Plan your Christmas Bakes and Treats
Now is the time to start planning or even making some of your Christmas bakes and treats, so you can get ahead of the game.
I hope you have had a good week. Have you started planning what you will be cooking and making at Christmas this year? I never quite know when to start mentioning Christmas, but now the days are getting shorter it seems the right time. Some of you are super organised and have started making your Christmas cakes and puds, and my rich fruit cake has been proving popular with both Recipes Made Easy and Only Crumbs Remain readers over the last couple of weeks or so. That’s a big nudge for me to introduce these Christmas bakes.
In the past, I tended to fall into the category of those who prefer to not think about it to nearer the time and loving a bit of last-minute panic baking to really get me in the the festive mood. But that’s changed now, and once my birthday is over at the beginning of November my thoughts turn to Christmas planning ( this year it fell on a Friday hence why I never quite got around to writing my newsletter last week. I was too busy partying! lol )
With so many great recipes both sweet and savoury to share with you over the coming weeks, I hope that none of you will mind me taking the plunge and starting to share them now.
This week I thought I would share some recipes that make great foodie gift ideas for you to share with friends and family. As well as bakes that can be made ahead of time. You can find lots of ideas on this recipe collection of Christmas bakes and makes on Recipes Made Easy plus I have highlighted some of my favourite festive make ahead recipes from Recipes Made Easy and Only Crumbs Remain below.
Next week I shall turn my attention to desserts. Having a sweet tooth, sweet dishes always take priority in planning ahead. Then after that, I shall share some delicious savoury alternatives to the Christmas Turkey, great side dishes and more.
Happy planning and baking and until next week time have a delicious week.
Fudge
Homemade Fudge makes a great present and I have a good selection of fudge recipes on Only Crumbs Remain to choose from. There is even a really pretty festive Christmas fudge.
Mincemeat
Make yours now, ready for making mince pies. Mince pies taste sooooo much better with homemade mincemeat! A jar would also make a very good gift to a foodie friend.
Easy Retro Christmas Cake
Easy to make and easy to decorate.
Christmas Cake
For those who like less icing, you might like to try this Christmas cake which is an early recipe on Recipes Made Easy. Just icing the top of the cake is a hack I often use now.
Chocolate Dipped Candied Peel
A great gift which can be made several weeks in advance
Christmas Vodka
Christmas in a glass! Make now ready for the big day.
Cranberry and Clementine Gin
The perfect homemade gift for gin lovers.
Christmas Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread has been a part of the Christmas and Winter Feasts since medieval times, especially in Western Europe and remains popular today. These Christmas gingerbread biscuits have a delicious ginger and cinnamon flavour and a great snap!
