When you think about Christmas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Twinkling fairy lights? Nativity plays? Decorating the tree with heirloom ornaments? Or maybe it’s the excitement of unwrapping presents on Christmas morning?
For me, it’s always been about the food. From a turkey dinner with all the trimmings to Christmas cake and those indulgent sweet treats we rarely make at other times of the year—food is at the heart of my festive season.
But when I first had to cut gluten out of my diet, I worried I’d miss out on all my old favorites. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. With a bit of creativity, it’s easy to adapt festive recipes or discover delicious alternatives. In fact, many of my favorite dishes were naturally gluten-free all along.
There’s so much festive food to celebrate that I’ve decided to split this topic into two posts. In this one, I’ll focus on gluten-free Christmas baking and those all-important seasonal snacks. In the next, I’ll dive into Christmas dinner itself and share ideas for making the most of leftover turkey. Let’s get started!
Gluten-Free Christmas Baking
When it comes to festive baking, Becky Excell has got Christmas wrapped up! Her book, aptly titled Gluten-Free Christmas, covers all your baking needs, from show-stopping centrepieces like edible wreaths and Christmas cake to giftable items such as cookies, muffins, and biscotti.
My personal favourites from the book are the Chocolate Orange Crinkle Cookies, Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti, and the Mini Panettone Muffins. They’re all really simple to make and packed full of festive flavour. I highly recommend Gluten-Free Christmas, as it’s become my go-to recipe book for all my Christmas baking. Becky’s gluten-free baking expertise is second to none, and in fact, as soon as we ring in the new year, I’ll be moving on to Bake Anything Gluten-Free, another one of Becky Excell’s best-sellers.
This year, we’ve also made a move from the traditional Christmas cake and pudding recipes and tried out Becky’s gluten-free versions for the first time. They’re both currently wrapped up and safely stashed, maturing in the kitchen—I can’t wait to tuck into them on Christmas Day!
Something else I love to make (and eat!) during the holiday period is mince pies. I know they’re not to everyone’s taste, but for me, it wouldn’t be Christmas without them. In fact, for the last couple of years, I’ve bought my dad a mince pie advent calendar, which he loves—so maybe it’s genetic?
If you’re using shop-bought pastry and mincemeat, there’s no need for a recipe.
- Simply roll and cut out your pastry, and gently push it into your prepared muffin/pie tray
- Spoon in a generous dollop of mincemeat, and top with whatever pastry shape you like—be that a star, a lattice, or a simple lid
- Pop them in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F for 15–20 minutes (as per the instructions on the packet of pastry), and dust over a little icing sugar when they’re cooling on the side. Easy and delicious!
Homemade pastry and homemade mincemeat add a bit of complexity and time, but they’re worth the effort. In fact, you could make your mincemeat now for next year, giving it a whole 12 months to mature in the meantime!
While I’m off work between Christmas and New Year, I’ll be giving mince pies a try (with homemade pastry!) as well as trying my hand at making a panettone. One of my aunties told me that one of her favourite festive brunches is to make French toast using slices of panettone—I don’t need any more persuasion to give it a try!
Gluten-Free Snacks
When I’m out of my routine, I tend to find myself grazing and nibbling rather than sitting down to a regular meal. I wouldn’t recommend gorging on a cheeseboard every day from Christmas to New Year’s Day, but if you can’t enjoy your favourite snacks during the ‘betwixtmas’ period, when can you?
Cheese & Biscuits
I love this option because it can be as simple as a bit of cheddar with your favourite gluten-free crackers, or you can go all out by adding different varieties of cheese, throwing some sundried tomatoes and olives into the mix, or even bringing charcuterie into the mix, if you’re feeling inspired.
I’m a big fan of Nairn’s gluten-free crackers (the cracked black pepper ones are my go-to), and Schar makes some wonderfully moreish crackers that could almost be mistaken for Ritz.
This is my ultimate low-effort snack. I’ve usually got the major components in my kitchen, and I can easily upgrade it to suit my mood—whether it’s a casual nibble or a bougie feast!
Leftovers Sandwiches
Now, hear me out – I realise recommending a sandwich may seem very uninspired, but aren’t Christmas-dinner-leftover sandwiches the best you’ll have all year!?
Now, yesterday’s turkey might be a little dry around the edge, but if you pad out your sandwich fillings with cranberry sauce (or mayo, I’m not judging), some (gluten-free) stuffing, and even a couple of sliced pigs-in-blankets, then you’ve got a feast of a sandwich on your hands.
I know gluten-free bread has a reputation for disintegrating before your eyes, but now is a time to treat yourself to the good stuff – a couple of Genius rolls could really hold their own here.
Don’t scrimp on the fillings, because really, you’re not going to want to dine on the leftovers for days, even if on Boxing Day it seems like a good idea. Add your favourite crisps on the side, and follow it with one of your homemade mince pies – now all you need to do is find somewhere for a nap…
Pigs in Blankets
Delicious straight from the fridge, on the side of a sandwich, or even sliced into the sandwich itself, pigs in blankets are the unsung heroes of Christmas.
This year, we’ll be at my parents’ home for Christmas Day, but on Boxing Day, I’ll be roasting a turkey crown and making a small mountain of pigs in blankets.
If you can’t find gluten-free pre-made ones, it’s easy to make your own:
- Wrap gluten-free chipolata sausages in streaky bacon
- Bake them in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for 15–20 minutes (or until cooked through)
Someone once asked me, “If you love them so much, why don’t you make them year-round?” I think they’d lose their magic. Somehow, eating dozens in the last week of December never dulls their shine.
Chips & Dips
For a lighter option, chips and dips are perfect. Double-check your crisps don’t have any gluten lurking in the flavouring, but plain supermarket-brand tortilla chips are typically safe and perfect for scooping up dips.
You can make your own hummus and guacamole if you feel like getting involved in the kitchen, but shop-bought versions work just as well (just check the ingredients first!).
For a healthier option—and to ward off scurvy during the long stretch of snacking days—slice up some fresh vegetables. Carrots, cucumber, and bell peppers are perfect. Be warned, though: in my house, this usually attracts curious bunnies! Still, Christmas is all about sharing, after all.
Sausage Rolls
The Genius ready-made sausage rolls aren’t bad, but for me, nothing beats a homemade sausage roll fresh from the oven.
You don’t need to make your own pastry if you’re short on time; shop-bought gluten-free pastry works wonderfully. Here’s how to whip up some sausage rolls in almost no time:
- Roll out your pastry and cut it in half down the middle
- Lay a line of sausage meat down the middle of each piece of pastry
- Fold the pastry over the sausage meat and crimp the edge to seal
- Cut into serving-size pieces and place on a prepared baking tray
- Brush the tops with beaten egg, and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 minutes, or until golden and cooked through
- Serve them warm for the best experience, but even cold, they’re a winner
This collection of Christmas snacks is what keeps me going through the festive period. Whether it’s nibbling on leftovers, snacking on cheese, or indulging in pigs in blankets, these treats capture the magic of Christmas. Enjoy every bite!
My Gluten-Free Kitchen 
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