dark porter beer which adds complexity of flavour. If you don’t have porter, swap in stout.

Best left a couple of days to mature, but can be eaten as soon as it’s cool if you really can’t resist!

SESAME CRACKERS

Thin, crispy, with lots of earthy flavour, I love to scoop up dips like hummus and baba ganoush with these easy sesame crackers.

Add different spices or herbs to create a range of flavours. My favourite is Middle Eastern za’atar or just cumin.

POTATO FOCCACIA

This beautifully moist and tasty version of the classic Italian flatbread will go brilliantly with your Christmas buffets, meats, cheeses, olives, etc.

Made with my easy overnight method, no kneading is required.

CHEESE, CHORIZO & CHIVE SCONES

Delicious, easy, light and fluffy, I think mini versions of these cheese scones with smoky chorizo and fresh chives will be a great addition to your Christmas buffet table.

I’ve even made batches to give as presents to cheese lovers!

PANETTONE BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING

Fancy something a little different to the traditional Christmas pudding this year? I love Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding as a delicious, light and easily made alternative.

The recipe is good for using up leftover panettone after Christmas too.

FLAKY CHEESE CRACKERS

These melt-in-the-mouth snacks are perfect as a nibble with drinks.

Layers of light, cheesy pastry are created by a simple technique of folding grated cheese into rolled out, buttery dough.

MINCEMEAT CHRISTMAS TREE

Believe it or not, this stunning tear and share bread is deceptively simple to make.

With fruity mincemeat between layers of lightly sweet, buttery dough, it’s a great alternative to mince pies.

WALNUT & PUMPKIN SEED OATCAKES

The additional of nuts and seeds to traditional Scottish oatcakes takes them to a whole new level.

Perfect with your Christmas cheeseboards and lovely with pâté or nut butters too.

ROUGH PUFF PASTRY SAUSAGE ROLLS

Once you’ve tried them, I think you’ll agree that the homemade version of this popular British savoury snack is miles better than any mass produced offering.

And my mini sized sausage rolls, flavoured with fennel seed and onion, are a must in your Christmas baking recipes repertoire.

SPICED FRUIT SOURDOUGH

We always associate fruit and spice with Christmas and this rich loaf is perfect for sourdough bakers.

Dried fruits are steeped in honeyed black tea and orange zest then folded into a spiced dough made the night before baking. Lovely spread with butter or served with cheese. Great toasted too.

ROASTED PEPPER, SALAMI & CHEESE SCONES

Another take on the always popular cheese scones, these are inspired by the flavours of Italy. And they’ll go down a storm at your Christmas party.

They’re studded with roasted red and yellow peppers, nuggets of sun-dried tomato, garlicky salami, fresh basil and, of course, LOTS of cheese.

MINCEMEAT SHORTBREAD SQUARES WITH ALMOND CRUMBLE

I think these are another great alternative to Christmas mince pies. Incredibly quick and easy, there’s no pastry to make and no cutting and rolling out.

There’s a buttery shortbread base covered in mincemeat and topped with an oaty, nutty, spiced crumble. Delicious cold, or serve hot with custard or cream.

CHAI SPICED TEAR & SHARE STAR BREAD

Sweet, buttery and spicy, this star bread is perfect for Christmas. As well as tasting good it looks really impressive even though it isn’t complicated at all.

I’ve flavoured it with Indian inspired chai spices. But you could swap in traditional mixed spice or cinnamon.

SAVOURY TEAR & SHARE STAR BREAD

Filled with layers of sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, basil, salami, roasted onions and garlic plus fennel seeds, this is a savoury version of my sweet tear and share bread.

I guarantee you won’t be able to resist pulling off a piece and eating it warm straight from the oven!

GENOA CAKE

Based on an Italian yeasted Christmas bake, this British version is full of currants, sultanas, mixed peel, cherries, and is flavoured with almond and lemon.

I must confess I much prefer this light and moist bake to our traditional Christmas cake.

EASY SEED CRACKERS

Light, crispy and delicious, these grain-free, gluten-free crackers are made with nothing but seeds, water and your chosen seasonings.

The perfect crunchy accompaniment to spreads, dips and cheeseboards.

CRANBERRY & ORANGE SCONES WITH ORANGE BUTTER

I love this twist on the classic sultana scone: dried cranberries plumped in orange juice and combined with zest in a light, sweet and sour, Christmas bake.

To make them even more orange-y, I serve them spread with a simple orange-flavoured butter.

SAVOURY FLAPJACKS WITH VEGETABLES, NUTS, SEEDS & CHEESE

These quickly and easily made squares are packed with courgette, onion, carrots, nuts, seeds, oats and cheese.

Flavoured with sage and great hot or cold, these savoury flapjacks are perfect for your Christmas buffets (or even a vegetarian main course).

PARMESAN & CHEDDAR BISCUITS

These might just be the best cheese biscuits you’ve ever tasted. Intensely cheesy and buttery, but so light and melting.

Great as an indulgent nibble with drinks.

MINCE PIES WITH SWEET SHORTCRUST PASTRY

My round-up of favourite Christmas baking recipes wouldn’t be complete without good old mince pies. But I think these are rather special.

The sweet shortcrust pastry is light, buttery, and melt-in-the-mouth. I make my own mincemeat too, but even if you use shop-bought, making your own pastry from scratch is so worth it.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my round-up of favourite Christmas baking recipes and found something you’d like to try.

Merry Christmas and Happy baking!