Your guide to Christmas baking

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Yes, it's already time to start thinking about Christmas baking. Read our tips on when to start, what you'll need, how to store things, as well as Goodtoknow's Christmas baking recipes

What to bake?
Choose three or four items you'd like to make for Christmas. The most popular items are, of course, Christmas cake, mince pies and stollen, but many people make shortbread, strudels, biscuits, gingerbread and brownies.

Here are some steps for preparing:

1. Choose your recipes. Once you've decided, print all your recipes out so you have them in one place.

2. Cost, shelf-life and difficulty. Think about how much the ingredients will cost (a Christmas cake will be much more expensive than mince pies), how hard the recipe you've chosen is (if you're a first-timer, don't be too ambitious) and how it will keep (a Christmas cake will keep for months).

3. Shopping list. Now you know what you want to bake, write a list of ingredients to buy. Most things can be bought ahead but some, such as baking powder, will be better bought just before baking (so it's fresh).

Also, plan ahead with more unusual ingredients. For example, glycerine for icing can be tricky to find (if you're having trouble, try a chemist).

4. Tools. Think ahead about anything you'll need - string, greaseproof paper, brown paper, containers, cutters, food colours, cake boards. Tip: Use the right size cake tin or you'll end up with a cake that has a soggy middle.

5. Don't stress! The key to not tearing your hair out is to bake ahead and to use a food processor when the recipe allows - it'll really save your arms!

What would you like to make?
Christmas cake
Mince pies
Stollen
Panettone
Strudels
Shortbread
Biscuits
Gingerbread
Brownies
Use up your Christmas leftovers with these recipe ideas