Make-ahead Christmas recipes (2024)

Showing 1 to 24 of 139 results

  • A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Prep this sausage, kale and bread stuffing up to two days in advance, then bake on the day. If your favourite part of stuffing is the crispy bits, you’ll love this recipe

    • 1 hr 10 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.3 ratings

    Indulge in a cake with a lovely crunchy topping that gives way to a soft, gooey middle. With its flourless sponge, it's ideal for guests who can’t eat gluten

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • Pheasant casserole

    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Make this festive pheasant stew in a sweet-and-sour cider and clementine sauce up to a day ahead, then simply reheat until piping hot when you want to serve

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • More effort
  • Roast garlic make-ahead gravy

    A star rating of 3.4 out of 5.3 ratings

    Make this subtly flavoured gravy base ahead and freeze to make life a bit easier when entertaining – just stir in the roasting juices before serving

    • 1 hr 20 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Marinate chicken wings in cranberry and soy sauce, then cook in an air-fryer to make this tasty side. They're perfect for a buffet or movie night snack

    • 45 mins
    • Easy
  • App onlyQuick pickled red cabbage. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 3.7 out of 5.3 ratings

    Make this speedy pickled red cabbage as a side or condiment – it's the perfect foil to Christmas leftovers in our Boxing Day sandwich

    • 15 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • Mincemeat half-baked cookies

    A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Indulge in these soft and squidgy Christmas cookies with moreish mincemeat flavours. Make ahead and freeze, then simply pop in the oven when guests arrive

    • 45 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Quick to make on Christmas Day, you can swap fresh cranberries here for frozen – just keep an eye on them during cooking, as they won’t take as long to break down

    • 20 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Enjoy these skewers as canapés at your next party. Flavoured with festive clementines, they're ideal at Christmas served with your choice of dips

    • 28 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Make this frozen dessert up to two days ahead of serving so you can spend more time with your guests. It’s sure to impress at a Christmas gathering

    • 32 mins
    • More effort
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Save hob space by using a slow cooker to braise red cabbage – take the lid off for the last 30 mins to reduce the juices for a lovely, sticky texture

    • 4 hrs 5 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Make this easy twist on mincemeat – it's infused with the festive flavours of orange and brandy, and is easy to make by simply mixing everything together

    • 15 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • A star rating of 3.7 out of 5.3 ratings

    Create a little make-your-own crostini station where guests are invited to spread baked ricotta onto warm toast and top with grapes and prosciutto

    • 35 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Season roasties with smoked paprika and thyme for a punch of smoky heat and herby flavour. Drizzle with oil when turning for golden crunchy roasties

    • 1 hr 40 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten-free
  • Mini hot toddy pavlovas

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Take inspiration from a classic winter co*cktail to create these mini pavlovas flavoured with whisky, pear and spices

    • 2 hrs 15 mins
    • More effort
    • Vegetarian
  • App onlyMincemeat flapjacks. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.5 ratings

    Make some Christmassy flapjacks using mincemeat. They make the perfect travel companion, and are great if you’re craving some festive flavours

    • 55 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • Mini gingerbread house mug toppers

    A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

    Perch these delightful little gingerbread houses on the edge of your mug for a festive treat. Try them with hot chocolate or mulled wine for adults

    • 32 mins
    • More effort
    • Vegetarian
  • Apple crumble trifle

    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Bring the comforting flavours and textures of apple crumble to a Christmas trifle. Prep ahead so all you need to do is assemble it on the day

    • 1 hr 30 mins
    • A challenge
    • Vegetarian
  • Gingerbread tres leches cake

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.2 ratings

    Give this Mexican-inspired cake a festive twist using ginger and cinnamon. The cake is soaked in a trio of sweetened milks, then topped with whipped cream

    • 1 hr 10 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • App onlyAir-fryer sesame prawn toast. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.3 ratings

    Make these prawns toasts as canapés at your next party. Arrange on a platter and scatter over extra spring onions and chopped chives to garnish

    • 25 mins
    • Easy
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Make pigs in blankets even more special using maple syrup and a little mustard. If you can’t find co*cktail sausages, use chipolatas, each cut into three pieces

    • 45 mins
    • Easy
  • App onlyElote muffins. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users.

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Get inspired by the Mexican street-food snack, elote. These savoury muffins make an excellent breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up when you’re on the go

    • 30 mins
    • Easy
    • Vegetarian
  • A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

    Make this domed puff-pastry pie as a Christmas centrepiece. With a crumbly pastry exterior and packed filling oozing with gooey comté, it's a wow dish

    • 1 hr 20 mins
    • More effort
Make-ahead Christmas recipes (2024)

FAQs

What food can be prepared the day before Christmas? ›

Make-ahead Christmas recipes
  • Tuscan sausage, kale & ciabatta stuffing. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Sunken chocolate, olive oil & hazelnut cake. ...
  • Pheasant casserole. ...
  • Roast garlic make-ahead gravy. ...
  • Air-fryer soy & cranberry chicken wings. ...
  • Croissant bread sauce. ...
  • App onlyQuick pickled red cabbage. ...
  • Mincemeat half-baked cookies.

What is the must have food for Christmas Day? ›

Our Top 22 Traditional Christmas Dishes
  • 01 of 23. Chef John's Honey-Glazed Ham. ...
  • 02 of 23. Mom's Scalloped Potatoes. ...
  • 03 of 23. Best Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 23. Chef John's Roast Turkey and Gravy. ...
  • 05 of 23. Holiday Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • 06 of 23. Christmas Prime Rib. ...
  • 07 of 23. Quick and Easy Yorkshire Pudding. ...
  • 08 of 23. Beef Wellington.
Dec 18, 2023

What can you make ahead and freeze for Christmas? ›

YOUR FREEZE-AHEAD CHRISTMAS
  • Roast potatoes. Freezing your roasties up to a month ahead not only cuts down Christmas lunch prep – some say it makes them extra crunchy, too. ...
  • Stuffing. Most stuffing recipes can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months. ...
  • Pigs in blankets. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.

Why is there a 12 meals on Christmas? ›

Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a symbol of wealth, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year.

What vegetables can I prepare in advance for Christmas dinner? ›

Peel potatoes, carrots, parsnips and any other veg you're having and leave them in pans of cold water overnight. This will save you a lot of faff and additional mess on Christmas morning.

Can I cook my Christmas meat the day before? ›

A: We'd cook the ham the night before, or you can rest the turkey for an hour under foil and a towel, it will keep warm for ages. Make sure your gravy is piping hot and that will add a little more heat to the plate.

What is the most eaten meat on Christmas? ›

1. Turkey. Let's admit it, a whole turkey is the best and most traditional meat for Christmas dinners. Originally gracing our plates in the 16th century, popular history tells of King Henry VIII being the first English monarch to have turkey for Christmas.

What food is most eaten during Christmas? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods? ›

10 Most Popular Christmas Dishes
  1. Roasted turkey. No Christmas dinner is complete without roast turkey. ...
  2. Ham. Be it baked, smoked, or glazed, ham is another popular dish for Christmas dinner. ...
  3. Roast beef. ...
  4. Stuffing. ...
  5. Poultry. ...
  6. Sweet potato casserole. ...
  7. Cranberry sauce. ...
  8. Plum pudding.
Dec 11, 2023

What to take to a Christmas dinner party? ›

– If you don't know the host well, play it safe with flowers, a house plant, a bottle of wine, or a box of boutique chocolates. – If you know the host well, choose a gift you know they will like—a small artwork, a six-pack of their favorite craft beer, or a special Christmas tree ornament.

What is a typical German Christmas dinner? ›

Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.

Why is there no meat on Christmas Eve? ›

Origins and tradition

The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish (typically fried in oil).

What is Polish Christmas called? ›

Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Poland and it's called "Boże Narodzenie", which translates to 'God's Birth'. The Day of Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December is the unofficial beginning of the festive season in Poland.

Can you make party food the day before? ›

You might make the sauce for your signature dish ahead of time and cook the rest of the meal just before the party. If you're making a rice dish, cook the rice the day before, so you can quickly assemble it the next day. You might cook the meat that will go into a pasta sauce or a casserole, so it's ready to go.

Can I prepare vegetables the day before? ›

Vegetables to be added to a cooked dish, such as in a frittata or casserole, can be sautéed or roasted the day before and stored in the refrigerator. The same goes for a stand-alone vegetable, such as spaghetti squash.

What food is prepared on Christmas Day? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

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