Top 20 Christmas baking ideas for the festive season

Spread festive cheer with our top Christmas baking ideas, using Foodhall favourites. Bake a batch of chocolatey cookies, deeply spiced mince pies, or a savoury snack like crispy cheese twists.

Food Editor

Emily Lambe

Whether you’re hosting a festive party or looking for edible gifts, we have plenty of Christmas baking ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get inspired with everything from crumbly cookies to fudgy brownies and mince pies. Looking for something savoury? Make our meaty sausage rolls or irresistible cheese twists. Plus, boost your recipes with our favourite picks from the Foodhall.

Christmas recipes Baking recipes

Cookies

Gift a dozen to a friend or keep on hand to enjoy with a cuppa.

1. Hazelnut cookies

Stuff our Belgian Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough with a generous scoop of our velvety smooth Collection Italian Hazelnut Crème. Top with a drizzle of melted dark chocolate and a sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts.

Hazelnut cookies recipe

2. Marmite caramel and white chocolate cookies

Pair ooey, gooey caramel with a creamy white chocolate and a dash of Marmite for a contrast of sweet and salty flavours. Add chunks of broken pretzels for a crunchy texture.

Marmite caramel cookies recipe

3. Pistachio crème-filled amaretti

These Italian-inspired amaretti are soft and chewy with a decadent Collection Pistachio Crème centre. They’re naturally gluten-free, made with ground almonds and rolled in snowy icing sugar.

Pistachio amaretti recipe

4. Black Forest brownie sandwiches

Use our handy Chocolate Brownie Mix to make these fudgy cookies. Sandwich them with a boozy whipped cream filling, spiked with our Collection Chocolate and Cherry Irish Cream Liqueur, and tart cherries in kirsch.

Brownie sandwiches recipe

Brownies and bars

Discover unique twists on blondies or classic fudgy brownies.

5. PB&J cheesecake bars

Layer a buttery biscuit base with rich and creamy cheesecake filling, then dollop with our PB&J Spread – a moreish blend of smooth peanut butter and seedless raspberry jam. Top with a handful of mini peanut butter cups and leave to chill.

Cheesecake bars recipe

6. Marmite blondies

Take classic blondies up a notch with a hint of Marmite, adding a savoury, nutty flavour. It beautifully balances the sweet, rich flavours of golden blond chocolate.

Marmite blondies recipe

7. Air fryer double chocolate hazelnut brownies

For quick and easy baking, these deliciously fudgy brownies come together in just 30 minutes, using the air fryer as a speedy shortcut. A couple tablespoons of hazelnut crème and chunks of white chocolate make them extra indulgent.

Air fryer brownies recipe

8. Marmite caramel popcorn bars

Combine sweet and salty popcorn with crispy rice pops, chewy dried cranberries, and crunchy honey-roasted peanuts to make these easy treats. Drizzle with our Marmite and Caramel Spread for a decadent finish.

Popcorn bars recipe

9. Millionaire rocky road shortbread

Combine the best of both worlds with this rocky road millionaire’s shortbread. Layer buttery shortbread high with gooey caramel, smooth chocolate, and handfuls of our Very Merry Munch – a mix of chocolate-covered popcorn, chocolate pretzels, peanut clusters, and more.

Millionaire's shortbread recipe

Super spreads

Sweet treats

Use a jar of our deeply spiced mincemeat to craft moreish mince pies or a stunning party centrepiece.

10. Malt whisky marmalade jaffa cakes

Elevate traditional jaffa cakes with this homemade version. The crumbly biscuit base is filled with our Collection Scottish Malt Whisky Marmalade, made with finely shredded orange peel and 12-year-old Scottish malt whisky. Top with a thick layer of bittersweet chocolate.

Jaffa cakes recipe

11. Mincemeat Christmas tree

This show-stopping puff pastry Christmas tree, with a sprinkle of snowy icing sugar, is sure to wow guests at your festive party. Simply tear and share, dipping into extra thick brandy cream for a boozy kick.

Christmas tree recipe

12. Chocolate, peanut butter and jelly munch salami

Gift this indulgent salami, made with smooth chocolate, creamy peanut butter, bursts of jelly and plenty of satisfying pretzel crunch, to someone special. Simply combine your ingredients, roll into a log, and chill for five hours to set.

Chocolate salami recipe

13. Marmalade mince pies

It’s not Christmas without mince pies. Cut down on prep time with ready-rolled shortcrust pastry and our richly spiced Collection Brandy and Clementine Mincemeat, made with a mix of clementine and cranberry in brandy, cognac and cider.

Mince pies recipe

Cakes

Bringing a dessert to a festive party? These indulgent, Christmassy cakes are sure to please a crowd.

14. Christmas cake

Embrace traditional flavours with this cosy, spiced Christmas cake. It’s studded with a mix of brandy-soaked sultanas, raisins, currants, glacé cherries, and candied mixed peel.

Christmas cake recipe

15. Chocolate fudge cake

A classic chocolate cake always goes down a treat at a festive gathering. The addition of sour cream and olive oil in this recipe keeps the sponge ultra-moist. Try topping with shards of our Peppermint Bark for an extra-festive touch.

Chocolate cake recipe

16. Honey, orange and cinnamon cake

Nothing says Christmas like the cosy combination of zesty orange and warming cinnamon. Decorate with ribbons of orange peel and a delicate drizzle of our Collection British Single Apiary Farm Honey.

Honey cake recipe

Seasonal stars

Savoury baking

Find the perfect additions to your Christmas buffet or snack ideas to have with festive drinks.

17. Puff pastry pinwheels

Use up a pack of our handcrafted All Butter Pastry to make these simple pinwheels. Choose from our favourite savoury combinations – olive and Manchego, cheddar and red pepper, or mozzarella and pesto.

Pinwheels recipe

18. Pigs in blankets sausage rolls

Can’t decide between sausage rolls and pigs in blankets – mash them together! Enrobe our double-wrapped pigs in blankets in sweet festive chutney and a blanket of flaky puff pastry.

Sausage rolls recipe

19. Ibérico and manchego cheese twists

These irresistible cheese twists are perfect for snacking with drinks at a festive party. Load puff pastry up with thin slices of rich Ibérico ham and nutty Manchego cheese, then bake until golden and crisp.

Cheese twists recipe

20. Brie and cranberries in puff pastries

Creamy and tangy, our Somerset Brie, carefully crafted with British cow's milk in the renowned Lubborn creamery, pairs beautifully with sweet cranberry sauce. Scatter these puff pastry bites with crunchy nigella seeds for the final flourish.

Pastries recipe

More Christmas inspiration with M&S Food

Make your Christmas extra special with a touch of M&S Magic. Only using the finest ingredients, pop into the Foodhall to discover everything from festive sandwiches to the best Christmas party food. Kick off the season with one of our top advent calendars and see what to pop away for the big day.

More Christmas ideas

Published 10.24.2025

Top 20 Christmas baking ideas for the festive season

Cookies

1. Hazelnut cookies

2. Marmite caramel and white chocolate cookies

3. Pistachio crème-filled amaretti

4. Black Forest brownie sandwiches

Brownies and bars

5. PB&J cheesecake bars

6. Marmite blondies

7. Air fryer double chocolate hazelnut brownies

8. Marmite caramel popcorn bars

9. Millionaire rocky road shortbread

Collection Pistachio Crème

PB & J Spread

Caramel Sauce & Marmite®

Italian Hazelnut Crème

Sweet treats

10. Malt whisky marmalade jaffa cakes

11. Mincemeat Christmas tree

12. Chocolate, peanut butter and jelly munch salami

13. Marmalade mince pies

Cakes

14. Christmas cake

15. Chocolate fudge cake

16. Honey, orange and cinnamon cake

Collection Brandy and Clementine Mincemeat

Collection Mulled Fruits for Wine

Collection Black Cherries in Kirsch

Collection Cranberry and Port Sauce

Savoury baking

17. Puff pastry pinwheels

18. Pigs in blankets sausage rolls

19. Ibérico and manchego cheese twists

20. Brie and cranberries in puff pastries

More Christmas inspiration with M&S Food

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