Old Cookbook

Christmas menu

5Feeding a crowd on Christmas Day? If responsibility for the big family Christmas meal falls on christmas menu shoulders this year, don’t miss our ideas for keeping the crowd happy. Our festive recipes are designed to serve a group of eight or more.

If you want to serve up something savoury, get prepared for a marathon egg-cracking session. Batches of muffins, pastries, breakfast buns or individual omelettes are ideal alternatives. Stack them high and let everyone dig in. Our stunning flower-shaped cherry and marzipan pastry can be made the night before, then reheated in the morning. Sharing dishes work well when feeding large numbers. Large sharing platters with gooey melted cheeses, such as camembert and raclette, are always a popular choice. Turkey is the ultimate roast for feeding a crowd.

A 5kg turkey should comfortably serve eight people. Accompany your main dish with an impressive spread of crowd-pleasing sides, several of which can be made ahead. We’ve got plenty of inspiration for all the trimmings, from red cabbage, sprouts and potatoes to stuffing and pigs in blankets. Take the stress out of sauce prep by making these flavourful blends ahead, then chilling or freezing until the big day. Most of our festive cakes and puddings serve between eight and 10 people. Whether you’re going for a traditional fruity Christmas cake or a lighter alternative, such as a roulade, we’ve got plenty of sweet treats to choose from. A 4kg ham should serve around 12 people.