Skip to content

5 ingredients to save Christmas

When you plan your shopping trip this Christmas, make sure you've got these five must-have ingredients on your list. See all the versatile products below and discover festive recipes to see you through the party season.

  1. Cranberries

    A bag of frozen cranberries is an essential ingredient for your Christmas freezer, adding a little sweetness when blitzed into a sauce for festive mains and tartness to sugary desserts. For a yuletide twist on a Kir Royale, add a handful to the classic Champagne cocktail. Why not pair the tipple with cranberry camembert puffs? You can also use the berries to create a bejewelled topping for a Christmassy chicken and mushroom pie. For something sweeter, flip to discover a brand new meringue nests recipe.

  2. Puff pastry

    A roll or two of puff pastry opens a world of possibilities if you're struggling to decide what to cook this Christmas. Tahini, garlic and parsley twists make a quick and simple festive canapé, as do sundried tomato and olive pinwheels. Stuck for a festive starter? Try these vegan-friendly Portobello mushroom tarts that use puff pastry as a base. Golden puff pastry puts the finishing touches to Christmas vegetable and stilton pies, too. Or, flip to find a last-minute dessert recipe for marmalade, ginger and frangipane stars.

  3. Smoked salmon

    Christmas wouldn't be the same with an indulgent serving of smoked salmon and there are so many ways to eat it. Crumpets with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs makes a great Christmas Day breakfast, or this open sandwich is an excellent speedy lunch. A smoked salmon terrine is a showstopper starter for the big day or, for something brand new, flip to discover a canapé recipe for your Christmas party.

  4. Mincemeat

    This classic Christmas fruit mix might put to mind Santa's favourite snack, but there's plenty more recipes which benefit from mincemeat's festive flavours. Why not whip up your own classic mincemeat and use it to infuse the syrup base of this spiced snowball mocktail? Or, add a Christmas twist to a classic pop tart. A mincemeat Christmas wreath is another fabulous festive dessert for the big day, as are the boureka filo swirls you'll find by flipping this card. 

  5. Brie

    Smooth, buttery and rich, there's no cheese quite so Christmassy as Brie. You can use wedges in all sorts of ways around the festive season. Cook up a speedy festive meal for one with this decadent cheese and turkey filo parcel or serve an opulent vegetarian Christmas main by melting it over winter root veg. These cheeseboard oatcakes – layering Brie, onion chutney, fig and a sprinkle of thyme – are an easy-to-assemble canapé, too. Or flip to find a brand new party food recipe that's quite the centrepiece.