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

Learn how to make a bubbling sourdough starter using white bread flour and water. After feeding the starter for five days, you can use it to make a sourdough loaf

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

Use rye flour to make an easy sourdough starter with a deep molasses flavour. Once active, you can use it to make any type of sourdough bread

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

A soufflé to start always gives your dinner party a 'wow' factor and this make-ahead recipe gives you more time to be the perfect host

Serve this vegetarian gravy as is, or use it as a base for a turkey gravy. If you don’t have any madeira, swap it out for the same quantity of dry sherry

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 light, elegant make-ahead starter to ease you into the Christmas Day blow-out, or to kick off a dinner party menu

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.

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

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

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

Make a sourdough starter from scratch, then use it to bake a flavoursome loaf of bread with our simple step-by-step recipe.

Add parmesan to traditional Yorkshire puddings and take this Sunday roast side dish to a new level. Make them ahead and freeze them for up to three months

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

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

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

Gooey, melted cheese and crispy, golden bread make a stunning centrepiece to share with friends over drinks or as a dinner party starter – make ahead for fuss-free entertaining

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

For the keen baker, why not give the gift of a sourdough recipe kit? Fill a jar with everything they need and add the final flourishes to make it Christmas ready

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

Save precious time when planning a group meal by prepping and freezing your potatoes in advance.

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

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

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

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

Whet the appetite for the main event by serving guests this special chicken terrine with leeks and apricots. It can be made up to three days ahead

These beautiful and classy little fruitcakes make lovely gifts, and kids will enjoy decorating them too.