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35 Recipes

British Christmas Recipes

A proper British Christmas dinner is a thing of beauty: roast turkey with bread sauce, crispy roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts with bacon, pigs in blankets, and a flaming Christmas pudding to finish.

Christmas roast chicken with golden crispy skin and herb butter on a white ceramic platter 120 min Medium

Christmas Roast Chicken with Herb Stuffing
Roast quail for Christmas on a white oval platter with wild mushroom stuffing and thyme 47 min Medium

Roast Quail for Christmas with Herb Butter and Wild Mushroom Stuffing
Sliced Christmas venison loin roast on a white platter, showing a red-pink interior with a dark juniper and herb crust 60 min Medium

Christmas Venison Roast
Mini chocolate orange tarts with glossy dark ganache and candied orange peel on a white ceramic board 60 min Medium

Chocolate Orange Tarts
Christmas pork belly with crispy crackling on a white platter, sliced to show layers 215 min Medium

Christmas Pork Belly with Crispy Crackling
Glazed Christmas gammon joint with caramelised honey mustard glaze and clove-studded diamond scoring, freshly carved in a roasting dish 85 min Easy

Air Fryer Gammon for Christmas
Christmas rocky road squares with marshmallows, cranberries, and pistachios in dark chocolate, cut into portions in a white baking dish 15 min Easy

Christmas Rocky Road
British Christmas sausage stuffing with sage and onion in a white baking dish 65 min Easy

British Christmas Sausage Stuffing with Sage and Onion
Rich Madeira Christmas gravy in a white ceramic gravy boat, deeply colored and glossy 110 min Medium

Christmas Gravy with Madeira
Classic British snowball cocktail in a highball glass with advocaat and lemonade, lime slice on the rim 5 min Easy

Classic Snowball Drink Recipe (Advocaat and Lemonade)
Sliced pork wellington with mushroom duxelles on a white platter showing golden pastry and pink tenderloin center 75 min Medium

Pork Wellington with Mushroom Duxelles
Classic Christmas nut roast in a white loaf dish, sliced to show the dense nut and lentil interior 80 min Medium

Classic Christmas Nut Roast
Classic Christmas stuffing in a white baking dish with golden crust and visible herbs 65 min Easy

Classic Christmas Stuffing with Sage and Onion
Freshly baked cranberry orange scones with orange glaze on a white ceramic plate 38 min Easy

Cranberry Orange Scones
Twelve freshly baked Yorkshire puddings in a muffin tin, tall and golden with hollow centres 35 min Medium

Classic Yorkshire Puddings for Christmas Dinner
Golden crispy pigs in blankets in a white roasting dish, chipolatas wrapped in streaky bacon, caramelised and glistening 35 min Easy

Classic British Pigs in Blankets
Whole roast goose with crisp golden skin and apple sage stuffing on a white serving platter 255 min Hard

Christmas Roast Goose with Apple and Sage Stuffing
Smoked salmon blini topped with creme fraiche and dill on a slate serving board 30 min Easy

Smoked Salmon Blini with Creme Fraiche and Dill
Traditional British Christmas cake with white royal icing and marzipan on a white cake stand 270 min Medium

Traditional British Christmas Cake with Marzipan and Royal Icing
Honey glazed carrots and parsnips on a white serving platter garnished with fresh thyme 45 min Easy

Honey Glazed Carrots and Parsnips
Christmas hot chocolate in a white mug topped with whipped cream and cinnamon 15 min Easy

Christmas Hot Chocolate with Warming Spices
Bowl of traditional Christmas wassail with floating orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and cranberries 70 min Easy

Traditional Christmas Wassail
Roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon and chestnuts in a white serving dish 40 min Easy

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts
Traditional British Christmas fruitcake with brandy glaze and whole almonds on a white plate 225 min Medium

Traditional Christmas Fruitcake with Brandy Glaze
Sliced classic beef wellington on a white platter showing pink beef tenderloin wrapped in mushroom duxelles and golden puff pastry 90 min Hard

Classic Beef Wellington with Mushroom Duxelles
Herb butter roast turkey with crisp golden skin on a white serving platter 235 min Medium

Herb Butter Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
Classic Scottish Christmas shortbread cookies in festive shapes on a white plate 40 min Easy

Classic Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Glass of classic homemade eggnog topped with freshly grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick 30 min Medium

Classic Homemade Eggnog
Classic gingerbread cookies decorated with white royal icing in assorted Christmas shapes on a white plate 42 min Medium

Classic Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing
Traditional British Christmas trifle in a glass bowl showing layers of sponge, berry compote, custard, and whipped cream topped with fresh berries 55 min Medium

Traditional Christmas Trifle with Sherry-Soaked Sponge and Custard
Traditional British Christmas pudding on a white plate with brandy butter and holly garnish 405 min Medium

Traditional British Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter
Crispy golden Christmas roast potatoes with rosemary and garlic on a white serving platter 75 min Easy

Crispy Christmas Roast Potatoes with Goose Fat and Garlic
Cranberry gin fizz cocktails with rosemary sprigs and fresh cranberries in highball glasses 25 min Easy

Cranberry Gin Fizz with Rosemary and Sparkling Water
Roast leg of lamb with garlic, rosemary, and lemon on a white serving platter 175 min Medium

Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic, Rosemary, and Lemon
Traditional British mince pies with star-shaped pastry tops and powdered sugar dusting 60 min Easy

Traditional Mince Pies with Homemade Mincemeat
The Christmasify Kitchen

A Proper British Christmas

A British Christmas dinner is an institution. Roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, crackling roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, Brussels sprouts (love them or hate them), pigs in blankets, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, and gravy made from the pan drippings. Followed by a flaming Christmas pudding with brandy butter, and mince pies with tea by the fire.

The British have been perfecting this meal for centuries. The traditions are surprisingly specific: the turkey must be free-range, the potatoes must be par-boiled and roughed up before roasting, the sprouts must not be boiled to death, and the pudding must be set alight at the table. Getting each element right is a matter of pride - and these recipes show you exactly how.

Beyond the main event, British Christmas baking is a season-long affair. Christmas pudding is made on Stir-up Sunday in November and fed brandy weekly. Mince pies are baked in batches throughout December. Christmas cake - a rich fruitcake covered in marzipan and royal icing - is a centrepiece of the holiday tea table.

Then there is Boxing Day: cold turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce, bubble and squeak fried from leftover vegetables, and the first slice of Christmas cake with a cup of strong tea. The British Christmas is not just a meal - it is a five-day eating marathon with its own rituals and rules.

British Christmas Recipes Tips

Expert advice for perfect results every time.

  1. 1

    Par-boil and rough up your potatoes

    Peel, cut into even chunks, boil for 10–12 minutes until the edges are fluffy, then shake vigorously in the colander. The rough edges crisp up beautifully in hot goose fat at 220°C. This is non-negotiable for proper British roasties.

  2. 2

    Don't forget the bread sauce

    An often-overlooked essential, bread sauce is a creamy, onion-infused milk sauce thickened with fresh white breadcrumbs. Infuse milk with an onion studded with cloves, bay, and nutmeg for at least 30 minutes. It is the quiet hero of the British Christmas plate.

  3. 3

    Wrap your sausages in bacon the night before

    Pigs in blankets (chipolata sausages wrapped in streaky bacon) can be assembled on Christmas Eve and refrigerated on a tray. Pop them in the oven during the turkey's resting time. They take 20–25 minutes and everyone fights over them.

  4. 4

    Pull a cracker before dessert

    Christmas crackers, paper crowns, and bad jokes are as much a part of the British Christmas table as the food. Everyone wears their paper crown for dessert. It is silly, it is joyful, and no British Christmas is complete without it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about british christmas recipes, answered.

What is a traditional British Christmas dinner?

A traditional British Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes (in goose fat), Brussels sprouts, honey-glazed parsnips, pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon), bread sauce, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Dessert is Christmas pudding with brandy butter or custard, followed by mince pies, cheese, and port.

What are pigs in blankets?

In Britain, pigs in blankets are chipolata sausages wrapped in streaky bacon and roasted until crispy. They are served alongside the turkey and are arguably the most popular item on the Christmas dinner plate. In the US, the term refers to sausages wrapped in pastry - a completely different dish.

What is Boxing Day food?

Boxing Day (December 26th) food is traditionally made from Christmas dinner leftovers. Cold turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce, bubble and squeak (fried leftover vegetables mixed with mashed potato), turkey curry, and cold ham with pickles. The first slice of Christmas cake is often served with tea on Boxing Day afternoon.

What is Stir-up Sunday?

Stir-up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent (usually late November), traditionally the day to make the Christmas pudding. The name comes from the Book of Common Prayer's collect for that day: "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord." Family members each take a turn stirring the pudding batter from east to west (representing the journey of the Magi) and make a wish.

What do British people drink at Christmas?

Traditional British Christmas drinks include mulled wine (warmed red wine with spices), Buck's Fizz (champagne and orange juice, served Christmas morning), sherry (especially cream sherry, served with Christmas cake), port (with the cheese board after dinner), sloe gin, and plenty of tea. A bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream and a tin of Quality Street are as much a part of Christmas as the tree.