Gluten-free Christmas cake

Make this dairy-, gluten-, nut- and egg-free Christmas cake. This is a festive cake for everyone, and the best part is, no one will ever guess it’s free-from!

Beignets

Enjoy these crispy, golden New Orleans-style beignets. Made with evaporated milk, they are best served warm with a generous dusting of icing sugar

Apple turnovers

Treat family and friends to these moreish apple turnovers. With an apple and cinnamon filling encased in puff pastry, they’re delicious served with ice cream

Cranberry & clementine polenta cake with zesty cinnamon cream

Make a festive polenta cake with cranberry and clementine flavours and a cinnamon cream to serve. It’s a fabulous dessert at Christmastime

Frangipane, fig & orange tart

Treat guests over for Christmas to this frangipane, fig and orange tart. It’s delicious at the end of a family feast, or simply served for afternoon tea

Vegan yule log

Make this vegan chocolate yule log ahead of time for a stress-free festive dessert – a great alternative to Christmas pudding

Elderberry syrup

Make a batch of Vitamin C-rich elderberry syrup to use as a cordial or dessert syrup. You could also try it as a wild cassis in cocktails

Roasted plum & pistachio custard pastries

Make the most of plums in late summer and bake them in a pastry case with a pistachio and custard filling. They’re well worth the effort

Blackberry & orange cake

Try a twist on layered sponge cake with blackberries, zesty oranges and marmalade in place of your usual filling. Pipe the topping for a professional look

Maple pear, pecan & mascarpone roulade

Try the combo of pecans and maple syrup with juicy pears and a light-as-air sponge in this impressive roulade. It’s great with a cuppa or served as a pudding

Brazilian-style beef with sweet potato salad

Cook this veg-packed steak dinner on the barbecue for a healthy dish that delivers all of your 5-a-day. You can also make it in the oven if you prefer

Chocolate biscuit wreath cake

Serve this stunning wreath as an alternative to Christmas cake. It makes a showstopping centrepiece dessert, and components of it can be made in advance