Not only is Christmas a busy time, the whole of December is a frantic month with events, parties and get-togethers, and hosting this time of year can get extremely stressful. So we've pulled together our favorite festive recipes from quick canapés and drinks to showstopper mains and indulgent desserts to help you get through the holiday season – plus a handful of brilliant leftover ideas too.

Do as the Scandinavians do and top fresh rye bread squares with smoked salmon and a zingy caper and dill dressing. Ready in 10 minutes, it's one of the easiest snacks you could serve.

Get the recipe for salmon gravadlax on rye bread here

These little vegetarian parcels of joy are a breeze to make. Combining slightly salty halloumi cheese with crispy roasted eggplant slices, this is the perfect mouthful, set to be a crowd favorite.

Get the recipe for eggplant and halloumi wraps here

Surprise your guests with this creative take on a party food classic – deviled eggs. The retro canapé features a rich and creamy tahini filling that's perfectly balanced with zesty lime juice.

Get the recipe for deviled eggs here

The combination of sweet, sticky figs, salty ham and gooey melted cheese is a definite winner. With just 15 minutes prep time, these are best served warm straight from the oven.

Get the recipe for baked figs with halloumi here

Although this recipe calls for Stilton due to its strong, savory flavor, these tarts work with any cheese. Perfectly scrumptious for a Christmas drinks party, you could make them 24 hours ahead and then reheat 15 minutes before serving.

Get the recipe for ham and cheese tarts here

Creamy and delicious, this cauliflower soup is great for kicking off your Christmas dinner in style. Served with cheese twirls on the side to dip and dunk into the soup, it will appeal to everyone.

Get the recipe for cauliflower soup with cheese twirls here

For a lighter side, serve this colorful winter salad that combines sweet butternut squash with a piquant blue cheese and nutty cremini mushrooms. It's simple to put together and will also work well as a side to any meat.

Get the recipe for warm butternut squash salad here

Another timeless classic, there's just something about a shrimp cocktail that everyone loves and Christmas is the best time to splash out and treat yourself. Either made the British way with Marie Rose sauce or with a spicy shrimp cocktail sauce, it'll be a big hit with your guests.

Get the recipe for shrimp cocktail here

What's not to love about earthy mushrooms and creamy ricotta with spinach all wrapped up in flaky puff pastry? This is also a great dish to serve when you're hosting vegetarians as it can easily be turned into a main dish when served with a side salad.

Get the recipe for mushroom and spinach pie here

A Christmas classic, everyone will love turkey with a traditional breadcrumb stuffing and delicious cranberry sauce. Christmas simply wouldn't be Christmas without this traditional centerpiece.

Get the recipe for roast turkey here

While beef Wellington might seem like a tricky dish to master, this easy-to-follow recipe ensures no one's left with a soggy bottom. Combining a succulent piece of prime beef with a rich stuffing of pâté and mushrooms, this pastry-wrapped centerpiece is a real showstopper.

Get the recipe for beef Wellington here

Pork belly roast is one of the most comforting and delicious oven-roasted meats when cooked right and this recipe couldn't be easier to follow. Rolled up Italian porchetta-style, the pork belly is filled with a nutty stuffing and cooked on top of garlicky roast potatoes.

Get the recipe for pork belly roast here

Although this honey-glazed ham does take a bit of effort to make, it's brilliant served both hot and cold. And it's equally delicious in a sandwich the next day too.

Get the recipe for honey-glazed ham here

An intimidating bird, no doubt, goose is one of the most flavorful meats to serve at Christmas. The perfect showstopper for an extra special Christmas, this recipe pairs the goose with pecan, bacon and sage stuffing balls and delicious red wine and blackberry jus.

Get the recipe for roast goose here

Recipes don't get much more adaptable than this nut roast, which can be made gluten-free and vegan with a few simple substitutions. You can also make it ahead of time and freeze for up to three months before cooking.

Get the recipe for vegetarian nut roast here

A great alternative for vegans, this chestnut and butter bean Wellington combines all of the classic Christmas flavors. It can also be made up to three days in advance and then cooked to serve to save time.

Get the recipe for a vegan Wellington here

A hearty one-pan dish of root vegetables, nuts and beans, this is a great meat-free meal that can double up as a side for meat-eaters. The different textures and flavors complement each other well while the ready-made sauce makes the cooking of this dish even easier.

Get the recipe for roasted spicy squash here

This recipe makes an excellent alternative to a Christmas roast and it works well with all the classic Christmas sides. It takes time and attention to detail to make, but it's definitely worth it.

Get the recipe for a nutty pithivier here

Golden-crusted on the outside, fluffy and soft on the inside, these are the ultimate oven-roasted potatoes. The secret is simple – cook a floury potato variety in meat fat (like goose or duck) or a vegetarian alternative, like sunflower oil.

Get the recipe for perfect crispy oven-roasted potatoes here

The creamy greens and roasted celery root will go fantastically well with any Christmas meat. With minimum prep time, all of the cooking is done in the oven, leaving you to get on with other dishes.

Get the recipe for creamy kale and celery root here

If you're tired of serving the same potato sides time and time again, this potato gratin is a brilliant alternative. Great with any roast meat, the potatoes are grated and then cooked in an indulgent mix of butter and cream – perfect for Christmas.

Get the recipe for potato gratin here

A great addition of color to your Christmas dinner table, these sticky and fragrant carrots pair well with a range of meats and other sides. You can also use up any leftovers in a casserole (if there are any, of course!).

Get the recipe for orange and thyme-glazed carrots here

A brilliant alternative to simple roasted roots or an old-school potato dauphinoise, this parsnip and hazelnut gratin offers a variety of textures. It will work well with pretty much any meat or as a side to a vegetarian nut roast.

Get the recipe for parsnip and hazelnut gratin here

These adorable cookies don't take ages to make and decorating them will be a fun activity for the whole family to do together. You'll only need gingerbread men-shaped cutters as you can turn them upside-down for the reindeer.

Get the recipe for gingerbread cookies here

Although this celebratory dessert is well-suited for any special occasion, Christmas is the time to indulge. The rich chocolate sponge is rolled with a heady Baileys-infused cream and topped with a crunchy hazelnut praline.

Get the recipe for chocolate and hazelnut boozy roulade here

Christmas and Baileys just go together, so don't be surprised when guests ask for seconds as soon as they've tried this grown-up version of a classic crème brûlée. You also don't need a cook's blow torch to make it – you can just put it under the grill in the oven.

Get the recipe for Baileys crème brûlée here

A Christmas classic with a fiery ginger kick, this yule log will be a guaranteed hit with your family and friends. The light and airy meringue buttercream and the sticky ginger sponge are a match made in heaven.

Get the recipe for gingerbread yule log here

End your Christmas dinner on a high with this sophisticated French lemon cream tart. Zesty and light, it'll be the perfect finish to an indulgent dinner. Even though it is a bit challenging to make, it's well worth it.

Get the recipe for French lemon cream tart here

The ultimate Christmas drink, making your own mulled wine will fill your home with festive aromas of spice, like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. You can also use any leftovers (in the unlikely event that you do have any) to make a glaze for ham or even use it as a poaching liquid for pears.

Get the recipe for mulled wine here

Nothing says party like fizz and this non-alcoholic cocktail is perfect for getting the evening going. Want an alcoholic version? Simply swap the non-alcoholic sparkling wine for the real deal.

Get the recipe for rosemary and pomegranate fizz here

Somewhere between a cocktail and a dessert, this creamy, sweet drink is the perfect after-dinner treat. A combination of Baileys Almande, apricot syrup and coconut milk, this cocktail is also vegan, meaning everyone can enjoy it. You could also make it with a classic Baileys instead, if you have it at hand.

Get the recipe for apricot almande cocktail here

Salty, spicy and savory, it couldn't be any more well-suited for a lazy lunch the day after Christmas. Filled with crunchy salted chips, spicy Tabasco sauce and savory mayonnaise made with leftover turkey gravy sauce, it's the ultimate sandwich.

Get the recipe for leftover turkey sandwich here

Not only can you throw all the cheese odds and ends into this mac 'n' cheese, you can also add leftover turkey, ham and stuffing.

Get the recipe for Christmas mac 'n' cheese here

Leftover ham, quick-to-cook linguine and silky poached egg come together in this comforting dish that resembles carbonara and is ready in under 20 minutes.

Get the recipe for ham and egg linguine here

You can make this simple casserole with either turkey, ham or chicken, or a mixture of the two and the topping is made from stuffing ingredients that comes out of the oven wonderfully crunchy. Although this recipe uses just peas and spinach for the filling alongside the meat, you could also use up any leftover root veg like carrots.

Get the recipe for turkey and ham casserole here

Incorporating leftover oven-roasted potatoes and turkey, this spicy breakfast dish is sure to tempt you out of bed on a cold winter's morning.

Get the recipe for leftover turkey breakfast hash here