Christmas recipes for you to try

Christmas traditions have changed over the centuries, but special festive food is still a big part of the holiday. Why not try one of our selection of Christmas recipes, past and present?

Stack of Christmas mince pies
Puddings

Real mince pie 

Long before the small, fruit mince pies we enjoy today came into fashion, a mince pie used to be a large pie, containing meat. Our recipe harks back to this tradition and uses real meat in addition to raisins, currants and prunes

Try the real mince pie
A Christmas pudding
Puddings

Vegetarian and alcohol-free Christmas pudding 

This is a simple pudding that requires no time to mature so can be made as little as a week before its required or indeed made the same day and served fresh.

Make this easy pudding
Roast Chicken in lemon sauce
Main course

Capon (chicken) with orange or lemon sauce 

This is a traditional festive dish, which is quick and easy to prepare. A great alternative to turkey if you'd like something simpler on Christmas Day

Enjoy lemon chicken
Roast turkey with cranberries
Main course

The Christmas turkey 

Enjoy a great meal this Christmas with our recipe for turkey and gravy. It'll feed the whole family with some spare.

Cook the perfect turkey
Christmas presents under a tree
Main course

Turkey gilding 

Turkey was traditionally gilded to make it look more appetising. Find out how to make the most of your turkey with our easy-to-follow recipe and give your turkey a gilded glow.

Try turkey gilding
Children baking christmas cupcakes
Cakes and bakes

Christmas cupcakes 

These delightful Christmas cupcakes are perfect for a festive buffet. Get creative and see who can create the best decorations out of ready-to-roll icing.

Bake festive cupcakes
Ice-cream making equipment in the Dairy at Ham House, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey
The Vyne   Hampshire

Jack Frost Fruit Curd ice cream

A tasty treat for those who might not fancy a Christmas pudding after their turkey this year. Strictly speaking it's frozen yoghurt, but it's so tasty, why not give it a try?

Make the ice cream
Fidget Pasty at Attingham Park, Shropshire
Attingham Park   Shropshire

Attingham Fidget Pasty

Make your own Fidget Pasty with this National Trust recipe from Attingham Park.

Try our Fidget Pasty recipe
A plate of Christmas slices at Bodiam Castle in East Sussex
Bodiam Castle   East Sussex

Bodiam Castle's Christmas Slice

Our Christmas slice is a firm favourite with our visitors here at Bodiam Castle. It's a great alternative to the usual mince pie.

Try baking our delicious Christmas slice
Christmas baubles on the tree at Sizergh in Cumbria.
Main course

Festive ham 

This tasty dish is a great festive alternative. It's smothered in a runny honey glaze and uses peppercorns and garlic for creating a rich flavour.

Try the festive ham
Hand-raised turkey and bacon pie with salad.
Main course

Raised turkey and bacon pies 

Make a batch of yummy individual-size pies stuffed with turkey and bacon - perfect for a filling lunch after a winter walk.

Make use of Christmas leftovers
Christmas tree and decorations
Condiments

Cranberry sauce 

A sweet and delicious cranberry sauce that you can try making for the perfect condiment to go with your festive turkey.

Make cranberry sauce
Mince pies on a plate
Lanhydrock   Cornwall

Lanhydrock mince pies

Try our simple Lanhydrock mince pies recipe which makes this essential festive treat easy for you to make this Christmas.

Make Lanhydrock mince pies
Enjoy a festive mulled wine
Stourhead   Wiltshire

Stourhead mulled wine

The perfect Christmas beverage to celebrate the festive season.

Try our Stourhead mulled wine recipe