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Nostalgic Christmas

Nostalgic Christmas recipes

Let’s take things back this Christmas with the best retro recipes around. We’re taking a trip down memory lane with nostalgic dishes that celebrate a traditional festive feast, from yule logs to (not dry!) turkey and more.

We’ve got all the roast dinner classics like sprouts, bread sauce, pigs in blankets and roasties, of course. Then we’ve got plenty of of old-fashioned desserts like trifle (sherry and classic), Christmas pudding and gingerbread. If you fancy a tipple, we’re keeping things old school with eggnog and mulled wine.

Want more nostalgia from the stars? Discover our Celebrity chef Christmas recipes collection, that’s got classics and twists to enjoy.

Showing 1-16 of 40 recipes

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Brussels sprouts recipes

Roast sprouts with bacon, chestnuts and cream

Roast sprouts with bacon and chestnuts until tender and nutty, then stir through cream for an unapologetically decadent Christmas side dish.

Gluten-free

Easy

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Festive desserts

Michel Roux Jr’s Yule log

Supremo chef Michel Roux Jr shows you how to create a classic bûche de Noël or Yule log, the traditional French Christmas dessert.

Vegetarian

Medium

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Bread sauce recipes

The best bread sauce

A classic bread sauce recipe with onion, bay leaf and nutmeg. Serve as part of our zero-waste Christmas dinner, where everything gets used up.

Vegetarian

Easy

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Christmas turkey recipes

Dry-brined turkey crown

The herby dry brine in this easy turkey crown recipe helps the meat stay juicy during cooking, adds flavour and helps the skin crisp up.

Dairy-free

Easy

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Stir-up Sunday recipes

Best of the best Christmas pudding

Inspired by a family recipe, this Christmas pudding is intensely fruity and deeply spiced – the best figgy pudding you’ll ever make.

Medium

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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces

Christmas peas

Buttery peas flecked with pink grapefruit provide a flash of green at the Christmas table. Not traditional, but zingily flavoursome.

Gluten-free Vegetarian

Easy

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Mince pie recipes

Richard Bertinet’s frangipane mince pies

Try Richard Bertinet's frangipane mince pies. Rich mincemeat, almond cream, crisp sweet pastry and a flaky almond top = mince pie perfection.

Easy

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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces

Heston’s roast potatoes

In the end isn’t a roast dinner all about the roast potatoes? Make yours perfect with Heston Blumenthal's ultimate roast potatoes.

Dairy-free Gluten-free Vegetarian

Easy

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Roast potato recipes

Garlic roast potatoes with bay leaves

Looking for a roast potatoes recipe that won't let you down? Our garlic and bay roast potatoes are crisp and golden with soft fluffy insides.

Dairy-free Gluten-free Vegan Make-ahead

Easy

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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces

Gill Meller’s bread sauce

Gill Meller shares his recipe for classic bread sauce. This velvety sauce is made with double cream and is delicious with turkey or chicken.

Vegetarian

Easy

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Trifle recipes

Sherry trifle with praline and orange custard

Our stunning sherry trifle is topped with orange custard, a billowing layer of cream and praline shards. The perfect festive dessert.

Easy

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Christmas pudding recipes

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Christmas pudding

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shares his recipe for Christmas pudding, the River Cottage way. This zesty pud is packed with citrus and apple.

Make-ahead

Easy

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Christmas cake recipes

Mary Berry’s rich fruit Christmas cake

Mary Berry's rich traditional Christmas cake recipe is filled with fruit, almonds, brandy and treacle. It's the perfect pudding for your festive feast.

Make-ahead

Easy

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Christmas cocktail recipes

Easy mulled wine

The smell of mulled wine wafting through your kitchen means that Christmas has arrived: cinnamon, cloves, orange juice and, in our recipe, a glug of brandy.

Easy

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Mince pie recipes

Traditional mincemeat

Traditional mincemeat is made with real beef mince and stems from the medieval era. Give this recipe a go – you never know, you might surpise yourself.