Introduction At Christmas, it’s important to let our family and friends know how much we love them. In a season of giving and sharing, what better way to show them that you care than with a homemade gift? So step into the kitchen and get ready to create beautiful bakes and magical memories to treasure forever.
In this book, you’ll discover recipes to make delicious gifts and stocking fillers, perfect party food, and showstopper cakes to share during your Christmas celebrations. Whether you want to impress your friends with an amazing gingerbread house, eat your way through a chocolate Christmas pudding, or make a bang with a cake shaped like a Christmas cracker, this book
has everything budding bakers need to get ahead for the
festive season.
On a cold winter’s day, there’s nothing I enjoy more than playing Christmas music and dancing around the kitchen while I’m baking festive treats. And you can create your own special traditions too! Choose a Christmassy recipe from this book, tie on your apron, and have fun spending time together!
David
Holiday PantryChristmas can be a busy time of year! But if you buy your ingredients in advance and read each recipe carefully, then you can focus on having fun in the kitchen. Here are a few handy tips, tricks, and facts to help you.
Yeast needs the right conditions to start growing. In this book we use fast-acting yeast. You can use fresh yeast, but you’ll need to double the weight. Always make sure your yeast isn’t expired.
Nuts are eaten a lot at Christmastime. Not only are nuts tasty, but they are also healthy and add a lovely crunchy texture. There are lots of different nuts, and it’s easy to switch them in a recipe. Try as many different varieties as you can.
Dried fruits add sweetness to a bake, but they’re also full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are good for us. Dried fruits are eaten at Christmastime because it’s harder to get fresh fruits in the winter.
Spices are used a lot in Christmas bakes, especially cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. If you have lots of different spices in your kitchen cupboard, you can experiment and find your favorite flavor combinations.
Food coloring is a great way to make a bake special at Christmas. I recommend using color gels or pastes as they don’t change the consistency of your mixture. Look for natural food colors that are made from vegetables and fruits. Make sure you have enough red and green as these are the most Christmassy colors.
Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes make bread and cakes soft and, most importantly, healthier. Root vegetables are easy to find in winter—so perfect for Christmas recipes.
Butter and spreads are used in a lot of cakes, pastries, and cookies. Some bakes are known for their buttery flavor, but there are lots of alternatives made with sunflower oil, soybeans, or vegetable oil.
Milks and yogurts were traditionally made with cow’s milk. Nowadays, you can buy all kinds of milks and yogurts made from plants, such as oat milk or soy yogurt.
If you have food allergies, or are cooking for someone who does, you need to check the ingredients list carefully.
Weighing and Measuring All recipes are measured in ounces (oz) and cups.
tsp = teaspoon
tbsp = tablespoon
The oven temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Great Gifts These gift-wrapping ideas add another touch of thoughtfulness to your homemade treats.
And, best of all, you can reuse and upcycle leftover everyday items you find in your home.
Make a gift box1. Take a large piece of thin cardboard and draw a cross shape made up of 4 × 4 inch squares. The cross should be 4 squares high and 3 squares wide.
2. Next, draw tabs (¼ inch high) on the top and bottom edges of the side panels and the bottom edge of the bottom panel.
3. Cut around the outside edges and then use a ruler to help you fold and unfold along all the inside lines.
4. Turn it over and fold in all the tabs. Then fold in the panels closest to the side tabs and glue them in place.
5. You should now have a box with a lid that is not stuck down.
6. Draw a fun Christmas design on one side.
7. Place your baked gift or sweets inside the box and close the lid.
Decorative jam jars Make your special Christmas jam (p. 2) even more special by covering the metal lid with brown paper or leftover Christmas wrapping paper and tightly fastening with string or ribbon. Personalize
it by writing and drawing on the top.
Tied sandwich bags Show off your sweet-and-spicy popcorn (p. 14) in a clear sandwich bag, perfect for sharing. Scoop in a few handfuls and secure with a bow!
Gift-wrapped tubes Give your leftover cookie or chip container another life! Decorate it with Christmas wrapping paper and fill it with a sweet surprise like the coconut snowballs (p. 4), then add a ribbon or bow.
Equipment List Before you begin, it’s a good idea to check what equipment you might need. Here is a list of the basic equipment you will use in this book, but check each recipe individually too.
parchment paper
cake pans
baking sheets
cookie cutters
round cake pans
safety knife
cooling rack
cupcake tin
digital scale
festive plates and bowls for serving
mini foil baking cups
food processor
kitchen scissors
large mixing bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
muffin tin
oven mitts
oven timer
pastry brush
piping bags and nozzles
rolling pin
saucepan
sieve
spatula
cupcake liners
immersion blender
tea towel
whisk
wooden spoon
Remember to always ask an adult to help when you’re baking. And don’t forget to wash and dry your hands!
Copyright © 2024 by David Atherton; illustrated by Katie Cottle. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
