It’s that time again — our biggest, brightest, most beautiful issue of the year is in shops now! No matter what your Christmas will look like this year, we’ve made sure to cover all of the bases in our 2020 Christmas Special. Read on for just a taste of what’s in store…

1. Plan it perfectly

Minimise your stress, maximise the festive fun with our top tips for planning and organising your Christmas.

2. Get the party started

We’ve created a variety of delicious nibbles guaranteed to get you into the seasonal spirit.

3. Cookie exchange

We’ve gathered traditional Christmas biscuit recipes from around the world so that you can do a “cookie exchange” with the ones you love! We suggest that each person bake one of these recipes, then swap amongst yourselves so that everyone ends up with a selection.

4. Elf bakes

‘Tis the season for cutesy, kitsch and downright adorable baked goods, and we’ve included enough for any sweet tooth. Get the kettle on and make the most of your warm, cosy kitchen.

5. Gingerbread house

Baking a gingerbread house is a fun family activity that’ll keep the kids occupied for at least an afternoon! We’ve got a step by step guide so you can start creating your dream house.

6. Take a twist

If you’re tired of the traditional Christmas bakes, try one of our fun twists! From meringue-topped mince pies to Tia Maria and chocolate Christmas cake, there’s something here to spark a new interest in seasonal baking.

7. Speaking of cake…

If you’re looking for something less traditional and more dramatic, this year’s line-up of showstoppers is sure to impress! Cake queen Shannon has gone above and beyond with our best Christmas cake selection yet.

8. On the starting line

First impressions mean everything, and that’s why we’ve made sure our starter recipes this year are more mouthwatering than ever.

9. The main event

Going the traditional turkey and ham route? Fancy something different? Catering for vegetarians? Dishing up dinner for a smaller group than usual? No matter what your plan looks like, Easy Food Christmas has a beautiful main course for you.

10. On the side

With a selection of mouthwatering spuds, sauces and veggies, it might prove a little challenging to pick just one or two of these side dishes. Luckily we’ve made sure they’re easy to pull together and sure to make everyone happy.

11. Eat Ireland

It’s more important than ever to support small-scale Irish producers. If you’re eager to buy Irish this Christmas Deputy Editor Jocelyn has done a round-up of just some of the fantastic home-grown produce available online.

12. Are you bready?

Many of us reached whole new levels of bread obsession this year. If that’s the case for you — or if you simply fancy trying your hand at something new — you’ll definitely want to check out our creative breads from resident Food Stylist and bread guru Síomha.

13. The gift guide

Looking for gift inspiration? Whatever your budget looks like this year, we’ve got the ideas you need.

14. Edible gifts

We’re always big into the “wow” factor of homemade gifts, but this year they’ll also be providing us with some much-needed entertainment and saving us a few bob while we’re at it. In this issue, Team Easy Food shares the food-focused treats we’ll be making for our friends and family this season.

15. Competitions

We always go overboard with competitions this time of year, and this edition is no exception. You can head here to find all of the Christmas competitions online. Best of luck with your entries!

The 2020 Easy Food Christmas Annual is in shops now, ready to guide you through every step of the season from festive bakes to the main event. Don’t miss out on this invaluable kitchen companion — pick up your copy today!