12 Christmas Spices for Easy Festive Cooking

Get festive with these Christmas Spices

Christmas spices can do far more than flavour a fruit cake. A little cardamom gives buttery shortbread a fragrant twist, smoked paprika perks up party snacks, and a splash of vanilla makes a bowl of whipped cream worthy of the Christmas pudding.

If you’re planning festive baking, warming drinks or Christmas dinner, these ideas from North Yorkshire family business Steenbergs have shared plenty of ways to put your spice cupboard to work. There’s no need to buy everything on the list: start with what you’re cooking and choose ingredients you’ll use again once the decorations come down.

Christmas spices for baking, drinks and dinner

From mixed spice for mince pies to rosemary for roast potatoes, here are 12 ingredients and simple ways to use them over the festive season.

1. Organic mixed spice for mince pies and Christmas baking

Mixed spice is a handy shortcut when you want those familiar Christmas baking flavours without opening half the cupboard. Steenbergs’ blend combines two types of cinnamon with nutmeg, ginger and cloves.

Stir it into homemade mincemeat, Christmas cake or biscuit dough, following your recipe’s quantities. It also works in an apple crumble: a useful option when you fancy something warming but have had your fill of dried fruit.

Easy festive idea: Add a little mixed spice to crumble topping before scattering it over apples or pears.

2. Organic Fairtrade vanilla extract for Christmas cream

Sometimes the easiest addition to Christmas dessert is the one that makes all the difference. Vanilla whipped cream takes very little effort and works with mince pies, pavlova and Christmas pudding.

Steenbergs’ Organic Fairtrade Vanilla Extract uses vanilla from Mananara in Madagascar and has no added sugar. Add a small splash to cream before whipping, then adjust to taste.

Easy festive idea: Serve vanilla cream with warm roasted pears for a pudding that doesn’t require an afternoon in the kitchen.

3. Organic cinnamon for a festive Christmas breakfast

Cinnamon deserves a place at breakfast as well as in the cake tin. Steenbergs uses Ceylon cinnamon, with a delicate, sweet and woody flavour.

Dust ground cinnamon over French toast, stir it into porridge or use it to flavour stewed apples. If you’re planning a slow Christmas morning, cinnamon pancakes are another way to bring a little festive flavour to the table.

Easy festive idea: Mix cinnamon with a little sugar and sprinkle over warm, buttered toast.

4. Organic star anise for mulled wine and Christmas punch

With its distinctive star shape and sweet liquorice flavour, star anise earns its place in both the saucepan and the drinks glass.

Steenbergs sources its organic star anise from northern Vietnam. Use it sparingly to flavour mulled wine or a warm fruit punch, alongside orange and cinnamon.

Easy festive idea: Infuse apple juice with star anise and orange slices for an alcohol-free Christmas drink. Remove the whole spices before serving, or make clear that any garnish is not for eating.

5. Organic smoked paprika for Christmas party snacks

For a break from all those sweet spices, reach for smoked paprika. Steenbergs’ version is made with organically grown Spanish peppers dried using oak smoke.

It brings smoky flavour and rich colour to roasted nuts, dips and vegetables. It is also useful for adding depth to plant-based dishes on the Christmas table.

Easy festive idea: Toss warm roasted nuts with a little oil, smoked paprika and sea salt, then leave to cool before serving with drinks.

6. Organic nutmeg for bread sauce and cauliflower cheese

A little freshly grated nutmeg goes a long way. Its warm, slightly sweet flavour suits creamy Christmas side dishes, including bread sauce, potato gratin and cauliflower cheese.

Steenbergs’ organic whole nutmeg comes from Sri Lanka. Grate a small amount into your dish, taste and add more only if needed.

Easy festive idea: Finish bread sauce with a light grating of nutmeg just before bringing it to the table.

7. Organic cardamom for Christmas shortbread

Cardamom is a lovely choice if you fancy a change from ginger and cinnamon. Its fragrant, citrusy character works particularly well in Scandinavian-style baking and buttery biscuits.

Add a little ground cardamom to shortbread, lemon biscuits or an orange cake. Start with a small amount so it complements the other flavours.

Easy festive idea: Make cardamom shortbread to serve with coffee or package as a homemade Christmas food gift.

8. Organic stollen spice mix for festive fruit bread

Steenbergs’ Organic Stollen Spice Mix is based on a Steenberg family recipe, combining allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove.

Use it in homemade stollen, or bring those warming flavours to other enriched breads, fruit buns and biscuits. It’s a useful blend for bakers who want to make more than one festive recipe with the same jar.

Easy festive idea: Add stollen spice to a suitable fruit bun recipe for a Christmas breakfast bake.

9. Organic Christmas chai spices for a warming winter drink

For an alternative to mulled wine, a mug of spiced chai is a good place to start. Steenbergs’ Christmas blend combines cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, clove, cardamom and orange peel.

The brand suggests gently simmering half a teaspoon with black tea, sugar and equal parts milk and water, then straining before serving.

Easy festive idea: Make a pot for that post-walk moment when everyone arrives home cold and starts looking for the biscuit tin.

10. Mulled wine spices for easy Christmas entertaining

A mulling sachet keeps festive drinks straightforward, especially when there’s already plenty happening in the kitchen.

Use Steenbergs’ mulled wine spices according to the packet instructions, warming the wine gently rather than boiling it. Orange slices make a simple finishing touch.

Easy festive idea: Use a suitable mulling blend in cloudy apple juice for an alcohol-free option. Serve in heatproof glasses or mugs.

11. Organic ginger for gingerbread and roasted pears

Ground ginger brings a warming kick to festive baking, from gingerbread biscuits to sticky ginger cake. It also pairs well with chocolate when you want something a little different from the usual Christmas fruit cake.

Try it in brownies or use a small pinch with cinnamon to flavour baked apples and pears.

Easy festive idea: Roast pears with a little ginger and serve warm with vanilla cream.

12. Organic rosemary for Christmas roast potatoes

Rosemary is one ingredient you’ll find plenty of uses for beyond Christmas Day. Its fragrant, savoury flavour works with roast potatoes, garlic, vegetables and leftover dishes.

Crush dried rosemary before using it to help distribute it through your cooking.

Easy festive idea: Toss potatoes with your chosen roasting fat, crushed rosemary and salt before roasting. Keep the jar handy for Boxing Day bubble and squeak, too.

Which Christmas spices should you buy first?

Choose according to what you enjoy making. Mixed spice and ginger are useful for festive baking, while cinnamon and star anise suit warming drinks. For savoury cooking, rosemary, nutmeg and smoked paprika cover roast potatoes, creamy sides and party snacks.

Check your cupboard before shopping. A jar you already own may be all you need to give a familiar recipe a festive twist.