Looking for Christmas baking inspiration? Well, look no further, as I share my ultimate sweet treats for the festive season. Everything from the traditional, mince pies and gingerbread men to my favourite biscuits, cookies, festive cupcakes, and trifle, a Christmas classic I can’t resist. Basically all the things I’m wanting to bake this holiday season.
Classic Christmas Baking – Mince Pie Recipes
Top of my list every year are mince pies, I just love them, and enjoy making them, but I have to admit the fun is really eating them. Now, I don’t think there is a need to make your own pastry, you can if you want, you just need flour, butter, and sugar. But if you want to stop yourself from getting completely overwhelmed this Christmas embrace ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, trust me, it won’t make your mince pies any less authentic, and it will take a lot less time – and that time can be used to enjoy the festive season.
Not a fan of pastry but love mince pie filling, have you tried combining brownies and mince pies – seriously life-changing. Or why not try a fabulous mincemeat and cranberry pie, the perfect warming winter treat that just has five ingredients. I have done this in the past to use up left overs from other Christmas baking – it is great served with ice-cream.
To bake: Mini Star topped Mince Pies // Unbelievably Easy Mince Pies // Mince Pie Brownies // Mincemeat, Cranberry and Almond Pie // Mincemeat and Shortbread Squares //
Christmas Baking – Biscuits, Gingerbread & Cookies
Wouldn’t be Christmas without biscuits, cookies and gingerbread would it? Basically, these are my picks of anything sweet, things that are chocolatey, have a jammy centre, are gooey or have a cinnamon kick. What I also love about a lot of these recipes is that they also make great Christmas baking gifts – just take a little bit more care, find a nice box and wrap up and give to someone special.
I try to think about when I’m going to eat my Christmas treats to organise into my festive plan, and most of these ideas here are great alongside a cup of tea or coffee, I call them my sweet treats between the Christmas grazing courses.
Here you will find jammy biscuits are a must, as well as iced biscuits, gingerbread in the shape of men, stars or Christmas trees – basically, whichever cookie cutter shape you own will work, as well as Rachel Phipps’ cinnamon stars. Plus, these are all recipes that are fun for the whole family to enjoy decorating – why not make baking together a new Christmas tradition.
To Bake: Jammy Star Cookies // German Cinnamon Stars // Snowflake Biscuits (works well with any cookie shape) // Classic Gingerbread Men //
Brownies with a Festive Twist
I love brownies all year round, that chocolatey gooey centre gets me every time, and my Oreo Brownies have become my go-to bake over the years. Christmas is a time of year that allows you to try out something different, try mixing out the Oreos with amaretti biscuits, After Eight mints, or Chocolate Orange segments, or while not add cherries, cranberries, or even candy canes.
Just while I have been writing this, I have been wondering whether Ferrero Rocher chocolates would be a great addition – and I think they would work perfectly – don’t worry I googled it and found a recipe see below.
To Bake: Christmas Brownies // Ferrero Rocher Brownies // Spiced Christmas Tree Brownies // Black Forest Brownies // Candy Cane Brownies //
Christmas Trifles You Will Love
There is no Christmas without trifle. There is something nostalgic as well as delicious about a trifle. Seriously what’s not to love about fruit, jelly, custard, cream and sprinkles? Plus, being Christmas you can add some festive cheer into the mix, why not try adding Baileys for an adult-only dessert, or try a chocolate orange variety, or a Black Forest trifle, brownies or gingerbread. Whatever you do, make one – it is a crowd pleaser.
To Make: Classic Trifle // Baileys Tiramisu Chocolate Trifle // Baileys Banana Trifles // Chocolate Orange-tini Trifle // Black Forest Trifle // Gingerbread Trifle //
[Images via Unsplash by Monika Grabkowska / Dilyara Garifullina]
