Try this cross between dense chocolate cake, rich chocolate ice cream and Christmas tiffin. Best of all, it can be sliced straight from the freezer

Serve this easy vegetarian pâté as a starter at a dinner party. It's a great partner to toast, mini crispbreads and cornichons

Five minutes is all you need to whip up this creamy fish dish, great served as a dip or starter

A little parfait makes Christmas complete, try making your own with Barney's festive recipe

James Martin's luxuriously rich dinner party starter can be made up to two days in advance for fuss-free entertaining - serve with toasted brioche, cornichons and chutney.

Prepare these vegan mushroom pâté with candied walnuts canapés ahead of time. When the party starts, all you need to do is pop them in the oven!

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

A chunky fish terrine that's easy to make and delicious with toasted sweet bagels

This easy vegetarian dip is a healthy alternative to hummus and great with crudités in a lunchbox or served as a vegan pate as part of a snack selection.

Making your own paté is an extra-special touch- this version is flavoured with wine, cream, garlic and sage

A rich, sweet pâté recipe using pineau - a sherry-like aperitif - great as a dinner party starter.

Get your dinner party off to a great start with a silky-smooth chicken liver parfait. Serve with toasted brioche and a sweet chutney for an indulgent starter

Need an easy dessert for a dinner party? Try this lemon meringue parfait. You can make it ahead of time and put it in the freezer until you're ready to serve

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

This relaxed mackerel pâté starter can be whizzed up in just 15 minutes - and it won't break the bank either

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

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

Whizz up this fish dip with hot tangy mustard notes, cream cheese, lemon and dill - great for a last minute party dish

This delicious, unashamedly rich starter is the sort of dish that makes entertaining stress-free, as it can be made up to three days ahead

Sweet and nutty, this delicate dessert is ideal for after a big Sunday dinner, serve chilled and covered in blitzed pistachios for some crunch

Impress dinner guests with homemade port and chicken liver pâté, which takes just 30 minutes to make. Enjoy as a starter with our rosemary crackers

An impressive starter from Gordon Ramsay, that's surprisingly simple to put together. Make it a few days ahead to allow the flavours to develop

This impressive and delicately-flavoured starter is perfect for dinner parties without splashing the cash. Make-ahead, easy-to-do and no cooking required

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

This low-fat, easy pâté is a perfect vegetarian starter

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

If you're not a confident pastry-maker, you can use shop-bought pastry - you'll find it easier to handle and the result will still be delicious

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

A deliciously creamy, Italian strawberry dessert