Tips and Tricks for Making Christmas Cooking a Breeze

Published on | In What's hot now by Liz Edgecombe | Leave a Comment

With Christmas fast approaching we know it can be a hectic time and coming up with meal ideas for the big day can be challenging and time consuming. So, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks for adding big flavour to your Christmas cooking with minimal time and fuss; helping you to get on with the celebrations!

We know big flavours come in small packages and our Christmas spices are no exception. Just a few Cinnamon Sticks or a dash of Cinnamon Sugar can deliver a big flavour boost just where you need it.

Take the classic pavlova, an Aussie Christmas favourite. Simply add a couple of teaspoons of Cinnamon Sugar to your berries before placing on top of your pav. The Cinnamon will add a hint of Christmas spice and the sugar will help to leach the delicious juices out of the berries macerating them making them ultra-decadent and creating a quick and easy berry coulis.

For a festive treat that lasts days when stored in an airtight jar or container, try our Anise Seed Christmas Cookies. It’s the perfect thing to keep the kids satisfied while you cook.

When it comes to Christmas spices, you of course can’t go past a classic Chrissy Pudding; but they can often take days to make. We have generated a speedy last-minute pudding recipe that’s fool-proof. By adding the warming flavours of Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Mixed Spice, you add maximum flavour and your house will be filled with the sweet smells of Christmas for days to come. This can be made on the day or ahead of time. If making before the day, simply store in the fridge and reheat when needed. Serve with lightly sweetened cream or custard by adding a dash of our Vanilla Sugar. It is infused with real Vanilla beans creating a wonderful aroma and sweetness. Click Here for the full pudding recipe.

If the big pudding isn’t your thing why not try a simpler dessert with just as much flavour like some Cinnamon-spiced Poached Fruits. Simply add a stick of Cinnamon and a whole Vanilla Bean to a saucepan with some summer stone fruits, water and sugar and stew on a medium simmer until the fruits are super soft and juicy and have absorbed all those Cinnamon and Vanilla flavours. Serve with some simple vanilla ice cream or custard.

As a staple Christmas spice, Cinnamon is great but it can be hard to know which one to choose. Not sure? Here’s a quick reference guide:

  • Indonesian and Vietnamese Cassia – The classic baking spice with a little more pep.
  • True Cinnamon Sticks – Mild and mellow; the perfect subtle infusion for poaching fruits.
  • Cassia Sticks – A punchier flavour for infusions, syrups, mulled wine and hot toddies.
  • Cinnamon and Cassia Chips – Great for tea blends and chai
  • Ground Cinnamon – Your classic just ground into a powder for easy use and infusion. Perfect for adding to cakes seamlessly like Christmas Puddings.

We’ve got you covered for quick and easy christmas sweet treats but don’t worry we haven’t forgot about the savoury. Some may say we’ve saved the best ’til last. For the simplest, quickest and most moist turkey you’ve ever made you can’t go past my Quick Stovetop Christmas Turkey recipe. By using a turkey breast roll, it cooks in a fraction of the time of the whole turkey and is so easy to carve and serve. There are so many cheats in this recipe for creating big flavour with very minimal effort and it’s all done in under an hour! What’s not to love about that?

To serve alongside the succulent turkey, i’ve developed a must-try Easy Clove-Studden Christmas Glazed Ham.

So, to get out of the kitchen on Christmas day and spend more quality time with family friends give my tips and tricks a go. Also don’t forget to send us some snaps of some spicy creations you make by uploading to social media and adding the hashtag #thespicepeopleathome. We love seeing what marvellous ways you use our spices.

F | @thespicepeople I | @thespicepeopleaus

Wishing you a delicious and Merry Christmas!