Christmas recipes for a festive feast

Tuck into roast beef that is perfectly tender with a beautifully browned crust, especially when paired with cranberry sauce. 

A Christmas turkey makes its mark with juicy meat, extra crispy skin, and a sweet and tart cranberry-orange glaze that caramelises in the oven. If you want to go the timeless route, you can try a roast turkey flavoured with sage, thyme, and lemon, and served with a generous pour of cranberry gravy.

If you like to add variety to your dinner, a roast leg of lamb delivers big on flavour, with garlic and rosemary creating a caramelised and aromatic crust.
Whichever you choose, each roast has its own way of stealing the spotlight. Pick your favourite, plan the sides, and get ready for a Christmas celebration worthy of the season.

A perfect Christmas roast is all about timing, preparation, and the right finishing touches. Choose quality meat and let it come to room temperature before cooking, which helps it roast evenly. Season generously with herbs, spices, or a glaze of your choice. Give it enough time in the oven to develop juicy meat and a golden, crisp finish, and use a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked just as you like it.

Once the roast is out of the oven, do not rush to carve. Let it rest under foil for 15–20 minutes (or as recommended in the recipe). This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat tender and flavourful.

When it comes to carving, use a sharp knife and steady strokes. For beef or lamb, slice thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness. Turkey is best carved by removing the legs and wings first, then slicing the breast meat. 

Finally, serve your roast on a warmed platter with plenty of space for garnish and sides. With just a little prep, your Christmas roast will taste as magical as it looks.

Oven-roasted vegetables are always a winner. They are tender in the middle and crisp on the edges, and with Lurpak® in hand, they take on a buttery caramelisation. This recipe combines cauliflower, broccoli, red onions, and butternut squash, but you can use whatever suits your menu. Serve them alongside roasted potatoes with garlic and rosemary.

Brussels sprouts also deserve a spot on the Christmas table. Try them roasted with orange juice and fresh chilli, then tossed into a salad with orange segments and toasted pine nuts, adding a bit of variety to your usual sides. Or go with butter-fried Brussels sprouts with tart dried cranberries and almond flakes. They are tender and slightly crunchy with just the right amount of sweetness.

Sweet potato mash is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Stir in Lurpak® butter with a spoonful of harissa paste for a hint of heat, then top with fresh parsley and coriander for colour and freshness.

With potatoes and vegetables done right, your roast has all the support it needs to impress.

Soups are a smart choice when entertaining, and you can easily serve them in small portions. A creamy pumpkin soup with curry and toasted garlic bread is a fantastic option and leaves room for more to come. Or try a yellow lentil soup with potatoes and carrots, seasoned with cumin and turmeric, topped with crunchy sourdough croutons.

Tarts and quiches also make excellent appetisers. Bake one large tart for guests to cut into at the buffet, or go for mini versions that work perfectly as finger food. The chicken filo tart offers a crisp, golden top with a savoury filling of vegetables, cheese, and chicken. For something richer, a blue cheese quiche with mushrooms is packed with flavour, while quiche Lorraine remains a timeless favourite, with its flaky pastry crust filled with bacon, Gruyère cheese, and a hint of nutmeg.

With soups, tarts, and quiches on the menu, you have a range of starter ideas for Christmas dinner ready to please your guests. Just make sure everyone saves room for desserts.

Christmas is full of iconic desserts that serve as a spectacular grand finale to your holiday menu. 

In Italy, the festive spirit rises with panettone, a tall, buttery bread that is impossibly light and stuffed with raisins, candied orange peel, and almond flakes. Spain celebrates with roscón de reyes, a golden, brioche-style sweet bread decorated with colourful candied fruits and orange glaze. In the Netherlands, kerststol is packed with dried fruit and delicately spiced with cinnamon, best enjoyed sliced thick and spread with butter. From Australia comes the trifle, a layered showstopper of sponge cake, custard, mascarpone, and fresh berries, crowned with toasted meringue for extra flair. These classic Christmas desserts bring flavour and inspiration from around the world.

Christmas butter biscuits come in all shapes and forms you might remember from your childhood. They are decorated with white icing and sugar pearls, but you can finish them anyway you like. The soft cinnamon biscuits with crisp edges delight with a warm aroma and are dusted lightly with icing sugar. Gingerbread cookies are brimming with Christmas spirit, and these become extra special with royal icing and a garnish of candied orange peel.

From there, the biscuit tin only gets more exciting. Greek kourabiedes are buttery almond biscuits, dusted with generous layers of snowy icing sugar. Spanish polvorones are soft, crumbly shortbreads made from simple ingredients, delicately flavoured with almond for a nutty taste and melt-in-the-mouth texture. The dahlia-shaped Malay and Indonesian-inspired semperit biscuits are buttery sweet with delicious bites of dark chocolate and almonds. Different in shape and tradition, but all with that same richness that makes Christmas baking a true pleasure.

Nothing beats big and fluffy cinnamon buns with a gooey brown sugar and cinnamon filling and a glaze of icing sugar. Those who crave something crisp and indulgent will love profiteroles, delicate choux pastry balls filled with orange custard, drizzled with chocolate and sprinkled with pistachios. When in doubt, you can always go for vanilla cupcakes. These are topped with espresso buttercream and a drizzle of caramel syrup and pecan praline. For something small and sweet, salted caramel fudge delivers smooth, creamy sweetness, made with just five ingredients and ideal for sharing or wrapping up as edible gifts.

A perfect Christmas menu is as much about planning as it is about cooking. Choose recipes that can be prepped or cooked ahead, such as stuffings, sides, and most desserts. This will keep the kitchen calm and minimise last-minute stress. Making a prep schedule is also a lifesaver. Tackle time-consuming tasks like chopping vegetables and assembling dishes the day before, and save the main roast for the big day so it is served fresh and warm.

Remember to think of everyone around the table. Including at least one vegetarian side ensures all your guests have something scrumptious and satisfying to enjoy. It is also worth considering how you want to serve the feast. A sit-down dinner calls for well-timed courses, while a buffet or family-style table works best with dishes that hold well and invite sharing. And do not forget, Christmas cooking does not have to be a solo effort. Delegate a few dishes among family or friends so the work is shared.