olive's 2023 baking advent calendar

Day 2 – Cranberry custard tart with cinnamon cream

Behind the door of day two of the olive baking advent calendar lies our exclusive cranberry custard tart recipe with cinnamon cream, ideal for effortless festive entertaining.

Day 3 – After Eight cake

Celebrate day three of Advent with a gloriously decadent bake. This coffee-rich bundt cake features a peppermint cheesecake filling, dark chocolate glaze and After Eight decoration. Who wants a slice?

Day 4 – Baileys tiffin

We’re back for day four of olive’s baking advent calendar with one of our most popular festive treats, ideal to make as a homemade gift. This festive fridge cake combines Baileys with three types of chocolate, shortbread and maraschino cherries. You don't have to include the edible glitter but it does add a certain festive sparkle!

Day 5 – Frangipane mince pies

On the fifth day of Christmas surprises, we give you an elevated twist on a classic. Our mince pies conceal a layer of almond-flavoured frangipane and are topped with flaked almonds for a grown-up treat. Add a splash of your favourite spirit or liqueur to the mincemeat for a boozy kick. Perfect for a festive dessert served with cream.

Day 6 – Chocolate, chestnut and cherry roulade

We’re back for day six of olive’s baking advent calendar with a classic Christmas dessert. A tangy cherry compote and light chestnut cream beautifully balances the rich chocolate roulade.

Day 7 – Pomegranate rose meringues

Day seven means it's time for another exclusive dessert recipe. Whip up a batch of meringues and top with an elegant combination of rose cream, pomegranate, pistachios and mint.

Day 8 – Chocolate trifle

Behind day eight's door we've given trifle an luxurious upgrade with rich dark chocolate custard and hazelnut liqueur – the ultimate Christmas dessert for chocolate lovers.

Day 9 – Italian panforte

On the ninth day of Christmas we are celebrating this popular Italian festive bake. Chewy, nutty and sweet, it's packed with pistachios, almonds and dried fruits.

Day 10 – Bûche de noël

Serve this bûche de noël for a Christmas dessert showpiece. This festive log features layers of chocolate sponge, chantilly cream and chocolate buttercream.

Day 11 – Caribbean rum cake

Back by popular demand, this decadent and boozy cake from Caribbean chef Keshia Sakarah is fed with spiced rum and traditionally served during the festive season for a rich and luxurious dessert.

Day 12 – Fruit and cream layer cake

For those in the exclusive club, we are gifting you this effortless way of elevating a panettone or pandoro, layering it with cream and boozy cherries or fruits of the forest.

Day 13 – Chocolate yule log

Need a showstopping dessert recipe to impress guests over the Christmas period? Check out our beautiful festive yule log with dark chocolate, a boozy Baileys cream and crunchy hazelnut brittle.

Day 14 – Lebkuchen

Honey-sweetened German biscuits spiced with cinnamon and ginger, lebkuchen are famously festive treats. Bake a batch this winter to get into the Christmas market spirit.

Day 15 – Cranberry cake

Cranberry lovers will adore today's Advent calendar bake. Tangy bursts of cranberry, crunchy pistachios, fluffy citrus sponge and smooth, sweet icing make this cake a flavour sensation – the perfect Christmas treat.

Day 16 – Gluten-free chocolate fudge cake

The closer it gets to Christmas, the more extravagant we get with our bakes. This impressive woodland-inspired cake, coated in ganache and then chocolate buttercream, comes from The Little House Dorset and makes the perfect festive showstopper for a Christmas party.

Day 17 – Nougat and salted peanut brownies

Revealing our penultimate exclusive bake for you... How do you make chocolate brownies even better? Add chunks of nougat! Salty peanuts are a welcome contrast to these sweet treats, best enjoyed with a cuppa.

Day 18 – Puff pastry mince pies

Rustle up a speedy batch of mince pies using pre-made puff pastry and shop-bought mincemeat for today's effortless Advent calendar bake. We love the nutty crunch from adding pecans and the warmth from spiced rum.

Day 19 – Amaretti trifle

We couldn't have a festive treats countdown without this ultimate trifle. The amaretti biscuits add a lovely texture and flavour to a classic recipe. It's a perfect boozy dessert to conclude your Christmas Day feast.

Day 20 – Cinnamon biscuits

Behind day 20 of our Advent calendar are these crisp iced biscuits flavoured with warming cinnamon and ginger spices. They are sure to fill your kitchen with enticing festive aromas.

Day 21 – Chocolate panettone

We've given this sweet Italian bread a decadent twist with dark chocolate – the perfect treat to serve visitors over the festive season.

Day 22 – Filo pastry and nougat mince pies

And here it is, the final exclusive bake in our Advent countdown. Crisp filo pastry encases zesty amaretto and nougat-studded mincemeat, making these mince pies the most luxurious Christmas treat.

Day 23 – Black forest trifle

Behind door 23 of our countdown is a real winner. Impress guests with this luxurious chocolate cherry trifle – it's made with a shop-bought swiss roll and your favourite biscuits, so it's ready in under 30 minutes.

Day 24 – Tiramichoux tower

It's Christmas Eve and time to celebrate. This hybrid centrepiece is half profiterole, half tiramisu and sees balls of choux pastry stuffed with coffee-drenched ladyfingers and boozy pastry cream.