Christmas: Drinks, Parties and Buffets

Christmas is coming...

Although the focus is on December 25th - the Christmas season starts long before then.

Parties can begin to start any time in November, and then they go on until New Year, so you may want to get yourself organised now so that you can enjoy the festivities. The Delia Online Cookery School: Perfect to serve with drinks at Christmas are Etty's Sausage Rolls. Click the image to watch how to make them.

Many of the recipes here can be made and frozen - use our 100 Recipes to Freeze Christmas collection to cross check.

A picture of Delia's Baked Sugar-glazed Whole Gammon recipe

Baked Whole Gammon

This is an alternative way of serving gammon and I like it served with English Cumberland Sauce (see relate...

This is an alternative way of serving gammon and I like it served with English Cumberland Sauce (see related recipe below) The Delia Online Cookery School: Find out...

4 hours 30 minutes - 5 hours 10 minutes

to cook

Black Bean and Jalapeno Dip with Potato Wedges

Another little off-the-shelf gem for nibbles or a starter, or even for a few people to share a quick lunch....

Another little off-the-shelf gem for nibbles or a starter, or even for a few people to share a quick lunch. NOTE: This recipe is from the book Delia's How to Cheat ...

Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Caviar

In the normal scheme of things, cheats don’t do canapés. Far too fiddly and fussy. However, now you can ...

In the normal scheme of things, cheats don’t do canapés. Far too fiddly and fussy. However, now you can buy cocktail blinis (bite-sized buckwheat pancakes), all thi...

Wild Rice Salad with Dried Cranberries

Good old rice salad is an absolute must at a buffet party. This one, made with wild rice, looks very pretty...

Good old rice salad is an absolute must at a buffet party. This one, made with wild rice, looks very pretty with the jewelled colours of the dried cranberries and nuts...

50 minutes

to cook

Vegetarian

Buckwheat Blinis with Smoked Salmon

Homemade blinis (fluffy yeast pancakes) are very easy to make, cheaper than buying them, and oh so much nic...

Homemade blinis (fluffy yeast pancakes) are very easy to make, cheaper than buying them, and oh so much nicer when homemade. The Delia Online Cookery School: One of...

Caramelised Onion Tartlets

When we made these tartlets for the photography, we couldn't stop eating them! Crisp, light pastry with ...

When we made these tartlets for the photography, we couldn't stop eating them! Crisp, light pastry with such a luscious filling – and also lovely as a first course ...

20 minutes

to cook

Vegetarian

Chocolate Orange

Pity the poor driver. There's everyone else getting stuck into their Champagne or mulled wine or gins and t...

Pity the poor driver. There's everyone else getting stuck into their Champagne or mulled wine or gins and tonic, while he or she is having to make the best of a glass ...

Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake

This cheesecake is not intensely 'in-your-face' chocolatey, but more subtle. The texture and the slight ...

This cheesecake is not intensely 'in-your-face' chocolatey, but more subtle. The texture and the slight acidity in the ricotta gives this an unusual edge and this, ...

Pressed Ox Tongue

Although you can order a pressed tongue from the butcher at Christmas it is usually much nicer home-made – ...

Although you can order a pressed tongue from the butcher at Christmas it is usually much nicer home-made – and it's not really much trouble. Once cooked and pressed...

Crunchy Pistachio-coated Drumsticks

This is perfect picnic food for both children and adults, but remember to start these off at least 8 hours ...

This is perfect picnic food for both children and adults, but remember to start these off at least 8 hours ahead. The Delia Online Cookery School: For more picnic i...

20 minutes

to cook

Duck Liver Pâté with Armagnac

I wish we could buy duck livers all the year round, but thankfully they are at least around at Christmas, a...

I wish we could buy duck livers all the year round, but thankfully they are at least around at Christmas, and they make a wonderfully smooth, velvety pâté. At other...

Easy Mince Pies

I tried very hard on this one to short-circuit the pastry-making by using ready-rolled shortcrust. Altho...

I tried very hard on this one to short-circuit the pastry-making by using ready-rolled shortcrust. Although I have to say it's okay if you roll it thinly enough, pa...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

to cook

Etty's Sausage Rolls

Etty is my mum and for me Christmas without her sausage rolls would not be complete. They are the ultima...

Etty is my mum and for me Christmas without her sausage rolls would not be complete. They are the ultimate canape to serve with drinks, or with pickled shallots and...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

to cook

Coleslaw

The four 'stars' in this case are celeriac, carrot, cabbage and spring onion. The result is a very crunc...

The four 'stars' in this case are celeriac, carrot, cabbage and spring onion. The result is a very crunchy fresh-tasting coleslaw that can be made the day before, i...

Frijolemole

This rather exotic title simply means 'bean purée' – but a rather special one, made with chickpeas, chillie...

This rather exotic title simply means 'bean purée' – but a rather special one, made with chickpeas, chillies, fresh lime juice and coriander. It has a crunchy textu...

Vegetarian

Gruyere and Parmesan Allumettes

This recipe is courtesy of Mark Mitson and is an absolute winner to serve with drinks at Christmas or any t...

This recipe is courtesy of Mark Mitson and is an absolute winner to serve with drinks at Christmas or any time. I've never been keen on fiddly canapes, and these ar...

15 minutes

to cook

Hot Spiced Cider with Buttered Apples

A glass of something warm and spicy goes very well with warmed mince pies during the party season - even th...

A glass of something warm and spicy goes very well with warmed mince pies during the party season - even though we no longer seem to greet guests rubbing frosty finger...

Hummus Bi Tahini

Sesame paste - tahini - is what gives hummus its characteristic taste, so look out for some next time you g...

Sesame paste - tahini - is what gives hummus its characteristic taste, so look out for some next time you go shopping. There are light and dark versions, so choose ...

Vegetarian

Banana Lassi

Lassi (on the right), is an Indian yoghurt drink and this recipe - perfect for drivers at parties - is the ...

Lassi (on the right), is an Indian yoghurt drink and this recipe - perfect for drivers at parties - is the creation of a wonderful cook, Pami Dhanani, who has introduc...

Little Croustades

These are simplicity itself and the filling comes from the supermarket. The croustades are made in mini ...

These are simplicity itself and the filling comes from the supermarket. The croustades are made in mini tartlet tins, which are available in trays of 12; what they ...

15 minutes - 20 minutes

to cook

Mexican Guacamole

The first time I ever used Tabasco (hot chilli sauce) was when I made my first guacamole. This spicy Mex...

The first time I ever used Tabasco (hot chilli sauce) was when I made my first guacamole. This spicy Mexican purée, made with fresh avocados, chillies and ripe toma...

Vegetarian

Mini Tarts with 3 Toppings

These are so easy and quick to make once you’ve assembled all the filling ingredients. They can be made ...

These are so easy and quick to make once you’ve assembled all the filling ingredients. They can be made ahead and warmed through in a hot oven for 3-4 minutes, or c...

18 minutes

to cook

Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Rare Beef

Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Rare Beef and Horseradish-and-Mustard Crème Fraîche Sauce - top image This ...

Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Rare Beef and Horseradish-and-Mustard Crème Fraîche Sauce - top image This recipe is from Lindsey Greensted-Benech, former Caterin...

Mulled 'Wine' for Drivers

Here is something special for Christmas parties and it looks just like mulled wine. The Delia Online Coo...

Here is something special for Christmas parties and it looks just like mulled wine. The Delia Online Cookery School: Make sure your spices are at their best, watch ...

15 minutes - 20 minutes

to cook

December What's Cooking

Posted on 3 Dec 2023 by Delia Online Team

Guest editing this month is Alex Mackay who explores the credentials of Italian cheese Grana Padano and gives us a Dine In menu for the festive season

Read more DECEMBER WHAT'S COOKING

Christmas: Drinks, Parties and Buffets

Baked Whole Gammon

Black Bean and Jalapeno Dip with Potato Wedges

Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Caviar

Wild Rice Salad with Dried Cranberries

Buckwheat Blinis with Smoked Salmon

Caramelised Onion Tartlets

Chocolate Orange

Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake

Pressed Ox Tongue

Crunchy Pistachio-coated Drumsticks

Duck Liver Pâté with Armagnac

Easy Mince Pies

Etty's Sausage Rolls

Coleslaw

Frijolemole

Gruyere and Parmesan Allumettes

Hot Spiced Cider with Buttered Apples

Hummus Bi Tahini

Banana Lassi

Little Croustades

Mexican Guacamole

Mini Tarts with 3 Toppings

Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Rare Beef

Mulled 'Wine' for Drivers

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