We’re nearing the end of November, which means that the festive season is just around the corner. You can watch Christmas films, sing Christmas songs or decorate your home to get in the festive mood – or, you can bake something truly delicious to share with your loved ones. Whether you’re a baking fanatic, or you simply love making the most of the festive season, there’s every reason to get creative in the kitchen – and there are plenty of recipes to try, no matter your level of expertise.

Mince pie brownies - BBC Good Food

This recipe is for those with a particularly sweet tooth. Combining two of Britain’s most popular desserts, this would, for sure, send some into dessert heaven. You can make this recipe as simple or as challenging as you would like; you can either opt to use pre-bought mince pies, or make your own in advance. The rest of the recipe is simply preparing a brownie mixture, before using it to coat the mince pies. All that’s left to do is bake in the oven, and enjoy!

Toffee apple cinnamon buns - Olive Magazine

This autumnal, festive twist on the classic cinnamon bun is a must-try this year. Although this recipe requires a fair few ingredients, you could make it more simple by simply purchasing a ready-made butterscotch sauce. You’ll also need ingredients to create the batter, as well as an accompanying cinnamon butter. However, the recipe itself is relatively easy to recreate, and results in a tear-and-share cinnamon bun dessert; perfect for dinner parties and family gatherings.

Gingerbread loaf cake with sticky orange ginger glaze - Waitrose

There’s something incredibly comforting about a loaf cake – and when combined with gingerbread, the result is a soft, spiced bake with a welcome festive kick. This recipe simply requires the baker to mix together a batter for the loaf cake, and combine the remaining ingredients for a sweet, yet spicy glaze.

Espresso martini Christmas pudding - Martha Collison (Waitrose)

A Christmas pudding is, of course, essential in the festive season – why not give it a cheeky, modern twist? Waitrose has combined one of the UK’s favourite cocktails – the Espresso Martini – with this popular dessert to create something daring, yet incredibly tasty. This recipe does call for a fair few ingredients and needs to be prepared over two days – but if you’ve got a little extra time to spare this Christmas, it’s well worth giving a go.

Gingerbread Yule Log - Taste of Home

If you love indulging in a yule log at Christmastime, you might like to try this unusual, yet tasty twist on the classic. Rather than baking with the traditional chocolate flavours, you’ll be using a combination of spices to create a delicious, seasonal gingerbread yule log. The recipe calls for both a sponge and a filling, and can be recreated relatively quickly – the ideal dessert for a gathering when you’re a little short on time!

Baked gifts

There’s something so charming and priceless about homemade, freshly baked Christmas treats – especially when they’re given as gifts. Why not give these mini festive macarons a try? Alternatively, if you’re baking with children, have a go at making stained glass Christmas tree decorations; or, you could make these hot chocolate stirrers, before wrapping them in cellophane and finishing with a ribbon.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert baker, recreating some fresh bakes can be a great way to get family and friends together, whilst getting you in the festive spirit. If you’ve got some spare time, give a few of these a try – and if you’re not already a baker, you might discover a newly found hobby!