Almond cinnamon cake, sage and onion twists, mulled wine tarte tatin – recipes inspired by the scents of the season
There’s something rather special about cooking and baking during the festive season. Those first scents of cinnamon, cloves and mulled wine bring a warming joy unlike any other time of year. Everything is a little more indulgent: cakes get a welcome extra dollop of cream and the brandy for the custard flows more freely. Now, I love a classic Christmas bake – homemade mince pies and chocolatey yule logs are a staple. But it’s also a great time to introduce something new or incorporate little twists. The recipes I love making the most are the ones that are a show-stopping centrepiece while still providing those comforting and familiar Christmas flavours.
I’m not the most organised baker or cook and tend to leave things to the very last minute. But when Christmas rolls around, I really appreciate recipes that have elements I can make in advance. No one wants to be stressed in the kitchen juggling multiple different dishes, oven temperatures and cooking times, so the recipes I’ve created here all benefit from having parts that can be made earlier, then assembled and decorated when you are ready to serve.