Lovely foodie things to make for Christmas (not for presents)

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Thinking today about doing much more in the way of home-made food for the Christmas period this year, as I'm spending so much more time at home.

So far, I've planned Nigella's no-churn coffee ice-cream, and a similar one in salted caramel flavour.

I'm hoping for some inspiration for snacky savoury food, as well as sweet treats. Happy to do more healthy stuff, using nuts and seeds too. What are your best creations please?

Hope you get loads of ideas.This is such a good idea.

Can you share the salted caramel ice cream recipe please?

I'm planning on making various biscuits, scones, cheesecake and chocolate fondant so far!

I usually make fudge and coconut ice. Mince pies, Christmas cake, gingerbread, shortbread, Caramelised onion sausage rolls , cheese straws.

Practically everyone in my house is trying to lose weight so I'm watching with envy

I love making and eating a savoury hedgehog- pineapple, cheese, olives on sticks! Might not be exactly what you had in mind though

This is one of my attempts!!

Panforte
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/07/how-to-make-the-perfect-panforte

Christmas Pudding Vodka
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmas_pudding_vodka_45343

Both highly recommended!

Anything with marzipan 🤤

dingdang love the hedgehog!

Something like this www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-onion-tart/amp
It goes really well with any cold cuts you might have, or a salady lunch

I make a batch of Christmas cookies at the beginning of advent then freeze the dough so I have a supply for any guests/events/Christmas/New Year etc. Here are my go to recipes. I sometimes substitute ground pistachios for almonds to add variety or mix up things eg I glaze some of the vanillekipferl with lemon icing, leave out the cinnamon in some of the zimtsterne. I make them canape size so everyone can try a selection. I also make bite size mince pies with marzipan lids instead of pastry.

www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/recipes/the-nights-before-christmas-anja-dunks-german-inspired-feast-37551474.html

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/nigella-lawsons-chocolate-biscuits/

alldayidreamaboutfood.com/make-ahead-low-carb-holiday-cookies/ (peppermint stars)

www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/christmas-food-and-drink/9718855/Vanillekipferl-half-moon-vanilla-biscuits-recipe.html

www.sugarlovespices.com/orange-and-chocolate-star-cookies/

buttersugarflowers.com/2014/07/07/violet-candy-cupcakes/

www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/t/turkish_delight_and_rosewater_cookies.html

www.foodandwine.com/recipes/raspberry-hazelnut-macaroons-haselnussmakronen

easyportugueserecipes.com/portuguese-egg-yolk-sweets-ovos-moles-de-aveiro/

I also make ahead and freeze Cheddar or Parmesan shortbreads (100g flour, 100g softened butter, 50g cheese, make into little balls and chill, cook for 15 mins at 160C fan until golden). You can cook from frozen too.

I make gingerbread in Christmas shapes every year and ds decorates them with icing pens. I also make rocky road without the fruit.

My DH plans on making a batch of bacon jam, that's really tasty

@montymum can I ask how you make coconut ice please?

Savoury palmiers made with ready made puff pastry. Very quick to do, tasty and look impressive.

I'm making Mary Berry's chocolate roulade with cherries inside as a yule log.

Home made spanakopita and sausage rolls with home made filling (sausage meat with lots of fresh herbs and chopped shallots and apricots etc.)

Nigella does a brilliant roasted nuts and herbs mix.

How about home made cheese straws with smoky paprika, poppy and sesame seeds?

@Emeeno1 just finishing off drying the candied peel for the panforte
Have also made quince cheese, achaar pickles {quince and pumpkin} will be making Japanese style pickles nearer the time

Cinnamon stars
Leibkuchen, although i have yet to find a recipe I like as much as shop bought
Spicy popcorn

I'm making a couple of batches of mincemeat tomorrow. Mary Berry's Classic Mincemeat and a chocolate/orange flavoured one. Ridiculously easy to make and so much more tasty than shop bought mincemeat.

Baked cocktail sausages with a honey/soy/sesame sauce. Loads of variations of this kind of recipe online. Yum!

Eggnog made from scratch - look for a cooked egg recipe. It’s a faff, but delicious. It’s basically an alcoholic custard. (We have this for breakfast with a couple of mince pies on Christmas morning if we are staying home for the day Ditto a glass in hand putting up the Christmas tree.)

Winter Pimms made with warm apple and ginger juice (cawstons does a nice one)

Home made cheese straws

Home made cheese muffins / cheese waffles aka cheese muffin batter cooked in a waffle iron

Fudge

Red onion marmalade to have with left over sandwiches

Oh, and some cashew brittle!

I always make biscotti at Christmas, Jamie Oliver has a good recipe and I just mix it up a bit and add some cranberries and orange liqueur to make it christmassy.

Home made sausage rolls fresh from the oven are amazing. Chocolate fridge cake. Parmesan biscuits. Homemade crackers (cheese crackers not the pulling variety!)

Love some of these ideas, I saw this recipe the other week and thought it is worth trying this christmas! https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/spicedorangeeandhoneyy36705

My go-to fudge recipe is a total hit year in year out!

500g white choc
Condensed milk

Melt together in a pan, and once you've poured it into a tin just add literally whatever choc/biscuits/caramel you want.

My best creations so far are kinder, salted caramel and twix!!! Tasty tasty