20 Christmas market recipes

If you're prepping for Christmas Day, check out our picks of the best Christmas crackers to buy filled with foodie treats, from popcorn to miniature cocktails.

Best Christmas market recipes

Glühwein

Adding rum to this Christmas market classic works really well – it compensates for the evaporation of alcohol during cooking. It’s not essential though – leave it out if you prefer.

Christmas hot chocolate

A warm cup of smooth, velvety hot chocolate cannot be beaten. Our Christmas version features festive flavours, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and is topped with squirty cream.

Lebkuchen

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

Hot buttered rum

If mulled wine isn’t your thing try our hot buttered rum, made with golden rum, soft light brown sugar, unsalted butter and festive spices.

Cinnamon biscuits

These crisp iced biscuits are flavoured with warming cinnamon and ginger spices. They are sure to fill your kitchen with enticing festive aromas.

Flammkuchen

Similar to a pizza but without the tomato sauce, this festive German flammkuchen recipe tops a doughy base with smoky bacon lardons, crème fraîche, nutmeg and fresh thyme.

Mulled port

Warm those cockles with a heady concoction of ruby port, cinnamon, black peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves and rosemary – the perfect Christmas tipple.

Bratwurst in a bun

Bratwurst in a crusty roll, with caramelised onions, sauerkraut, plenty of mustard and a quick homemade currywurst-style sauce. Perfect festive comfort food.

Eggnog

Put a rosy glow in your cheeks with this classic winter cocktail, made with egg yolks, sugar, cream, sherry, rum and plenty of fresh nutmeg.

Classic gingerbread

Try these traditional gingerbread squares with a crumbly, chewy texture. They're the perfect homemade Christmas treat, ideal for sharing.

Hot spiced cherry cup

The perfect pick-me-up on a chilly winter night, this spiced cocktail blends red wine with cherry brandy, plenty of fresh spices and citrus. Best served warm and garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Spiced Christmas biscuits

A nibble of these simple spiced biscuits will transport you to a snowy market square. They're packed with aromatic cinnamon, ginger and allspice.

Mulled cider

This super simple, soul-warming autumnal cocktail is sure to impress your guests. Serve warm and decorate with cinnamon sticks for added flair.

Salted honey nuts

Try snacking on this delicious medley of almonds, macadamias, cashews, pecans, walnuts, peanuts and seeds, covered in a glossy salted honey sauce.

Luxury hot chocolate

No winter wander would be complete without a cup of indulgent hot chocolate. Create your own fabulous towering toppings with cream and seasonal sweets.

Hot dogs with mustard slaw

Make a quick homemade slaw with cabbage, pepper and celery to top frankfurters. The crunchy slaw, punchy mustard dressing and soft brioche rolls are the perfect combination of flavours and textures.

Mulled beer

Forget cider and wine, mulled beer is the thing to be drinking over the festivities. Our recipe has Christmassy cinnamon, cloves, star anise and clementine.

Salted peanut and pretzel caramel brittle

Our crunchy brittle is sweet, salty and deliciously addictive. Make a batch, smash into shards and let everyone help themselves to a chunk or two. It'll disappear fast, so save some for yourself.

Pretzels

These impressive looking pretzels are made with beer rather than water, and topped with a sprinkle of rock salt for crunch. Use the leftover beer for the camembert dip.

Classic stollen

This gently spiced, festive bake is bursting with dried fruit and marzipan. A great homemade gift or afternoon pick-me-up.