xmas

A luxury that has been prized by chefs for years, so make the most of it with this cheat's classic

Lobster with Thermidor butter

lobsters

dry white wine

shallot, very finely chopped

tarragon leaves, chopped

parsley leaves, chopped

Dijon mustard

lemon

paprika

Tabasco sauce

butter, softened

First make the butter. Put the wine and shallot into a pan, then bring to the boil and simmer until nearly dry. Tip into a bowl to cool, mix all the ingredients together, roll into a log, using cling film or foil, then chill to harden. Can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Snap away the claws from the lobster. Using a large chef&rsquo;s knife, cut the lobster in half and wash the head cavity under cold water, then dry with kitchen paper. Lay the lobsters, cut side up, on a baking tray. Crack the claws and remove the claw meat. Divide claw meat between the head cavities. This can be done the day before and the lobster kept in the fridge ready for grilling.

Heat grill to high. Slice the butter into thin rounds and lay it along the lobsters so all the meat is covered. Grill for 5-8 mins until the butter is bubbling and starting to brown. Put the lobsters on plates, pouring any butter from the tray over them. Serve with new potatoes and some dressed salad leaves.

Oven-cook your favourite soft cheese until gooey for this last-minute crowd-pleaser. An easy recipe for a dinner party or when entertaining at Christmas

Baked camembert

camembertor brie, cheese

tbsp vermouth,or dry white wine,

thymesprigs

dried chilli flakes

crackers bread,to serve

Unwrap 250g camembert, brie or similar from its packaging, then place back into its box. Tie string around the box to secure.

Slash the cheese a few times and top with 1 tbsp vermouth, dry white wine or kirsch, 2 thyme sprigs and a pinch of dried chilli flakes.

Bake on a baking tray for 20 mins until gooey. Serve with toasted bread or crackers for dipping.

Christmastime is synonymous with cookie cutter cookies.&nbsp; Crispy Chocolate Cookie Cutter Cookies are a simple and inexpensive way to add a special touch to a deliciously classic cookie.

Crispy Chocolate Cookie Cutter Cookies

salted butter, (softened)

sugar

vanilla extract

all purpose flour

cocoa powder

baking powder

confectioner's sugar

cream of tartar

milk

In a mixing bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat the butter until light and fluffy.&nbsp; Add the sugar and beat into the butter until well combined.&nbsp;

Add the egg and the vanilla and beat into the butter mixture.

Next, add the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder, and with the mixer on low speed, blend into the butter mixture just until the flour is incorporated.

Divide the cookie dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.&nbsp; Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.&nbsp; Set aside.

Remove the cookie dough from fridge and roll dough a 1/4 inch thick between two sheets of parchment paper.&nbsp; Cut out desired shapes.

Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheet.&nbsp; Bake for 12 minutes.&nbsp; Remove from oven and allow to cool for a full 10 minutes of the baking sheet before transferring to wire cooling rack.&nbsp; DO NOT REMOVE THE COOKIES FROM THE BAKING SHEET UNTIL A FULL 10 MINUTES HAS PASSED.

Roll out the rest of the dough and start again.&nbsp; Repeat until all dough has been used.

When the cookies are completely cooled, prepare the royal icing by beating all ingredients together until the icing is smooth and glossy.

Transfer icing to a piping bag fitted with a writing tip and slowly outline the shape of the cookie.

Allow the icing to harden before stacking.&nbsp; Can be left on the counter top in a food safe container for 5-7 days.

Paul Hollywood prefers melt-in-the-mouth pastry for his fruity mince pies, so this recipe is nice and short

Mince Pies

mincemeat(about 600 grams)

satsumas,segmented

apple,finely chopped

little icing sugar,for dusting

plain flour

unsalted butter,softened

caster sugar,plus extra for sprinkling

egg,plus egg

Mince pies

Place 375g plain flour and 260g softened unsalted butter in a <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/top-five-mixing-bowls">bowl</a> and rub together to a crumb consistency.

Add 125g caster sugar and 1 large beaten egg, and <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/top-five-food-mixers">mix</a> together.

Tip out onto a lightly floured surface and fold until the pastry comes together, be careful not to over mix.

Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill for 10 mins.

Scoop the large jar of mincemeat into a bowl and add 2 segmented satsumas, 1 finely chopped apple and <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/top-graters">zest</a> of 1 lemon.

<a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/test-best-rolling-pins">Roll</a> out the pastry to 3mm thick.

Using a round cutter (about 10cm), cut out 16 bases and place them into muffin trays. Put 1½ tbsp mincemeat mixture into each. <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/test-best-pastry-brushes">Brush</a> the edge of each pie with a little beaten egg.

Re-roll out the pastry to cut 7cm lids and press them on top to seal. Glaze with the beaten egg, sprinkle with the extra caster sugar, then make a small cut in the tops.

Bake the mince pies for 15-20 mins until golden brown. Leave to cool before releasing them from the muffin trays and dusting with a little more icing sugar before serving.

Gingerbread amaretto chocolate tart is a beautful dessert that will knock your guests' socks off. Fragrant gingerbread base contrasts beautifully with creamy chocolate and amaretto ganache. Can be GF too.

Gingerbread Amaretto Chocolate Tart

all purpose flour*

level tsp ground ginger

level cinnamon

½ tsp ground all spice

½ tsp ground cloves

nutmeg

¼ tsp baking soda

salt

dark muscovado sugar

ml / 2 tbsp aquafaba**

chocolate

120 ml / ½ cup coconut cream (solid part of full fat coconut milk only)

almond milk

maple syrup

Gingerbread amaretto chocolate tart

Place the coconut oil in a small pot and melt it on the lowest setting. Let it cool down.

Sift the flour, all the spices, baking soda and salt into a medium size bowl. Mix really well.

Place the cooled coconut oil, sugar and aquafaba in a large bowl. Cream them together with an electric whisk until well combined and slightly thickened. Add the maple syrup and whisk some more until you get a thick, homogeneous mixture.

Fold ½ of the flour mix into the wet ingredients and, once combined, add the remaining half. Make sure there are no flour pockets and everything is well combined, but do not knead. The dough will be quite loose and sticky, that's fine, it's the way it should be. Wrap the dough in a piece of cling film (glad wrap) and place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour. You can safely keep it in the fridge overnight too.

Allow the dough to come to room temperature and then roll it slowly and gently between two sheets of baking paper or on a lightly floured surface.

Roll the dough into a 3 mm thin circle that is large enough to cover the base of the tart tin and the sides.

Roll the rolled out dough onto a rolling pin, place the rolling pin over the tart case and gently unroll the dough on the top of the tart tin.

Mould the dough into the tart case (making sure it fits really snugly everywhere) and trim the excess with a sharp knife. Patch up any holes or thin edges with the off-cuts and pierce the bottom of the pastry with a fork in a few places.

Place the lined tart case back in the fridge while you heat up the oven to to 175° C / 350° F.

Once the oven is ready, line the inside of the pastry case with a large piece of baking paper (I crumple it first so that it's more flexible) and then arrange baking beads (or whatever you use instead) on top of the pastry. Blind bake for 10 minutes.

After 15 minutes, take the beads and the baking paper off and return to the tart to the oven for another 10-15 minutes. Allow it to cool completely.

Place the broken up chocolate pieces and coconut cream in a clean glass or metal bowl over a bain marie (water bath). Warm them both up on the lowest setting (the water underneath should barely simmer and not boil) until the chocolate has been melted. Make sure the water does not touch the bowl the chocolate is in.

Once the chocolate has melted, whisk it into the cream with a wire whisk, then add almond milk, amaretto and maple syrup. You can adjust the amount of syrup to taste, but make sure you compensate by adding more almond milk (if you end up using less maple syrup than I did).

Allow the mixture to cool down and fill the tart case.

Transfer the filled tart case into the fridge. Allow it to set for at least 8 hours (overnight is best). PS: this tart sets quite firm, but it wasn't quite set when I took these photos, hence it looks a little softer.

This decadent bake from Paul Hollywood combines slightly sweet French bread with a creamy ham and cheese filling

Brie Wrapped In Prosciutto & Brioche

strong white bread flour

caster sugar

sachet fast-action dried yeast

eggs, eggs

unsalted butter, softened

round brie

prosciutto

Brie wrapped in prosciutto & brioche

Mix the flour, 1 tsp salt, caster sugar, yeast, milk and eggs together in a mixer using the dough attachment for 5 mins until the dough is smooth. Add the butter and mix for a further 4 mins on medium speed. Scrape the dough bowl and mix again for 1 min. Place the dough in a container, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge for at least 6 hrs before using.

Wrap the brie in the prosciutto and set aside. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 25cm circle. Place the wrapped brie in the middle of the circle and fold the edges in neatly. Put the parcel onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment and brush with beaten egg. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins, then brush again with beaten egg and chill for a further 30 mins. Leave to rise for 1 hr at room temperature. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then bake for 22 mins. Serve warm.

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

Make & mature Christmas cake

1kg mixed dried fruit(use a mix of raisins, sultanas, currants, cherries, cranberries, prunes

orange

milliliters brandy,Sherry, whisky

pack butter,softened

light soft brown sugar

ground almond

½ tsp baking powder

tsp mixed spice

cinnamon

¼ tsp ground cloves

flaked almonds

eggs

tsp vanilla extract

Put 1kg mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon, 150ml brandy or other alcohol, 250g softened butter and 200g light, soft brown sugar in a large <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/five-best-saucepans">pan</a> set over a medium heat.

Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruit mixture into a large <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/top-five-mixing-bowls">bowl</a> and leave to cool for 30 mins.

Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/baking-equipment">baking parchment</a>, then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside – tie with string to secure.

Add 175g plain flour, 100g ground almonds, ½ tsp baking powder, 2 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, 100g flaked almonds, 4 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the fruit mixture and stir well, making sure there are no pockets of flour.

Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/test-best-spatulas">spatula</a> and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs.

Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.

To store, peel off the baking parchment, then wrap well in cling film. Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp alcohol every fortnight, until you ice it.

Don’t feed the cake for the final week to give the surface a chance to dry before icing.

Spoil someone with this buttery shortbread garnished with a drizzle of chocolate.

Shortbread

butter,

(1 1/2 cups) plain flour

(2/3 cup) rice flour

(1/2 cup) caster sugar

cold butter, coarsely chopped

Plain flour, extra, to dust

white chocolate,

https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/video/vjs/stable/build/index.html?id=5348771529001-5639940068001&=domain=taste

5348771529001-5639940068001

Gordon Ramsay shows you how to cook the chef's choice of Christmas main courses – a golden goose. Keep the fat to use through the winter months

Gordon's Christmas roast goose

goose

lemons

limes

tsp Chinese five-spice powder

parsley

browning,

tbsp clear honey

thyme leaves

Calculate the cooking time: cook for 10 mins at 240C/fan 220C/gas 9, then reduce to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and cook for 20 mins per kg for medium-rare, 32 mins per kg for more well done, plus 30 mins resting.

If the goose is ready-trussed, then loosen the string and pull out the legs and wings a little – this helps the bird cook better.

Check the inside of the bird and remove any giblets or pads of fat. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly score the breast and leg skin in a criss-cross. This helps the fat to render down more quickly during roasting.

Grate the zest from 4 lemons and 3 limes. Mix with 2 tsp fine sea salt, 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder and pepper, to taste.

Season the cavity of the goose generously with salt, then rub the citrus mix well into the skin and sprinkle some inside the cavity.

Stuff the zested fruit and a small handful of parsley, thyme and sage sprigs inside the bird and set aside for at least 15 mins. Can be done up to a day ahead and kept refrigerated.

If you want to give the bird a nice golden skin, brown in a large <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/top-five-non-stick-frying-pans">frying pan</a> (or a heavy-based <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/test-five-best-roasting-tins">roasting tin</a>), using a couple of tbsp olive oil. Holding the bird by the legs (you may like to use an oven glove), press it down on the breasts to brown.

Once browned, place the bird in the roasting tin. Drizzle with 3 tbsp clear honey and sprinkle with 1 tbsp thyme leaves.

Roast for the calculated time, turning the heat down after 10 mins to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Cover the goose with foil if it is starting to brown too much.

Every 30 mins or so, baste the bird with the pan juices, then pour off the fat through a sieve into a large heatproof bowl. You will end up with at least a litre of luscious fat – save this for the potatoes and other veg.

At the end of the cooking time, leave to rest for at least 30 mins, covered loosely with foil. The bird will not go cold, but will be moist and much easier to carve.

Dark and sticky caramel, sweet apples and crisp pastry combine to make this heavenly French dessert. And with Raymond Blanc's recipe, you can make it perfectly every time

Tarte tatin

all-butter puff pastry

plain flour,for dusting

dessert apples(about 900 grams/2lb),

golden caster sugar

please!)

Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet, then cover and freeze while preparing the apples.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that’s starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.

To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.

Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top – it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.

Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

Vegan stuffed mushrooms make for a deliciously meaty, fully of texture and umami festive appetizer. Can be gluten-free.

Vegan stuffed mushrooms

chestnut mushrooms

olive oil

garlic

dry rosemary (optional)

medium shallots, very finely diced

sage leaves, finely chopped

rosemary, leaves

thyme sprigs, leaves picked

yeast

¼ tsp black pepper

tsp white / shiro miso

lemon + 1 tbsp lemon juice

tbsp pine nuts walnuts

Clean the mushrooms with a damp brush or cloth (do not wash them) and cut out all of the stems and save them for the stuffing.

Coat the caps in 2 tbsp of olive oil (you can skip the oil if you wish but the mushrooms will be a bit drier) and place them on a baking tray, gill side down, and bake for about 15 minutes, flipping them to the other side halfway through.

Crush the whole garlic clove with a pinch of coarse salt and dry rosemary in a pestle and mortar. You could also slice the garlic thinly first and crush it on a bread board with the side of a knife. Pound the garlic into a smooth paste and then add approximately 2 tbsp of olive oil to it to create a garlicky oil.

Meanwhile dice the mushroom stems really finely.

Heat up 15 ml / 1 tbsp of oil in a medium frying pan, add diced shallots and fry them off gently until almost translucent, stirring often.

Next add in diced garlic, chopped fresh herbs, nutritional yeast, black pepper and ¼ tsp of salt. Continue frying until the shallots are translucent and garlic is fragrant.

Next stir in diced mushroom stems. Fry off until the stems are cooked.

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The most viewed xmas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine