Centrepieces That Take Care of Themselves
If you want the full traditional spread without the admin, COOK’s Christmas lunch options are hard to beat. Their ready-made feasts cover everything from turkey and pigs in blankets to roast potatoes and gravy, with sizes ranging from dinner for two to a full spread for twelve. You order it frozen, follow the oven instructions on the day, and that’s most of the work done.
For something a bit different, COOK’s shellfish thermidor pie is a proper showstopper with almost no prep. It’s packed with scallops, langoustine tails, king prawns, and salmon in a rich, creamy sauce, topped with puff pastry. Defrost, bake, and serve with greens.
If turkey isn’t your thing, a glazed boneless ham from The Ginger Pig is a great alternative. It’s already cooked and finished with a sticky glaze of mustard, brown sugar, and golden syrup, so you’re really just warming it through and caramelising the top. It looks great on the table and keeps on giving for leftovers. All the Trimmings, Sorted
Sides are where Christmas usually gets stressful, which is why COOK’s Christmas sides box is such a relief. It includes roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing, cauliflower cheese, festive veg, gravy, and cranberry sauce, all portioned and oven-ready. No peeling, no juggling trays. Easy Starts to the Day
For Christmas morning or Boxing Day brunch, The Ginger Pig’s butcher’s breakfast box takes care of everything. It’s packed with quality sausages, bacon, and other breakfast staples, so you can put on a proper fry-up without a supermarket run or much thinking.
Desserts Without the Drama
If you want a classic pudding without weeks of planning, the Waitrose No.1 jewelled Cointreau and cranberry Christmas pudding is ready to steam or microwave and feeds a crowd. It’s rich, traditional, and exactly what people expect after a big lunch.
Bettys covers the fruit-cake crowd beautifully, as their soft-iced Christmas cake comes topped with marzipan and soft icing and arrives in a keepsake tin, ready to slice over a few days. For something that looks especially festive, the jewelled fruits Christmas cake is packed with dried fruit, nuts, and citrus peel, finished with glossy glazed fruit and a splash of Cointreau. No decorating required.
If you want something lighter, Waitrose’s limoncello fizz panettone brings a bright citrus edge to the table. It works well with coffee, a spoon of mascarpone, or a glass of something cold and fizzy.
For anyone quietly avoiding Christmas pudding, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference frozen roulades are an easy win. They defrost in a few hours and come in flavours like lemon meringue, berry, toffee, and pecan, all of which look far more impressive than the effort involved.
Cheese, Grazing and Extras
A ready-made cheese board saves a lot of last-minute faff, and Snowdonia’s decadent cheese hamper does exactly that. Expect a selection of their best cheeses with crackers and chutneys, ideal for after-dinner or Boxing Day grazing.
For a small but important upgrade, Fortnum & Mason’s cranberry sauce is sharp, fruity, and finished with port and orange. It works with turkey, ham, cold cuts, and cheese, and means one less pan on the hob.
Something to Pour
To start things off, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Crémant de Loire is a solid alternative to Champagne. It’s crisp, fresh, and celebratory without the big price tag, and works just as well for a toast as it does alongside seafood.
For a delicious fizz, Berry Bros & Rudd’s rosé Champagne works beautifully as a festive aperitif or with lighter courses like seafood. It has delicate red-fruit notes balanced with bright acidity and a crisp finish, so it feels celebratory without being overly sweet. It’ll set the tone of the occasion, making it perfect for Christmas morning toasts or to bring out later with dessert or cheese.
