Bake this festive fruit cake in advance of Christmas and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist

An easy-to-make alternative to traditional Christmas cakes which requires no beating

This pasta salad makes a quick and healthy lunch, or is perfect prepared ahead for a picnic or lunchbox

Love crinkle cookies? Try our extra-festive version for Christmas, with orange zest, mixed spice and cinnamon – and not forgetting the classic fudgy centre

Cross a Christmas pudding with a cheesecake and what do you get? A fantastic alternative festive dessert with a crunchy ginger base and creamy filling

A perfect match for cheese and cold meats, and delicious in turkey sandwiches

Combine a few key Christmas flavours here to make a pie that both children and adults will adore

Substitute eggs for chia seeds in this vegan take on a traditional Christmas cake. The coconut oil adds a great background flavour and keeps the cake moist

Mix up your festive main with this fabulous Christmas dinner Wellington. A make-ahead meal in one, it incorporates stuffing and cranberry sauce, so all you need to think about on the big day is the veg and gravy

An easy vegetarian curry that can be cooked in one pan with a rich and creamy sauce - serve with simple, homemade flatbreads

Combine the best bits of a Christmas dinner in one moreish bite with these canapés. Ideal for a festive buffet

Use storecupboard ingredients to make these moreish chocolate fudge crinkle biscuits. They make the perfect partner to a coffee as an afternoon treat

This great chilli recipe has to be one of the best dishes to serve to friends for a casual get-together. An easy sharing favourite that uses up storecupboard ingredients

You can have a batch of scones on the table in 20 minutes with Jane Hornby's storecupboard recipe, perfect for unexpected guests. The only question is, jam first or cream first?

A homemade Christmas pudding is easy to make, then it just needs time in the steamer to turn it into a glorious, rich, fruity dessert. A festive classic

Paul Hollywood's fruit rolls can be made ahead then heated up before adding a glossy glaze and citrus icing

Switch up your traditional Christmas pudding with this sticky toffee version. It's a great modern twist on the classic festive dessert

Use up some of those storecupboard leftovers in this delicious salad

A fruity pud, served with orange custard cream, makes the perfect end to the traditional Christmas meal

A festive treat to give or receive

Make this vegan Christmas pudding as part of a festive feast, packed with dried figs, raisins, sultanas and a tot of rum. Serve warm with vegan ice cream

This pasta supper, packed with canned fish, olives, tomatoes, capers and parsley, is a quick and colourful dish for one

Mix dried fruit, nuts, cranberries and maple syrup on Stir-up Sunday for this crowd-pleasing Christmas cake that improves as it keeps

Use your choice of dried fruit, nuts, citrus zest and booze (or even tea) and get your cake made up to six months in advance

This family favourite is a great way to get seafood into a gluten-free diet - and by using canned tuna it fits into even the strictest of student budgets

Treat yourself at Christmas with these moreish stuffing balls. The sausagemeat and bacon add the ‘pigs in blankets’ flavour, while cranberries make them taste extra festive

A mix of trend and tradition, this is one of the easiest Christmas cakes we've ever created, with a virtually all-in-one method that'll save you some stress

This traditional Christmas cake is the perfect combination of fruit, nuts and spices

Get ahead at Christmas with this showstopping cake boasting white chocolate, cherries and festive spice. You can bake the sponges, meringues and biscuits the day before assembling

Chocolate truffles, amaretti biscuits and a few edible Christmas flourishes make these festive brownies an extra-special dessert no one could resist