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Christmas starters

Set the tone of your Christmas dinner with these standout starter recipes. From elegant Christmas appetisers to simple and easy vegetarian salads, these delicious Christmas starter ideas will impress all your guests. Make this Christmas Day your best one yet.

See all Christmas starters

Editor's choice

Try this spicy carrot soup recipe that's packed with vibrant vegetables
Harissa-roasted carrot soup
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Jamie says:
Festive prawn cocktail
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This simple Mediterranean-inspired pinwheel recipe is an easy 5-ingredient canapé. Spread olives and blitzed sundried tomatoes over puff pastry then roll and slice into delicate spirals for a vegan savoury bake - perfect made ahead of time.
Sundried tomato and olive pinwheels
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Add some extra veg to classic falafel with this easy broccoli falafel recipe. A super simple canapé, these fluffy baked falafel are simply blitzed together before being rolled into balls, baked and topped with a drizzle of houmous.
Broccoli falafels
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Channel your favourite Mexican flavours into this mini sweetcorn fritters recipe for a colourful canapé. The crispy golden fritters are loaded up with chilli, coriander and spring onions then topped with a dollop of smashed avocado for the perfect bite.
Mini Mexican sweetcorn fritters
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If you're looking for a simple Christmas starter to serve this year, try this colourful roasted squash salad. With roasted tomatoes, fresh spinach and a festive pomegranate dressing, this vegan and gluten-free starter can kick off your Christmas dinner for everyone.
Roasted squash salad with pomegranate dressing
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Try this artichoke bruschetta recipe for a simple Christmas starter idea. Cook jarred artichokes with lemon and plenty of fresh herbs and then pile onto crisp sourdough toasts for an easy way to begin the Christmas feast.
Warm artichoke bruschetta
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For an easy vegan starter idea, try these Portobello mushroom tarts. Tender mushrooms are cooked in fragrant garlic oil and baked in buttery puff pastry until crisp and golden for a super simple starter with just five ingredients.
Portobello mushroom tarts
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See popular Christmas starters

Pistachio and marzipan logs
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A super easy idea for an edible Christmas gift, these marzipan logs are delicious and really quick to make, too.
  • Serves 16
  • 10 mins to prepare and 5mins to cook, plus 1hr cooling
  • 215 calories
Classic Christmas cake
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Get into the festive spirit by baking a show-stopping classic Christmas cake.
  • Serves 20
  • 300 mins
  • 406 calories
Mini Christmas pud muffins
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If you're looking for edible gift ideas this festive season, these mini Christmas pudding muffins are just the ticket. The cocoa-flavoured cakes are adorned with white melted chocolate and filled with chocolate chips and raisins. An irresistible gift you won't want to part with.
  • Serves 12
  • 40 mins
  • 75 calories
Gluten-free quick Christmas cake
478
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The impressive gluten-free fruitcake is elegant, delicious, and easy to prepare
  • Serves 16
  • 250 mins
  • 758 calories
Christmas ham
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Give this traditional Christmas ham a go – simmered in bay-infused cider and roasted with a mustard and demerara glaze, it it makes for a magnificent centrepiece
  • Serves 8
  • 130 mins
  • 350 calories
Classic Christmas roast turkey
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Christmas and roast turkey go together like roast turkey and cranberry stuffing. Orange zest and macadamia nuts bulk out the scratch stuffing in this recipe while our easy-to-follow homemade gravy ensures that your Christmas dinner spread will come together just nicely.
  • Serves 6
  • 205 mins
  • 833 calories
Sugar cookies
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Little ones will love helping to make these pretty iced sugar cookies for the festive season.
  • Serves 0
  • 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook, plus icing and setting time
  • 90 calories
Christmas star biscuits
113
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A lovely, fun-packed biscuit recipe to make with the kids in your life over the festive period. The star-shaped biscuits are so simple to make. Once baked, decorate with white royal icing and edible silver balls.
  • Serves 15
  • 20mins to prepare, plus chilling and 15mins to cook, plus 5mins for cooling
  • 60 calories

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