Few activities can make you feel as festive as an afternoon of Christmas baking. From Christmas cake to stollen, Yule Logs to mince pies, fill your kitchen with the scent of warming spices, dust your countertops with snow-like sugar and declare the festivities open with these classic Christmas bakes.
For more festive baking inspiration, take a look at our best Christmas biscuits, best easy Christmas bakes and festive baking projects.
Classic Mince Pies Flaky Pastry, Mincemeat, Sweet Squash, Almonds & Maple Syrup
Flaky pastry, mincemeat, sweet squash, almonds and maple syrup, need we say more? Your Christmas baking wouldn’t be complete without a mince pie and Jamie’s classic recipe is hard to beat.
Mary Berry’s Star Almond Mince Pies
An inspired take on a classic from star baker Mary Berry. Here Mary ingeniously swaps out the pastry lid for one of golden marzipan cut into stars.
Frangipane mince pies
Or, for a mince pie with a sophisticated twist, we love Richard Bertinet’s frangipane version, finished with a scattering of flaked almonds.
Stork Christmas Cake
For the perfect Christmas fruit cake, make this about five weeks before Christmas and feed it with spoonfuls of brandy until the big day.
From the book
Stork: The Art of Home Baking
Celebrating the UK’s best-loved margarine with a collection of mouthwatering bakes.
With savoury treats, nostalgic cakes, and impressive show-stoppers.
Including classic recipes as well as modern twists on old favourites.
Buy From
Iced and Spiced Gingerbread
There are few bakes as festive as a spiced gingerbread and Rukmini’s quick and easy individual loaves are rapidly becoming our go-to version. Topped with a lemony icing and a dusting of edible gold spray, these pretty little bakes take under 40 minutes from start to finish, making them perfect for whipping up if unexpected guests drop by.
Mary Berry’s Bûche de Noël (Yule Log)
Mary Berry’s classic Yule Log is our favourite way to while away a December afternoon. With flavours of chocolate, chestnut and coffee, this decadent bake is a true festive showstopper.
Chocolate Log Sweet Chestnut Purée, Honeyed Cream and Crushed Honeycomb Filling
Featuring sweet chestnut purée, honeyed cream, a crushed honeycomb filling, and kitsch festive decorations, this is a Christmas log the Jamie Oliver way.
Mary Berry’s Christmas Stollen
Mary’s take on the classic German bread has all of the classic hallmarks – a marzipan centre, an enriched dough studded with dried fruit, and a simple dusting of icing sugar to decorate.
Christmas Stollen
Nothing says Christmas like stollen does and non-nonsense baking expert Bake with Jack is here to show you how to master this German classic with ease. Here, mixed dried fruit, homemade marzipan and festive spices combine to create an authentic, flavourful festive favourite.
Chocolate Orange Knot Buns
There is something undeniably festive about the pairing of chocolate and orange. In this recipe these two flavours unite in a sweet bread bun that is nothing short of magical.
