Christmas in the UK is all about nostalgia, comfort and good food. As someone who grew up with these festive traditions, I can tell you that British Christmas food is the heart of the season. From cosy appetisers to big roasts and rich desserts, every dish has its own little story and sense of home. Now that I live in Canada, I find myself missing certain festive favourites even more as the years go by.
If you’re curious about British holiday food or you want to add a few UK-inspired dishes to your own celebrations this year, this guide will walk you through all the Christmas foods that Brits genuinely love. These are the classics that show up on British tables year after year. Whether you’re building your own British-style feast or you simply want to understand our traditions, you’re about to step into a very delicious part of British culture.
What Is British Christmas Food
British Christmas food is all about comfort, tradition, and abundance. It’s a classic roast dinner with generous trimmings, followed by rich desserts, chocolate tins, and a constant stream of snacks. It’s familiar, nostalgic food that brings everyone together.
Christmas dinner is usually roast potatoes crisped to perfection, gravy poured over everything, and sides like pigs in blankets, stuffing, and Brussels sprouts, which are considered essentials, not extras. Desserts are rich and heavily tied to tradition, with Christmas pudding and mince pies taking centre stage.
What really defines British Christmas food is that it’s a full-day food experience. Chocolate tins are opened early and never fully put away, biscuits appear with every cup of tea, and savoury snacks sit out for hours while people chat, watch TV, and relax.
What Do Brits Eat On Christmas Day
While every household has its own traditions, a typical British Christmas Day follows a familiar food rhythm that stretches from late morning well into the evening.
- A Light Breakfast – Usually something light and easy like bacon sandwiches, smoked salmon and eggs, pastries, or even a cheeky chocolate from a selection box if there are kids around.
- Christmas Starter – A lighter first course such as prawn cocktail, smoked salmon, or soup, designed to feel special.
- Christmas Roast – The centrepiece of the day. Usually roast turkey or chicken served with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables, gravy, and sauces like cranberry sauce or bread sauce.
- Dessert – Christmas pudding, mince pies, trifle, sticky toffee pudding, or Christmas cake, usually served with custard, cream, or brandy butter.
- Tea and Biscuits – After a rest, tea is brewed and biscuits, cake, or leftover pudding reappear. This is when the biscuit tins and chocolate boxes really get going.
- Evening Meal – There’s rarely a formal evening meal. People snack on cold cuts, cheese boards, crisps, chocolates, sausage rolls, and leftovers.
Appetisers And Snacks
Appetizers and snacks play a big role in British Christmas celebrations, offering a mix of comforting classics and lighter bites before the main meal. From cheese boards to retro favourites, these dishes are all about easy, unfussy festive enjoyment.
British Christmas Cheese Platter
A cheese platter is a staple of British Christmas grazing. Often referred to as picky bits, it’s usually enjoyed before the main meal, or later in the evening. Variations of festive cheese platters will appear throughout the holidays.
A classic British cheese board usually includes a strong Cheddar, a creamy blue like Stilton, and softer cheese like Brie and/or Camembert. These are served with crisp crackers, oatcakes, or bread, pickles like Branston pickle, pickled onions, and gherkins, plus chutneys, fresh grapes, and apple slices.
Presentation doesn’t need to be fancy. A wooden board, uneven chunks of cheese, and a mix of textures is very British. For drinks, full-bodied red wine pairs beautifully with Cheddar and Stilton, while Brie works well with a lighter white or even a glass of prosecco.
Stilton Cheese
Stilton is one of the most iconic British Christmas cheeses. I’m not a fan, but it’s extremely popular and prized in the UK for its depth of flavour and traditional status at Christmas. If you’ve never tried it, it’s a strong, crumbly blue cheese with a rich, creamy texture and a distinctive tang. Along with crackers, it’s often paired with celery sticks, grapes or even a drizzle of honey. It’s also famously enjoyed with a glass of port, making it a very traditional end-of-evening Christmas cheese.
Cream Cheese With Herbs Or Chives
Herbed cream cheese is a simple but reliable festive spread that is likely to appear on a cheese platter.
Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon instantly signals a special occasion, especially at Christmas. Thin slices of smoked salmon are served as a starter, light appetiser, or at breakfast. The flavour is rich but delicate, making it a perfect way to ease into a big festive meal.
In British Christmas spreads, smoked salmon is often served on fresh bread or toast, with lemon wedges on the side and simple garnishes like black pepper, capers, or a little crème fraîche. It’s also popular on blinis or as bite-sized canapés when entertaining.
Prawn Cocktail
Prawn cocktail is a true retro British classic. It’s made with cold-water prawns coated in Marie Rose sauce, a creamy, tangy blend typically made with mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and a hint of Worcestershire sauce. The prawns are served on a bed of crisp lettuce, often with a wedge of lemon on the side.
This dish is light, refreshing, and nostalgic, especially for those who grew up seeing it served as the Christmas starter year after year. While it may feel old-fashioned, it still holds its place because it balances richness and freshness beautifully.
Scotch Eggs
Scotch eggs are a hearty British snack that often appear on festive tables. They’re made by wrapping hard- or soft-boiled eggs in seasoned sausage meat, coating them in breadcrumbs, and frying or baking until golden. The result is crisp on the outside, rich in the middle, and deeply satisfying.
At Christmas, Scotch eggs are usually served cold or at room temperature as part of a grazing spread. They’re perfect for nibbling throughout the day and feel especially fitting during long, relaxed holiday afternoons.
Parsnip Chips
Parsnips are a quintessential British winter vegetable that is popular at Christmas time. Parsnip chips, served as a snack or light side, are just thinly sliced parsnips roasted until crisp on the edges and slightly caramelised, bringing out their natural sweetness. They’re often seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and a little oil.
Mini Sausage Rolls
Mini sausage rolls are one of the most beloved British party snacks, and Christmas is absolutely peak sausage roll season. They’re made with flaky puff pastry wrapped around seasoned sausage meat, baked until golden and crisp. Served warm or cold, they’re almost always the first thing to disappear from the table.
At Christmas, mini versions are especially popular for grazing, buffet-style meals, or Boxing Day leftovers.
Bread and Butter
Simple bread and butter might not sound exciting, but at Christmas it plays an important supporting role. Crusty bread rolls or sliced loaves are served with flavoured butters like garlic butter, herb butter, or lightly salted butter. They’re meant to be torn, shared, and used to mop up sauces or accompany soups and cheeses.
British Ploughman’s Lunch
A British ploughman’s lunch is essentially a grazing board of classic British flavours. It usually includes British cheeses, cold meats, crusty bread, pickles, chutney, with extras like boiled eggs, or pork pies. Everything is served cold because the platter was originally designed to be eaten in the fields by farmers or ploughmen.
Over time, it became a popular pub meal and a relaxed, no-fuss appetizer at Christmas time. It’s perfect for festive grazing and ideal for people who want to nibble rather than sit down to something heavy.
Creamy Leek and Potato Soup
Despite containing potatoes, creamy leek and potato soup is gentle and not too filling, making it ideal as an appetiser. The leeks provide a mild sweetness, while the potatoes add just enough body to make it feel warming and satisfying. It’s served hot with crusty bread and butter.
British Christmas Dinner With All The Trimmings
British Christmas dinner is the meal that everything else revolves around on Christmas Day. It’s usually served mid-afternoon between 2pm and 4pm. In my house it was always around 2.30pm or 3pm after presents had all been opened. All of us have our own traditions but British Christmas dinners usually revolve around a roast, generous sides, and lots of sauces.
After a heavy Christmas dinner, the rest of the day is food comas, light snacking, and maybe enjoying leftovers.
Traditional Roast Turkey
Roast turkey is the quintessential centrepiece of a British Christmas dinner and has been the standard festive main for generations. It became popular in the UK as a Christmas dish because it was large enough to feed big families and symbolised abundance during the festive season. Today, it’s still the most common choice for Christmas Day, even though it’s rarely eaten at any other time of year.
A well-cooked roast turkey should be tender, juicy, and flavourful, often roasted with butter and herbs. It’s the focal point of the entire meal.
Roast Chicken Christmas Dinner
Roast chicken is a very common substitute for turkey, especially for smaller households or quieter celebrations. Growing up we always had a roast chicken instead. Tender meat and wonderfully crispy skin make it a reliable and crowd-pleasing option.
For many people, roast chicken feels just as festive as turkey, when it’s served with all the traditional sides.
Crispy Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes are arguably the most important part of a British Christmas dinner, and just as important as the main roast. They should be crispy and golden on the outside, with fluffy, soft centres that soak up gravy beautifully. Achieving the perfect roast potato usually involves parboiling them first, roughing up the edges, and then roasting them in very hot oil or fat.
Seasoning is usually kept simple with just salt, pepper, and sometimes herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Brussels Sprouts
Love them or hate them, Brussels sprouts are a staple of a British Christmas dinner. As a child, I hated the soggy sprouts that appeared on my plate and eating them was always a negotiation. These days, I actually enjoy them (but never boiled!).
Traditionally, boiled sprouts are still common, but Christmas dinners often feature roasted versions with added flavours. Brussels sprouts with bacon are especially popular and have become a festive favourite.
Pigs In Blankets
Pigs in blankets are one of the most loved parts of a British Christmas dinner and honestly, they deserve the hype. In the UK and Ireland, pigs in blankets are eaten in large quantities over Christmas, especially on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. They’re made from small cocktail sausages wrapped in streaky bacon and roasted until crisp.
They’re usually served as part of the main roast dinner, but they’re just as delicious eaten cold straight from the fridge later on. Extremely addictive and universally loved, pigs in blankets are often the first thing to disappear from the table.
Traditional Yorkshire Puddings
Yorkshire puddings are light, airy, and designed for one purpose, soaking up gravy. Although traditionally associated with roast beef, many British households serve Yorkshire puddings with Christmas dinner regardless of the main roast. They’re made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk, baked in very hot oil to create their signature rise. They should be crisp on the outside and soft in the middle.
Roasted Glazed Parsnips
Roasted parsnips are a classic British Christmas side dish. They’re often coated in honey and herbs like thyme before roasting, which helps them caramelise beautifully. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they offer a sweet and savoury contrast to richer dishes like turkey and stuffing.
Braised Red Cabbage
Braised red cabbage is a traditional British Christmas side that’s much tastier than it sounds. The cabbage is slow-cooked with vinegar, spices, and sometimes apple. It is slightly tart and crisp, and cuts through the richness of the rest of the roast dinner.
Delectable Stuffing Varieties
Stuffing plays a big role in British Christmas dinners. Whether homemade or shop-bought, stuffing is a non-negotiable part of the Christmas plate. Classic sage and onion stuffing is the most traditional, made from breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasonings. Other popular variations include chestnut stuffing and sausage meat stuffing, which add extra richness and texture.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is most commonly paired with roast turkey, but will also appear with roast chicken. Some households use store-bought versions, while others prefer homemade sauce with whole cranberries for extra texture. Either way, it’s considered an essential condiment and is usually served generously.
Bread Sauce
Bread sauce is one of the most traditional and misunderstood British Christmas foods. It’s a creamy sauce made from breadcrumbs, milk, onions, and spices, and its origins date back to medieval times. Usually served alongside roast turkey or chicken, it is deeply nostalgic for many people, especially those who grew up with it as a Christmas-only treat.
Gravy
No British Christmas dinner is complete without gravy that’s poured generously over turkey, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and stuffing. It’s usually made from meat juices and stock, though some people swear by family recipes or carefully enhanced versions.
Popular British Festive Dinners
While roast turkey and roast chicken are the most traditional Christmas meals in the UK, many British households opt for alternative festive mains, or have some of these mains on other days over the holidays like Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. These popular dishes are often chosen based on family size, dietary preferences, or long-standing personal traditions.
Glistening Glazed Ham
Glazed ham is a popular festive alternative to turkey or beef, especially for households that want something flavourful and less formal. The ham is typically boiled first, then finished in the oven with a glossy glaze made from ingredients like honey, mustard, brown sugar, or cloves to create a caramelised exterior with tender, juicy meat inside.
Glazed ham works well hot on Christmas Day or cold as leftovers for Boxing Day sandwiches, salads, and buffets.
Succulent Roast Beef
Roast beef is a traditional British roast that many families choose for Christmas dinner. When cooked properly, roast beef is tender, juicy, and full of flavour, often seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and herbs. It’s commonly served medium or medium-rare and carved into generous slices. Classic accompaniments include Yorkshire puddings, gravy, roast potatoes, and seasonal vegetables, making it a deeply satisfying festive option.
Nut Roast
Nut roast is a classic vegetarian option that’s been part of British festive dinners for decades. Made from a mixture of roasted nuts, vegetables, herbs, and breadcrumbs, nut roast is hearty, flavourful, and designed to hold its shape when sliced. It’s often served with the same sides as a traditional roast, including gravy, roast potatoes, and vegetables.
Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is a show-stopping festive dish often reserved for special occasions like Christmas. It is a fillet of beef coated in mushrooms and wrapped in pastry before being baked until golden. When done well, it delivers tender beef, rich flavours, and crisp pastry in every slice.
Mushroom Wellington
Mushroom Wellington is a vegetarian version of the classic Beef Wellington that features a savoury filling of mushrooms, herbs, and sometimes cheese, all wrapped in puff pastry and baked until crisp.
Roast Goose
Roast goose is a traditional and historic British Christmas dish. It’s less commonly served today due to its cost and complexity. Known for its crispy, golden skin and rich, succulent meat, and a rich, intense flavour. It’s often paired with sharp sauces like Cumberland sauce.
One of the highlights of roast goose is potatoes cooked in the rendered goose fat, which creates exceptionally crisp and flavourful roast potatoes.
British Christmas Desserts And Puddings
British Christmas desserts are rich, nostalgic, and indulgent. Many of them are made weeks in advance, soaked in alcohol, and brought out year after year as part of long-standing family traditions. From flaky mince pies to dramatic flaming puddings, these festive sweets are just as important as the Christmas dinner itself.
British Mince Pies
It’s just not Christmas without mince pies, and they’re one of the festive treats I miss the most in Canada. They just don’t make them quite the same over here. I especially miss Mr Kipling’s mince pies, which always felt like the official start of Christmas.
Mince pies are small pastries filled with mincemeat, a sweet mixture of dried fruits, spices, sugar, and often a splash of brandy or rum. Eaten throughout December, they are often warmed slightly and served with brandy butter, cream, or custard.
Fun facts: Despite the name, modern mincemeat doesn’t contain meat, although it originally did. Mince pie recipes date back to around 1830 when they were filled with meat and spices rather than dried fruit.
Traditional Christmas Pudding
Also known as plum pudding, Christmas pudding is a dense, rich fruit pudding made from dried fruits, spices, suet, and alcohol. It’s traditionally made weeks or even months in advance so the fruit has plenty of time to soak up brandy.
On Christmas Day, the pudding is often set alight with warmed brandy before being served. It’s usually accompanied by brandy butter, rum butter, cream, custard, or ice cream. In my house, we always ate it with custard.
Fun fact: There’s a long-standing tradition of hiding a silver coin inside the pudding – whoever finds it is said to receive good luck.
Traditional British Christmas Cake
Christmas cake is a rich fruit cake topped with a layer of marzipan and thick white icing. It’s usually made well ahead of Christmas and decorated with festive touches like holly, snow scenes, or miniature Christmas trees.
Dense, sweet, and packed with dried fruit, it’s enjoyed in small slices alongside a cup of tea rather than as a plated dessert. It’s often a decorative centrepiece of the festive table.
Chocolate Yule Log
Chocolate Yule Log was a guaranteed feature of my Christmases growing up, and I always preferred it to Christmas cake. Ideally, it was a Cadbury Yule Log.
Originally inspired by the French Bûche de Noël, it is made from rolled chocolate sponge cake filled and coated with chocolate buttercream. It’s lighter than many traditional British desserts and especially popular with children.
Traditional English Trifle
Trifle is a classic British dessert made up of layers of sponge cake, custard, jelly, fruit, and whipped cream. It’s light, colourful, and endlessly customisable. My mum always made two; one with jelly and fruit for my dad, and one with sponge for me.
There are many variations of this delicious dessert including boozy versions soaked in liqueur, and fruit-forward versions made with berries and almonds.
Stollen Cake
It’s not British but stollen has become a popular part of British Christmas celebrations.
This German fruit bread is packed with dried fruits, nuts, spices, and marzipan, making it rich, dense, and delicious. It is often enjoyed sliced with butter throughout the festive season.
British Brandy Butter
Brandy butter, also known as hard sauce, is a traditional Christmas accompaniment rather than a dessert on its own. It’s made from butter, sugar, brandy, orange zest, and vanilla, creating a sweet, rich spread that melts beautifully over warm desserts. It’s most commonly served with Christmas pudding or mince pies and adds an unmistakably festive kick.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky toffee pudding is a much-loved British dessert made with dates and covered in hot toffee sauce. Warm, comforting, and deeply indulgent, it’s usually served with custard, cream or ice cream. It’s a favourite choice for people who don’t love fruit-heavy puddings.
Christmas Spiced Victoria Sponge Cake
The Christmas spiced Victoria sponge is a festive twist on one of Britain’s most beloved cakes. Light and airy, this version is flavoured with warming spices that give it a distinctly Christmas feel without being heavy.
Traditional Figgy Pudding Recipe
Figgy pudding is a very traditional British Christmas dessert made with dried figs, suet, and spices. It’s less sweet than many other festive desserts and usually served with custard or warm syrup. Despite its old-fashioned reputation, it remains an important part of British Christmas food history.
Black Forest Gateau
Black Forest gateau is a decadent dessert made with layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream, and cherries. Rich and indulgent, it feels slightly retro but remains a festive favourite.
Christmas Bread And Butter Pudding
Bread and butter pudding is a classic British comfort dessert. Slices of bread are soaked in creamy custard and baked until soft and golden, creating a warm, gently spiced pudding that’s delicious. At Christmas time it is often served with a rich brandy sauce.
Cranberry Desserts
Cranberries are often used in cakes, tarts, and even variations of Eton mess at Christmas time to add a tart, festive twist to British Christmas desserts.
British Christmas Biscuits, Tarts And Pies
Christmas in Britain wouldn’t be complete without a steady supply of Christmas biscuits, tarts, and sweet treats on hand at all times. These are the things that sit on sideboards, appear with cups of tea, and get casually nibbled throughout December. Some are homemade, others are unapologetically shop-bought, and all of them are deeply nostalgic.
Sugar Cookies And Spiced Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are a familiar festive treat, but spiced sugar cookies add a distinctly Christmas twist. Infused with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, these cookies fill the house with a cosy aroma while baking. They’re ideal for decorating with icing or enjoying plain and are perfect for sharing with family and friends throughout the festive season.
Shortbread Cookies
Rich, buttery, and crumbly, shortbread cookies are a classic British biscuit and a Christmas staple. Traditionally made with just butter, sugar, and flour, shortbread is simple but indulgent. At Christmas, it often takes on festive shapes like stars or trees and may be dipped in chocolate or lightly dusted with sugar.
Cadbury’s Chocolate Fingers
Cadbury’s Chocolate Fingers are a biscuit essential in many British homes at Christmas. These slim, crunchy biscuits are coated in Cadbury milk chocolate and are dangerously easy to eat by the handful. Over the years they became a Christmas staple simply because they’re always around during the holidays.
Gingerbread Men
Gingerbread men are a festive favourite during the Christmas season, especially in households with children. Spiced with ginger and other warming flavours, these biscuits are lightly crisp with a soft centre. They’re often decorated with icing or sweets and are as much about tradition and fun as they are about flavour.
Jammie Dodgers
Jammie Dodgers are one of my all-time favourite British biscuits. They’re made from two buttery, crumbly cookies sandwiched together with a layer of raspberry or strawberry jam. Sweet, nostalgic, and perfect with tea, they’re incredibly moreish and very easy to overeat.
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes
Jaffa Cakes sit somewhere between a biscuit and a cake, and their status is a long-running British debate. They’re made from soft sponge topped with orange jelly and coated in chocolate. At Christmas, they’re often found alongside other sweet treats and are loved for their light texture and chocolate-orange flavour.
Biscotti
Biscotti is very popular in Britain at Christmas time, which earns them a place on the festive table. These twice-baked biscuits are crunchy and ideal for dipping into coffee or hot chocolate. They’re often flavoured with almonds, chocolate, or dried fruit and feel slightly more grown-up while still being festive.
Bakewell Tarts
Bakewell tarts are a classic treat that many people associate with Christmas. These small pastry tarts are filled with cherry jam and almond sponge, topped with flaked almonds or icing. They’re sweet, soft, and comforting, and very much part of the festive dessert traditions. Personally, I always loved the Mr Kipling version of them.
British Christmas Chocolates And Sweets
British Christmas chocolates and sweets are all about abundance, variety, and iconic brands. Tins and boxes of chocolates appear in December and seem to multiply throughout the house, offering something for everyone. There was always at least one tin of chocolates open somewhere in my childhood home, usually in the living room or kitchen.
After Eight Mints
After Eight mints are thin squares of dark chocolate filled with mint fondant. Traditionally served after dinner, they are often brought out later in the evening alongside coffee. With their crisp mint flavour, they are highly addictive.
Terry’s Milk Chocolate Orange
Terry’s Chocolate Orange is another iconic British Christmas sweet. Made from segmented chocolate flavoured with orange oil, it’s traditionally cracked open with a firm tap before eating.
Nestlé Quality Street
Quality Street is another staple of British Christmas celebrations. The colourful tin contains an assortment of individually wrapped chocolates and toffees, each with its own loyal fan base. It’s designed for sharing, debating favourites, and quietly avoiding the ones you don’t like.
Cadbury’s Roses
Cadbury’s Roses are the alternative or companion to Quality Street in many households over Christmas. Every family has strong opinions about which ones disappear first.
Candied Peel
Candied peel is citrus peel, usually orange or lemon, cooked in sugar syrup. It’s commonly used in British Christmas baking, including cakes, puddings, and mince pies. Sweet, slightly bitter, and aromatic, it adds depth and flavour to many traditional festive recipes.
Cadbury’s Christmas Selection Box
Cadbury’s Christmas selection boxes are especially popular with children. They typically include a mix of full-size and mini chocolate bars and are often given as stocking fillers or small gifts. For many Brits, they’re a nostalgic reminder of childhood Christmas mornings.
Mars Malteasers
Maltesers are light, chocolate-covered malt balls that are extremely easy to snack on. Crunchy, not too sweet, and shared in large boxes at Christmas time, they’re usually a crowd-pleaser.
Cadbury Milk Tray
Cadbury Milk Tray is a boxed assortment of chocolates with a long history in British Christmas gifting. Often given as a more traditional or formal chocolate gift, Milk Tray is associated with classic British Christmas advertising and nostalgia.
Glazed Chestnuts
Glazed chestnuts are sweet chestnuts coated in sugar syrup. They’re rich, sticky, and often enjoyed as a festive sweet treat rather than a dessert.
Mars Celebrations
Celebrations are a mixed box of mini chocolate bars from the Mars range. Like many British Christmas sweets, they’re less about elegance and more about abundance and choice.
Marzipan
Marzipan is a sweet almond paste that plays a big role in British Christmas baking. It’s most commonly used to cover Christmas cakes before icing but is also shaped into small marzipan sweets. Its distinctive almond flavour is strongly associated with festive desserts.
Nestlé Walnut Whip
The Walnut Whip is a cone-shaped chocolate filled with vanilla fondant, topped with a walnut. It’s a slightly retro but popular sweet that often appears during Christmas.
Eccles Cakes
Eccles cakes are a traditional British pastry originating from the town of Eccles in Greater Manchester. They’re made from flaky pastry filled with currants or raisins, sugar, and warming spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Rich and satisfying, they’re often enjoyed with a cup of tea and feel especially comforting during the festive season.
British Christmas Savoury Snacks
Alongside all the sweet treats, British Christmas tables are always stocked with savoury snacks. These are the nibbles that balance out the sugar overload, get passed around during games and TV time, and somehow disappear faster than anything else.
Jacobs Original Mini Cheddars
Jacob’s Mini Cheddars are a popular savoury biscuit made with real cheese. Crunchy, salty, and very snackable, they’re a reliable Christmas nibble that appeals to almost everyone. Original flavour is the most traditional, though other varieties often make an appearance too like BBQ.
Pringles
Pringles are absolutely everywhere at Christmas in the UK. Once the tubes are open, they tend to linger on coffee tables for days. They’re easy to snack on, endlessly refillable, and always seem to multiply during the festive season.
Twiglets
Twiglets are one of the most divisive British Christmas snacks. With a similar flavour to Marmite, people either love them or absolutely hate them. They’re crunchy, knobbly sticks made from wholewheat and flavoured with yeast extract. While they’re available year-round, Twiglets are especially associated with Christmas and often appear in large tubs during the festive season.
Walkers Sensations
Walkers Sensations are a grown-up crisp choice at Christmas. They’re a step up from standard crisps and often brought out when guests arrive or served alongside drinks before dinner.
Kettle Chips
Kettle Chips are another Christmas crisp staple, especially on grazing tables. Sea salt and salt and vinegar are the classics, though festive or limited-edition flavours often make an appearance in December. Their thicker cut and crunchier texture make them a natural pairing for cheese boards and dips.
Pork Scratchings
Pork scratchings are a classic but divisive British pub snack. Crunchy, salty, and very savoury, they’re often served alongside drinks during Christmas socialising.
Cocktail Sausages
Cocktail sausages are a simple but essential Christmas nibble. Unlike pigs in blankets, these are plain mini sausages served warm or cold.
Cheese Straws
Cheese straws are flaky pastry twists packed with cheese and seasoning. Crisp, savoury, and very moreish, they work perfectly as a pre-dinner nibble or party snack. They’re often homemade but just as commonly bought from bakeries or supermarkets at Christmas.
Cheese Football
The cheese football is a bright orange, crunchy-coated cheese ball that is retro and deeply nostalgic. Served with crackers or celery sticks, it’s one of those snacks that instantly transports people back to childhood Christmases.
Jacob’s Cream Crackers
Jacob’s Cream Crackers are a classic savoury cracker in England. Often found on cheese boards or grazing platters, they are designed to be served with cheese, pâté, or spreads during Christmas gatherings.
Oatcakes
Oatcakes are a traditional accompaniment to cheese during the festive season. Their slightly nutty flavour and firm texture make them ideal for pairing with strong cheeses, pâté, or spreads.
Roasted Salted Peanuts
Roasted salted peanuts are incredibly common during the festive season. They’re usually poured into bowls and left out for casual snacking, especially during Christmas films or game nights.
Honey-Roasted Peanuts Or Cashews
Honey-roasted nuts are a festive upgrade on standard salted varieties. Slightly sweet and crunchy, they feel more celebratory and are often served alongside drinks or added to grazing boards.
Mixed Nuts In Shells
Mixed nuts in shells are a very old-school British Christmas tradition. Often served with nutcrackers on the table, they’re as much about the experience as the snack itself.
Where To Buy British Christmas Food In Canada Or The U.S.
If you’re based in Canada or the US and curious to try British Christmas food, many festive favourites are quite easy to find. Although some eats are definitely best made at home, you can get plenty of classic treats locally or online.
British Chocolate Tins And Boxes
British chocolate is pretty easy to find. Seasonal tins and boxes appear every December, and are usually stocked by British specialty shops, grocery stores with international food aisles, and online UK importers. In Canada, you may also find them in chain stores like London Drugs, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Biscuits And Sweet Treats
British biscuits are also usually pretty easy to find. You’ll probably find classics like shortbread, chocolate-coated biscuits, Jaffa cakes, and chocolate orange in the same places that sell British chocolate tins and boxes. Some stores especially grocery stores and online stores may carry British biscuits all year round with festive packaging and limited-editions appearing closer to Christmas.
Baking Ingredients
If you want to make British Christmas food at home, most of the key ingredients are available with a bit of searching. Dried fruits, mixed spice, candied peel, and marzipan can usually be found in baking sections or international aisles. Some items may be labelled slightly differently, but they’re usually the same ingredients.
Savoury Snacks
British savoury snacks are frequently stocked in British specialty shops, international food aisles and online stores. Things like cheese crackers, crisps, and festive snack tubs are popular items to import so they are often easier to find than full meals or desserts.
If you can’t find something locally, online UK imports are a reliable option, especially for chocolates, biscuits, and shelf-stable baking ingredients. It’s often easier than trying to recreate everything from scratch.
British Christmas Food Americans And Canadians Usually Love Most
If you’re new to British Christmas food, some dishes tend to be instant hits because they’re easy to enjoy without much explanation. These are some of the safest introductory British foods that are similar to North American tastes that usually go down well.
Pigs In Blankets
Cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon are a simple, salty, addictive eat that is extremely popular.
Roast Potatoes
Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and perfect with gravy. British-style roast potatoes are familiar but taken up a notch.
Sausage Rolls
Flaky pastry wrapped around seasoned sausage meat. It’s comfort food at its finest and very easy to love.
Trifle
A layered dessert with sponge, custard, cream, and fruit. Light, nostalgic, and not too heavy after a big meal.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Rich, warm, a little bit decadent, and served in a delicious sauce. This is often a standout favourite for people who prefer sweet desserts that aren’t fruit based.
Chocolate Orange
The chocolate and orange flavours combine into a festive, shareable format that is instantly recognisable and easy to enjoy.
British Christmas Food Is Comforting And Full Of Tradition
All of these sweet and savoury eats have been part of the festive season in England for generations, and they’re a big part of what makes the holiday season feel so magical back home. Whether you’re recreating a full British Christmas dinner or just picking one or two treats to enjoy this year, I hope this guide helps you bring a little taste of the UK into your home.
If you’re based in Canada or the US and want to try some of these goodies, I’ve added plenty of options you can make yourself or buy locally. And if you grew up in the UK like I did, hopefully this list brings back all the cozy festive memories. Cheers to a delicious and very British Christmas season.
To learn more about the full festive experience in the UK, my guide on how to have yourself a very British Christmas walks you through the traditions, food, and cosy details.
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Gemma Lawrence is a British expat, solo female travel blogger, and the creator of This Brit’s Life — a travel and lifestyle blog that helps women explore the world confidently, live abroad independently, and stay informed about global issues.
Born and raised in England, Gemma has been living in British Columbia, Canada since 2016 and has been traveling solo for over a decade. With a background in journalism and over ten years of experience in digital marketing and communications — including leadership roles with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/BC) — she brings both storytelling and strategy to her writing.
Through her posts, Gemma shares practical solo travel advice, expat insights, and confidence-building resources, while also covering broader topics like women’s rights, democracy, and self-care. Her goal is to inspire independence, awareness, and personal growth — one adventure at a time
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