Best Christmas baking and dessert recipes

From adorable gingerbread biscuits and a spiced yule log to a boozy roulade and nutty mince pies, here are our favourite Christmas baking recipes.

'Tis the season to get baking. This year make something a bit more special to lift your spirits and fill your home with festive aromas of spice and citrus.

Mince pies

A Christmas staple, there's no need to make your own mincemeat as you can easily adjust the flavour of shop-bought by adding a touch more orange zest, some mixed spice or a teaspoon or two of brandy or rum. Don't forget to serve them warm with cream and a glass of mulled wine.

Chocolate and hazlenut boozy roulade

Although this celebratory dessert is well-suited for any special occassion, Christmas is the time to indulge. The chocolatey sponge is rolled with a heady Baileys-infused cream and topped with a crunchy hazelnut praline.

Mary Berry Cooks Up a Feast/DK

Chocolate yule log

A rich festive treat, chocolate yule log is a much-loved Christmas dessert. Filled and covered with an indulgent dark chocolate mousse, it's incredibly satisfying to eat and, best of all, pretty simple to make.

Mince pie streusel tart

If you're bored of having the same mince pies every year, why not try something different? This mince pie tart has a crunchy streusel top made with oats and sharp mandarin zest.

Waitrose & Partners/loveFOOD

Orange, almond and cardamom madeleines

The perfect-sized sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee after dinner, these quick-to-make madeleines incorporate the festive flavours of orange, almond and cardamom.

Gingerbread biscuits

These adorable biscuits don't take ages to make and decorating them will be a fun activity for the whole family to do together. You'll only need a gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutter as you can turn them upside-down for the reindeer.

Wairtose & Partners/loveFOOD

Spiced latte cake

This is a really elegant festive bake that looks stunning and tastes even better. With plenty of spice from the nutmeg and a bit of boozy kick from the creamy rum topping, this is a grown-up tea time or post-dinner treat.

READ MORE: The best supermarket desserts

Caramelised clementine tart

A real showstopper bake, this elegant tart is rather easy to make and it incorporates the season's favourite citrus fruit. It's the perfect blend of sweet and zesty flavours that'll go down a treat with a cup of tea or coffee.

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Christmas wreath éclairs

These pretty éclairs are something else and not too difficult to master. They’re also generously sized, which in our book is a good thing at Christmas. In this recipe there are two glazes to choose from: one is lighter and sweeter, and one is dark and chocolatey. 

READ MORE: Our ultimate Christmas recipe guide

Ultimate profiteroles

A real festive treat, profiteroles are an indulgent Christmas classic. Skip the shop-bought ones this year and try your hand at making your own. It is a slightly more complicated bake, but it'll be worth it once you taste one.

The Pastry Chef's Guide/Pavilion Books

Gingerbread Christmas cookies

These sweet festive cookies are a wonderful treat to gift to friends and are great fun to make with children. They are spiced with the Christmas flavours of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves and then finished with iced decorative patterns.

Baileys crème brûlée

Mix Baileys Irish Cream with cream and egg yolks to make this luxurious, grown-up crème brûlée. Don't worry if you don't have a cook's blowtorch – you can caramelise the sugar under the grill in the oven.

Waitrose & Partners/loveFOOD

After Eight mint chocolate ice cream

Three of the best after-dinner treats – ice cream, a digestif and After Eight mint chocolates – are combined into one perfect mouthful. A really delectable way to end a spectacular Christmas lunch or dinner.

READ MORE: Ideas to use up sweet and savoury Christmas leftovers

Gingerbread yule log

A Christmas classic with a fiery ginger kick, this yule log will be a guaranteed hit with your family and friends. The light and airy meringue buttercream and the sticky ginger sponge are a match made in heaven. 

Lead image: Maldon/loveFOOD