This mince pie recipe has a lovely orange zest pastry, which is really delicious. They are really easy to make and you can make the pastry up to 3 days before you make them up. I've used my mince pie kit which is exclusive to Debenhams, view my full Christmas collection here.

You'll Need...
250g plain flour
25g icing sugar
125g butter
1 orange
1 egg, beaten
400g jar mincemeat
100g dried cranberries
My mince pie kit

To Make...
Sift the flour and slice the butter into cubes.
Rub in the butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Grate the orange zest into the mixture, beat the egg and then add this too.
Add a drop or two of cold water to combine the pastry.
Knead together until smooth then put in the fridge for 30 mins.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour, roll out the pastry to 5mm thick.


Using my mince pie kit, grease the baking tray and cut out 12 of the large circles.
Line the baking tray cups using the pastry, fill with a teaspoon or two of mincemeaat and top with a sprinkle of cranberries.
Squish the pastry together and roll out again.
Cut out 12 of the small circles and top the pies with them, pressing the edges together.
Squish the pastry together and roll out again.
Cut out 12 holly leaves, push the middles together and push onto the tops of the pies.
Add a cranberry to the middle of the leaf, pushing it into the pastry slightly.

Bake for 20mins or until golden brown.
Perfect little gift when you visit friends and family over the festive season.
They can be kept for around a week. So you can make them in advance.

Gingerbread biscuits are the ultimate Christmas bake. The smell of ginger and cinnamon fills the house when baking them, this mix of spices is reminiscent of Christmas. They are such a fun and easy thing to make over the Christmas period with children and family.

You'll need...
350g plain flour, 1 tbsp ginger, 1tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp mixed spice,
A pinch of salt, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
175g unsalted butter, 4 tbsp golden syrup, 150g dark muscovado sugar

To make...
Put the butter, sugar and syrup into a saucepan
and heat gentle until melted.
Sift the flour, spices, salt and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl
then add to the saucepan.
Mix well and roll into a ball of dough.
Chill in the fridge for 15 mins.
Roll out the dough to 1cm thick on a lightly floured surface.
Prepare a baking tray with baking paper.
Then use my Christmas cutters to cut out different shapes
and transfer to the baking tray.
Stamp the circular pieces with my Christmas biscuit stamps.
Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
Then have fun decorating them with icing, silver balls and edible glitter.

I am totally nuts for my new squirrel cake stand! Exclusively available at Debenhams only. This little fella will be available whilst stocks last! When he's gone he's gone, so take him home with you today!

Squirrel Cake Stand, £20
Only from Debenhams
www.debenhams.com

Another of my Perfect Pressies my Christmas robin money box, perfect for someone who's saving up for a raining day to keep those pennies in a safe place.

Debenhams, £20 £14

Perfect pressie idea, a brownie making kit. Perfect for chocolate lovers and people who love to bake.

You'll need...
1 x mixing bowl
500g self raising flour
250g Cocoa powder
500g Caster sugar
250g Pistachio nuts
ribbon for decoration
1 printed recipe (see below)

Porcelain 'Four calling birds' square serving plates

Debenhams, £20 £14

I'm getting really excited about Christmas now, I had my first mince pie yesterday!
Stay tuned for my "Perfect Pressie" ideas which I'll be posting in December.

Ok so it's 6 weeks until Christmas so it's about time I posted about my Christmas collection for Debenhams this year. Inspired by the well known song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" my collection includes products such as three french hen egg cups, a partridge in a pear tree tea towel and four calling birds placemats. All coordinated with patterns inspired by knitted Christmas jumpers. Available for a limited time only and exclusively at Debenhams. Shop online