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 41 recipes
Christmas cupcakes and small bakes
Gingercake bites
Sticky gingercake gets better with age, so it’s perfect for giving as a Christmas gift. We’ve coated each cube of cake with a lemony icing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to our magazine
Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.
SubscribeUnleash your inner chef
Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter