Christmas time— a time for baking

We love to make a great recipe from Darina, my mother-in-law. It’s a chocolate Rice Krispies Christmas tree that she makes at the cookery school. First, melt chocolate and stir in the Rice Krispies. Then, spoon the mixture onto greaseproof paper in the shape of five or six different-sized plus signs. So, if you wanted to make a tree to fit on a 12-inch plate, the biggest plus would be 12 inches in diameter, the next one would be ten, then eight, six and four inches. For the top of the tree you make a little pointy triangle. Then leave the shapes to set until they have hardened (say, at least 30 minutes).

Once the shapes have cooled, use melted chocolate to sandwich them together. Place a dollop of chocolate in the middle of the largest cross, then add the next smaller cross on top at an angle so it forms the branches. Repeat until you have a tall Christmas tree. Add the pointy triangle on top. Stick on a fairy or angel to complete the tree. It will look just lovely and it really is simple to make.

This year we’ll also be making a gingerbread house with sweetie stained-glass windows. You can also make stained-glass-window biscuits with any leftover dough—this is another great tip for baking with children.

With the leftover dough from the gingerbread house, use a cookie cutter to cut out gingerbread people, Christmas trees, stars and angels. Lay them on baking parchment on a baking tray and cut a hole in the middle of each biscuit. Then put a little boiled sweet in each hole and bake them as usual. As the cookies bake the boiled sweets melt and fill the hole for a lovely stained glass effect. Once they come out of the oven, you can leave them to cool on the tray and then hang them up. They look gorgeous hanging on the tree.

As well as all the cakes and cookies, I also bake savoury snacks like cheese biscuits or oatcakes. I’ll also make different types of savoury crackers with fresh minced herbs such as rosemary and thyme or chives; or, I’ll add sunflower seeds or poppy seeds. People tend to have lovely cheeses in the house at Christmas, and these are perfect to give as gifts. I always prefer giving homemade gifts – I think people appreciate getting something that you’ve obviously put time and effort into making. Other things I like to make and give away are pretty jars of cranberry sauce, sloe gin and little homemade chocolates in elegant boxes or even cellophane bags.