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If you are looking for a few Christmas recipes to make over the holidays,   here is a roundup of a few of my favourite traditional recipes I have made many times over the  years. This Christmas Nut Mix brings all of these flavours together in perfect harmony, and you can make them in 15 minutes or less. It is rich in vitamins and low in fat,  and delicious at the same time, so you won’t feel like you are missing out on any of the good stuff. When I tell you this Christmas cake is simple to make, I mean super duper simple.

This recipe makes 12 muffin size pies, and if you have a food processor, making pastry is pretty simple. defrost slightly until they are still very cold and then bake always bake the pies in a muffin tray or silicone cases, as they will fall apart if they are just baked on a baking tray. These can be made with any frozen berries, and using pre-bought shortcrust pastry or using my pastry recipe below Spray small deep 12 capacity muffin tray with baking spray or grease with butter. Put the flour and salt into the bowl of a food processor Cut the cold butter into small dice sized pieces and add to the bowl Use the pulse button and in short bursts blitz the flour so that it lifts and mixes, and forms a breadcrumb consistency.

Everyone needs a great vanilla cake recipe and I love how this one is firm enough to hold any type of frosting. It’s also very versatile, an allrounder, for birthdays, weddings, as a simple afternoon tea cake, or with succulent berrries for a beautiful dessert. I made this into a semi-naked cake, with just enough  Mascarpone Buttercream frosting to cover the sides, and not too thick between the layers. Of course you can use your own favourite frosting if you prefer as this cake will hold ganache, buttercream or even fondant.

With it’s simple ring shape and elegant curves a bundt cake needs no additions to make it a show stopper. I personally love cakes that are simple and without loads of icing and this bundt cake is just perfect. Add a dash of whipped cream and berries, or pour some Amoretti or Baileys over it with a spoonful of ice cream. A bundt cake should always be a light colour on the outside, so don’t overcook it as you will get a hard crust.