Baking Advent Calendar Inspiration | olivemagazine

Christmas rocky road

Day 2 – two festive fridge cakes

Today we're giving you not one but two festive fridge cakes - choose between our brand-new raspberry trifle fridge cake perfect for getting ahead of the big day or a nostalgic coffee and cream fridge cake.

Raspberry trifle fridge cake with slice cut out

Day 3 – three ways with Brie

We're spoiling you today with three all-new recipes using everyone's favourite creamy, melty cheese - a garlic mushroom and brie galette, oozing brie, ham and honey pickled pear toastie and party-ready brie jalapeño poppers.

A brie and ham sandwich with a lit candle in the background

Day 4 – four festive towers

If you're looking for a celebratory showstopper, our profiterole towers are an impressive way to round off festive proceedings. Try our tiramis-choux tower, croquembouche profiterole tower, snowball choux bun tower and black forest profiteroles.

A Tiramis-choux tower on a cake stand with a green background

Day 5 – fruit and cream layer cake

It's day five and we've got as many layers in this festive cake stacked up with panettone or pandoro and whipped cream. It looks seriously stylish but takes just 10 minutes to prepare.

Day 6 – festive coffee bakes

Make the perfect pick-me-up with our selection of Christmas-ready caffeinated bakes, from our new latte loaf cake to a Baileys tiramisu trifle, espresso tart with hazelnut pastry and Kahlúa cream, boozy tiramisu bombe, espresso martini tiramisu and tiramis-choux tower.

An iced coffee loaf cake with one slice cut and on the side

Day 7 – chocolate tarts

We're one week into advent and today's bake is our December magazine chocolate torte with seasonal mandarins for the iconic chocolate orange flavour combination everyone loves at Christmas.

Discover six more festive chocolate tarts:

A chocolate and clementine torte on a cake stand with one slice taken out of it

Day 8 – gingerbread cupcakes

Get the whole family involved with making these easy but delightfully festive, lightly spiced cupcakes. Top with ginger buttercream and mini gingerbread people.

Day 9 – festive fudge

Our red and green sprinkle-topped festive fudge takes just minutes to prepare - and a similar amount of time for everyone to snaffle them! Try our gingerbread fudge recipe then discover all nine of our favourite fudge recipes - including vegan - for more gift-worthy inspiration.

Festive gingerbread fudge cut into squares on a baking tray

Day 10 – gingerbread treats

The warming spice mix of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg has become synonymous with Christmas festivities. From classic gingerbread men to a gingerbread, caramel and pear trifle, discover eight more lightly spiced cakes, bakes and desserts:

A metal rack topped with gingerbread mean with white icing decorations

Day 11 – roulades

Christmas isn't complete without a bûche de Nöel or yule log. Try one of our festive creations:

A bûche de noël on a golden serving platter decorated with holly

Day 12 – mince pies

Can you ever have too many mince pies? We believe the sky's the limit when it comes to these mincemeat-filled, festive bakes - from our frangipane version below to filo pastry and nougat versions, discover all 12 of our most moreish mince pie recipes.

Freshly baked frangipane mince pies on a cooling rack

Day 13 – Italian Christmas bakes

The Italians really know how to make the festive season merry and bright, not least with their selection of festive bakes. From the traditional pandoro and panettone, give your Christmas table some Italo flair with our favourite recipes:

A Pistachio and cherry nougat cheesecake-stuffed pandoro on a cake stand with a black background

Day 14 – Christmas trifles

From our classic amaretti trifle to a chocolate trifle, you can't beat one of these layered desserts at Christmas. Discover even more festive trifles:

Classic trifle in a glass serving dish

Day 15 – cinnamon biscuits

These crisp biscuits are flavoured with warming cinnamon and ginger spices. Perfect for the festive season – you could even hang them on the tree!

Day 16 – Baileys treats

A creamy liqueur often enjoyed during the festive season, enhance Christmas bakes with Baileys' subtle whisky and cocoa aroma and taste. Try 16 ways with Baileys in your festive bakes, cakes and desserts:

Baileys trifle in a glass dish in a glass dish

Day 17 – festive cookies

We love a festive cookie - tie onto your Christmas tree for a delicious decoration, wrap them up to gift to a special someone or simply make a batch to enjoy with friends and family over holidays. Try 17 festive cookie recipes:

Iced Christmas biscuits tied onto a tree with ribbon

Day 18 – festive bite-size treats

Make a festive afternoon tea with our selection of bite-sized Christmas treats for the 18th day of our advent calendar.

Lamingtons coated in desiccated coconut on a dark board with a green background

Day 19 – Christmas cakes

Take your pick from the classic fruit cake to modern twists, as well as Caribbean, Mexican and Italian versions - plus gluten-free and vegan options:

A classic Christmas cake tied with a gold ribbon against a festive backdrop

Day 20 – homemade food gifts

Show someone special you care by making them a homemade jam, gin or miniature sweet treat this Christmas. Try one of our 20 hand-picked ideas below and discover even more inspiration with our edible gifts for Christmas.

A tray of chopped white chocolate bark sprinkled with nuts and dried fruit