Trusted British chef recipes, tested at home
Our own Christmas recipes, from the cake you make in November to the trifle on Boxing Day. Every one is tested in our kitchen first, with timings that work in a real oven, not just on paper.
This Christmas turkey recipe is a whole 5kg bird with orange, sage, thyme and garlic butter pushed under the breast skin, roasted under a loose foil tent, then uncovered to crisp. It takes about 4 hours in the oven and serves 10. The thing that makes turkey less stressful is knowing it can wait. Mary …
This Christmas ham recipe is an unsmoked gammon joint poached in apple juice with bay and peppercorns, then glazed with clementine, fresh ginger, wholegrain mustard and dark muscovado. It simmers for 2 hours, roasts for 30 minutes and serves 12. It’s the joint that keeps on giving through the whole holiday. Mary Berry says a …
This red cabbage Christmas recipe is a slow-braised side of red cabbage, Bramley apple and red onion, cooked with orange, cinnamon and star anise, then finished with marmalade. It bakes gently at 150°C for 2 hours and serves 8. It’s the most useful dish on the Christmas table, because you can make it days ahead. …
This Christmas lamb recipe is a whole bone-in shoulder rubbed with garlic, rosemary, cumin and pomegranate molasses, then slow-roasted on red onions for over 4 hours. It’s tender enough to pull apart with a fork and serves 8. I chose shoulder over leg for Christmas Day because it’s so forgiving. Mary Berry explains that shoulder …
This Christmas chutney recipe is a sticky, spiced preserve made with Bramley apples, cranberries, red onion and orange, simmered in cider vinegar with ginger and cinnamon. It takes about an hour on the hob and fills five jars. Make it now rather than next month. Mary Berry says chutney is best left for at least …
This Christmas cake recipe is a rich, dark fruit cake made with sultanas, raisins, apricots, dates and cranberries soaked overnight in brandy. It bakes low and slow at 140°C for about 4 hours in a 20cm deep round tin. Mary Berry calls her Classic Rich Christmas Cake “virtually foolproof”, so I used her low oven …
This Christmas pudding recipe is a dark steamed pudding packed with raisins, dates and dried figs, soaked in orange juice and boukha. It steams for 6 hours in a 1.2 litre basin and serves 8. I built it after reading both of Mary Berry’s puddings side by side. Her classic version lets you swap suet …