Korean beef bulgogi skewers

Sweet pineapple is combined with salty soy sauce in a delicious marinade for these sirloin steak canapés – great for a party buffet

Coconut bauble truffles

Make these colourful truffles from leftover Madeira cake, dried apricots and desiccated coconut – perfect as an edible gift to make with kids

Bourbon cocktail

Serve this zingy cocktail, with crème de cacao and grenadine, with a twist of pared orange zest for a stylish party drink

Christmas tree pops

Decorate wedges of chocolate sponge with green icing and Smarties to make festive cake pops on sticks – perfect for baking with kids

Snowball dippers

Make a batch of these to dip in warm milk or hot chocolate for a festive party or gathering, or wrap up and give as Christmas gifts

Sauté potatoes with sea salt & rosemary

There are few sides as simple and perfect as pan-fried spuds – the secret is boiling the potatoes in their skins before frying until golden

Wilted spinach with nutmeg & garlic

Throw a bag of baby spinach in a wok with some garlic and spices for a tasty last-minute side dish that still feels special

Butternut soup with crispy sage & apple croutons

The apple and sage contrast beautifully with naturally sweet butternut squash in this low-fat, gluten-free festive dinner party starter

Baked sea bass with lemon caper dressing

This elegant, gluten-free main is special enough for a dinner party, yet simple and quick to make for no fuss entertaining

Chocolate peppermint shooting star cake

A real festive showstopper, this extra-special bundt cake comes with a chocolate star centre – top with silver-coated Malteasers