Since our son was born we've always have Christmas at our house, apart from one Christmas when we decided to eat Christmas dinner at a local hotel.

Needless to say the Christmas offering at the hotel wasn't great. The veggie option felt like it was added to the menu last minute because they had to have one and it was a real disappointment. 

The meal started with a delicious butternut squash soup which was the highlight of the meal and it all went downhill after that. Having Christmas dinner at home is definitely the best option.

So every November I sit down and plan Christmas dinner. It always takes a fair bit of thought and planning. When you're vegetarian or vegan you really need to be creative to present something special. Once I've decided what I'm cooking I can set it aside and concentrate on all the other things that happen at Christmas, the shopping; wrapping gifts; decorating; baking and all the fun events.

Lets make Christmas dinner easy!

Let me take the stress out of Christmas for you this year.

I'll pulled together lots of easy recipes for you to try this Christmas. They've all been tested on my family and have photos and simple instructions, with no fancy ingredients. 

There are a selection of both vegetarian and vegan dishes for starter; main course; sides; sauces & dressings; dessert; sweet treats; soft drinks and cocktails.

Just open the recipes you'd like to try and print them out to take into the kitchen this Christmas. If there are any you aren't sure about, try them out before Christmas day and remember I am always happy to help if you need any tips. You will find my email in my about me page under the banner.

VEGGIE CHRISTMAS

Have yourself a Very Veggie Christmas from my home to yours.

Vegetarian Starter

Cauliflower Cheese Soup with Broccoli
Cheesey Broccoli & Spinach Soup
Tortellini Minestrone Soup

Avocado, Spinach and Goats Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Beetroot, Rocket & Feta Fritters
Crispy Battered Veggie Sausage Bites
Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Peppers with New Potatoes, Feta & Pesto
Spinach and Onion Puff Tart
Spinach & Feta Triangles (Spanakopita)

Vegan Starter

Parsnip, Carrot & Lentil Soup
Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup
Carrot, Leek & Mustard Seed Soup
Creamy Butternut Squash & Tomato Soup
Fridge Lentil Soup
Lightly Spiced Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup
Yellow Split Pea Soup

Beer Battered Haggis Balls
Beer Battered Garlic Mushrooms
Mini Spinach and Cream Cheese Parcels
Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms

Vegetarian Main Course

Balsamic Tomato and Feta Tart
Brie, Potato and Mushroom Tart
Cheesey Vegetable Puff Pie
Mushroom Nut Roast with Tomato Sauce
Tomato Gnocchi Bake with Cheesey Oat Crumble

Vegan Main Course

Cheesey Vegetable Puff Pie
Easy Mediterranean Tart
Puff Pastry Tomato, Red Onion and Vegan Feta Tart
Tomato Gnocchi Bake with Cheesey Oat Crumble
Veggie Haggis & Red Lentil Nuf Loaf 

Vegetarian Side Dishes

Creamy Mushroom & Potato Dauphnoise
Jamie's Blackened Potatoes
Rumbledethumps (potato and cabbage)

Vegan Side Dishes

Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Spinach
Moroccan Style Potato Bake 
Paprika Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
Roast Potato and Double Red Onion Bake
Rustic Greek Beans (Fasolia Gigantes)

Veggie Sauces & Dressings 

All recipes are suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Best Tomato and Basil Sauce
Red Pepper Sweet Chilli Sauce
Roast Vegetable Pasta Sauce
Simple Tomato Sauce
Tomato & Chilli Sauce

Cheeseboard Chutney
Hot Mango Chutney

Vegan Mayonnaise

Vegetarian Desserts & Puddings

Cheesecake

Deep Chocolate Cheesecake
Deep No-Bake Bounty Coconut Cheesecake
Deep Lemon Curd and Raspberry No-Bake Cheesecake
Lemon Cheesecake
Oreo and Caramel Cheesecake
The Ultimate Rolo Cheesecake

Dessert

8 Minute Banoffee Pie
Chocolate Truffle Torte
Easy Banoffee Trifle
Key Lime Pie with Meringue
Lemon Honey & Pear Syllabub
Mum's Trifle
Scottish Cranachan

Pudding

Pear & Ginger Crumble
Rich Sticky Toffee Pudding

Vegan Desserts & Puddings

Vegan Cheesecake

Vegan Banoffee Pie Cheesecake
Vegan No-Bake Oreo and Caramel Cheesecake

Vegan Dessert

Indulgent Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream
Sin-Free Chocolate Mousse
Vegan Apricot Trifle with Sprinkles
Vegan Choc Chip & Peanut Butter Mousse (made with aquafaba)

Vegan Pudding

Pear and Mincemeat Strudel
Vegan Dark Chocolate Magic Pudding

Vegetarian Sweet Treats

Brownies

Cheesecake Brownies
Maltesers Fudge Brownies
Rich Chocolate Brownies
Toffee Pecan Brownies

Cookies

Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookies
White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cookies

Pastry

Caramel Apple Coopers

Traybake

Mars Bar Slice
Peanut Butter Blondies with White Chocolate

Truffles

White Chocolate Peppermint Truffles

Vegan Sweet Treats

Vegan Banana Bread

Dark Treacle Gingerbread
Easy Choc Chip Banana Bread
Peanut Butter Choc Chip Banana Bread 

Vegan Brownies

Prune and Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Vegan Cookies

Peanut Butter & Coconut Cookies
Pumpkin Spice Shortbread Cookies
Sweet Basil & Lemon Shortbread

Vegan Cupcakes & Muffins

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Pineapple Frosting

Vegan Traybake

Oreo Chocolate Tiffin

Vegan Truffles

Sneaky Chocolate Maple Truffles

Vegetarian Soft Drinks

Cold

Apple Snow with Pomegranate
Mangolicious Shake
Mango Lassi with Cardamom & Cinnamon

Hot

Chocolate Milk with Pear & Ginger
Frothy Babyccino
Real Spiced Hot Chocolate

Vegan Soft Drinks

Cold

Blackberry Apple Slushie Mocktail
Plum & Apple Smoothie with Fizz
Mango & Ginger Mocktail Smoothie
Oreo Chia Shake
Pineapple & Ginger Sparkler
Winter Mixed Berry Smoothie

Hot

Fresh Ginger & Cinnamon Hot Toddy

Check out this Drinkaware Vegan Guide to make sure the spirits you are using a vegan.

Cola Cube Cocktail  

Green Apple Margarita with Appletiser  
Frozen POM Orange & Tequiila Cocktail  
Prosecco, Elderflower & Mint Cocktail   
Ruby Red Gin Cocktail with Clementine  
Strawberry & Elderflower Cocktail   
Summer Sip Cocktail   
Traditional Sangria  

pin it for later

1. Make a list. Add all the things you need to prepare and buy for Christmas. Tackle the list a little at a time.
2. Set a budget and try to stick to it. Over-spending will make you feel stressed.
3. Don't try to be perfect, just keep things simple and try to enjoy Christmas. It's all about spending time with family and friends.
4. Plan your Christmas dinner as soon as possible and try out anything you aren't sure about before Christmas Day.
5. Make things easy and plan Christmas dinner with a mixture of ready made dishes and homemade dishes. This way you'll have more time to spend with your guests on the day.
6. Have a look on Pinterest for table setting and decoration ideas.
7. Start a Christmas folder, either online or in a ring binder or box. Print out your recipes and save them in your folder with notes and any ideas you've collected.
8. Stock up on plenty of gift wrap, ribbons and sellotape in advance, so you don't have that last minute panic.
9. Build some fun things into your list. Take time out to visit seasonal displays and take part in fun Christmas activities, but have some time off from Christmas too. When it becomes too much, have a long bubble bath, read a book or watch a movie.
10. Have fun!

I hope my Christmas recipe guide has given you lots of inspiration for planning a veggie Christmas. My main Christmas dinner tip is to try and prepare as much as you can the day before so you just have to prepare the vegetables and gravy on the day while everything else just needs heated up.

I hope you have a really happy and food filled Christmas with some time to just sit back and relax too.

I will be adding to this guide as I create more Christmas recipes in the run up to the big day, so do bookmark or favourite this page to come back to for fresh ideas.