There’s nothing I enjoy more about Christmas than taking it easy. I’m not one to rush around shops, stressing over poorly chosen gifts that end up forgotten. And let’s not forget the food! Christmas brings plenty of chances to indulge in delicious treats, which always makes me happy.
Recently, I’ve gotten into making cute treats for special occasions (if you recall my gin and tonic waffles). Here are some of my favorites that I’ll be whipping up for the Christmas table this year – though I must admit, I make the snowman all year round!
If you’re into hot chocolate, you’ll love this treat, which is easy and adorable. Homemade hot chocolate is surprisingly simple to prepare. Here’s how: Take three large marshmallows and some chocolate sauce to draw on a face. Add straws or sweet breadsticks for arms and legs, and use orange icing for a carrot nose. Heat whole milk in a pan, then melt in a high-cocoa chocolate bar in chunks until you reach your desired taste. This works with white chocolate too, which melts faster. Serve the hot chocolate with the marshmallow snowman on top, as it will start to melt quickly.
As a kid, I worried about snowmen melting, but I’ve gotten over that! For these “sloppy snowmen,” bake or buy plain cookies, then decorate as follows: Mix 350g plain flour, some bicarbonate of soda, 250g butter, 300-330g sugar, an egg, and a teaspoon of your chosen extract (vanilla, cinnamon, or rose). Roll into discs and bake at 180-190°C for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for five minutes, then top with white icing, add a marshmallow, and decorate with black and orange icing. Enjoy at any time!
Cupcakes are easy to decorate as festive Christmas trees. Make or buy plain cupcakes, then get creative. Use 120g each of butter, sugar, self-raising flour, 2 eggs, and an extract of choice. Mix butter and sugar, add eggs, then fold in flour. Bake at 170-180°C for 12-17 minutes until golden. For frosting, beat 150g butter, 300g icing sugar, a splash of milk, and green food coloring. Use a piping bag with a star nozzle to decorate the cupcakes, adding glitter or colored toppings.
Here’s one for adults! Make the hot chocolate as described, then add Baileys Irish Cream to taste. Pair this with gingerbread, following a reliable recipe for the best results. Serve the gingerbread warm with your hot chocolate.
This penguin porridge is perfect for breakfast, loved by kids and adults alike. Warm a bowl of porridge with whole milk, then arrange blueberries and satsumas to form a penguin shape. Add icing sugar for a snowy effect if desired. Serve hot, or try a Rudolph version if short on blueberries.
For pancakes, I always rely on Nigella’s quick and tasty recipe, ready in under 15 minutes. To make Santa pancakes, use cream for his beard, strawberries for his hat, and blueberries for eyes. Serve immediately.
Snowmen bottles are a fun craft! Use a bottle of your choice, decorate with chocolate or real buttons, and add a little scarf. Place a marshmallow head on top using colored icing for details. Fill the bottle with milk and insert a straw through the marshmallow.
Try making these simple Santa strawberries by slicing strawberries in half, adding cream between layers, and decorating with seeds or icing for eyes. Serve immediately for a festive look.
For a post-Christmas turkey curry, create penguin rice balls. Cook sticky rice; roll it and decorate with seaweed and sweetcorn for features. Serve with your curry.
Lastly, crepes are a special Christmas day treat. Use a reputable recipe, brown the crepes, and fold them into triangles for a tree shape. Add kiwi pieces and top with icing sugar and caramel. Use grapes for eyes and pomegranate seeds for baubles. Serve at once.
