Christmas cooking in your new kitchen

That being said, it can also be a bit of a stressful time with so many recipes and so much planning to get through. Helping thousands of new homebuyers settle in means we’ve learnt a thing or two about what to make for Christmas in a new home, and plenty of other tips besides.

What to make for Christmas in your new home

Christmas is always a time for making memories, and your new home is the perfect blank canvas for festive fun.

Whether you’ve been in all year or are moving in just in time for Christmas, it’s important to make sure you feel settled before you start planning Christmas dinner. If you are planning a move around the festive season, check out our Readymade Homes to make the transition even easier.

Obviously, decorating your home at Christmas is one of the first things you’ll be planning come December. But whether you’re hosting a crowd or are simply having a quiet Christmas this year, planning your menu ahead of time will be key.

Easy Christmas recipes for a new home

Salted caramel and milk chocolate Florentines

Florentines are one of those quick and easy Christmas recipes that are a doddle to make but will impress your guests and keep the whole family, especially those with a sweet tooth, very happy.

Once you’re in a new home, you’ll likely receive lots of visitors during the festive season. For hosting, we love this easy florentine recipe from the Great British Bake Off’s Laura Adlington. These treats even make great Christmas gifts for friends and family.

You’ll need a saucepan, a large cupcake or muffin tray, mixing bowl, spoon, wire rack for cooling and the ingredients below.

Ingredients

• 100g flaked almonds
• 75g pecans, finely chopped
• 55g peel (I like lemon and orange mixed peel, but you can use any)
• 75g Raisins
• 20g plain flour
• 45g unsalted butter
• 75g light brown soft sugar
• 55g golden syrup
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 200g good quality milk chocolate

Method

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/Gas 4
2. Mix together the flaked almonds, chopped pecans, candied peel, raisins and flour in a bowl and set aside for later.
3. Put the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a small pan and cook on a low–medium heat for 4–5 minutes, until the butter and sugar have melted, and the mixture has thickened to a syrupy caramel.
4. Remove the mixture from the heat, then add the salt and dry ingredients. Stir well to incorporate until everything is evenly distributed (you shouldn’t be able to see any streaks of flour).
5. Add a tsp of the mixture to each cupcake hole. You don’t need to grease it beforehand.
6. Bake the Florentines for 12 minutes exactly. They should be golden brown in colour.
7. While baking, heat the milk chocolate in the microwave in 20 second blasts until it’s just melted.
8. Working quickly, dip the base of each Florentine into the milk chocolate to coat, then place it on a wire rack, with the chocolate side facing upwards.
9. Leave them to set before serving and enjoy!

Watch Laura in action at our Nicker Hill development and see what guests thought of her Florentines.

Christmas Cupcakes

These perfect little treats are a great way to encourage children (as well as big kids!) to express their creativity by decorating them in any way they like.

Delicious to share with friends, they’re also an easy option to donate towards the cake stall at the school Christmas fayre.

Ingredients

• 120g plain gluten free or wheat flour
• 140g caster sugar 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• A pinch of salt 40g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 120ml whole milk 1 egg ¼tsp vanilla extract

The Vanilla frosting

• 250g sifted icing sugar
• 80g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 25 ml whole milk a couple of drops of vanilla extract

How to decorate Christmas cupcakes

Reindeer cupcakes

These are a super cute option for kids. Simply spread chocolate buttercream on top of your cupcakes. Don’t worry about getting it perfectly smooth. Place two pretzels on the top for the antlers and add a Smartie red nose. Finally, roll some white fondant icing into small balls and flatten to make the eyes. Use the edible pen (or black fondant) to add the pupils before placing on the cakes.

Melting Snowman

This is always a winner with the kids as it really doesn’t matter if it gets a bit messy. Pop a layer of white buttercream over the cupcake then add a white marshmallow on top. Place two smarties or sweets on the cake in front of the marshmallow and create twig arms by sticking a Matchmaker either side of the marshmallow. You can use an edible pen or some black icing to add little eyes and a coal mouth.

Easy Gingerbread recipe

Always a Christmas classic, this easy gingerbread dough recipe is an ideal one to make in your new kitchen. It only needs a few ingredients, and comes together quickly for a great showstopping treat.

Ingredients

• 350g plain flour
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 100g cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 150g light soft brown sugar
• 1 beaten egg
• 4 tbsp golden syrup

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180c and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Sift the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl.
3. Rub the butter in with your fingers until the mixture is sandy in consistency.
4. Stir in the sugar.
5. Whisk the egg and golden syrup and add to the bowl.
6. Mix well until the mixture comes together into a dough.
7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 3mm thickness.
8. Cut out your gingerbread men or preferred shapes.
9. Space evenly onto the prepared tray.
10. Mark eyes and button decoration with a small knife if required.
11. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
12. Leave to cool on the tray for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
13. Finish with piped icing and decorations, as required.

Looking for your dream home to move into for Christmas? Book a viewing at your nearest Redrow development.