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The Christmas Archives

Mrs Claus' Recipe Archive

Vintage Recipes · Cocktails · Baking · Hot Chocolate

Mrs Claus' Gingerbread

Makes about 24 biscuits · 30 min · chill 1 hr · bake 10 min

The recipe on the index card in Mrs Claus' tin, copied out by generations of kitchen elves.

Ingredients
  • · 350g plain flour
  • · 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • · 2 tsp ground ginger
  • · 1 tsp cinnamon
  • · 100g butter
  • · 175g brown sugar
  • · 1 egg
  • · 4 tbsp golden syrup or treacle
Method
  1. 1. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices.
  2. 2. Rub in the butter until the mix resembles sand.
  3. 3. Stir in the sugar, then the egg and syrup, to form a firm dough.
  4. 4. Wrap and chill for one hour.
  5. 5. Roll out, cut into shapes, and bake at 180°C for about 10 minutes until just firm.
Printable recipe card · Keep it in your tin

Proper Hot Chocolate

Serves 4 · 10 min

The pan-on-the-stove kind, made slowly, the way it should be.

Ingredients
  • · 500ml whole milk
  • · 150g dark chocolate
  • · 2 tbsp cocoa
  • · 1 tbsp sugar, or to taste
  • · A pinch of salt
  • · Optional: cinnamon, or a shot of something for the grown-ups
Method
  1. 1. Warm the milk gently in a pan — do not boil.
  2. 2. Whisk in the cocoa and sugar until smooth.
  3. 3. Add the chocolate, off the heat, and stir until fully melted.
  4. 4. Return to a low heat, add the salt, and whisk until silky.
  5. 5. Pour into warm mugs. Top with cream or marshmallows.
Printable recipe card · Keep it in your tin

Mulled Wine

Serves 6 · 20 min

The smell of every Christmas market, captured in one pan.

Ingredients
  • · 750ml red wine
  • · 1 orange, sliced
  • · 1 cinnamon stick
  • · 4 cloves
  • · 2 star anise
  • · 3 tbsp sugar, or to taste
  • · A splash of brandy (optional)
Method
  1. 1. Combine everything in a pan.
  2. 2. Heat very gently — never let it boil, or the alcohol goes.
  3. 3. Simmer on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.
  4. 4. Taste, and add more sugar if needed.
  5. 5. Ladle into heatproof glasses. Add a splash of brandy if you like.
Printable recipe card · Keep it in your tin

Christmas Morning Pancakes

Serves 4 · 25 min

The breakfast that buys the grown-ups an extra hour.

Ingredients
  • · 200g self-raising flour
  • · 1 egg
  • · 300ml milk
  • · 1 tbsp sugar
  • · A pinch of cinnamon
  • · Butter for the pan
  • · Maple syrup, berries, and icing sugar to serve
Method
  1. 1. Whisk the flour, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
  2. 2. Make a well, add the egg and milk, and whisk to a smooth batter.
  3. 3. Melt butter in a pan over a medium heat.
  4. 4. Spoon in small rounds and cook until bubbles form, then flip.
  5. 5. Stack, dust with icing sugar, and serve with syrup and berries.
Printable recipe card · Keep it in your tin
Mrs Claus' Recipe Archive