Our latest research: You’re not alone in debt
As well as providing debt advice, we regularly produce research into personal...
Three-ingredient Christmas recipes
Christmas is an expensive time for most people. Presents, food and decorations can quickly add up and costs can spiral. To help keep costs down, we’ve got some cheap recipe ideas to help keep your budget on track and impress your guests for less.
Bring on our festive edition of three-ingredient recipes! Each of these dishes requires just a trio of main ingredients to shorten your shopping list without sacrificing on flavour.
1. Christmas fruit cake
Image source: Annabel Langbein Media
This simple, tasty fruit cake is perfect to make with the kids. And yes, it’s only got three ingredients! What better way to keep the little ones entertained and get creative with the decorating. Check out the recipe over on Annabel-Langbein.com
Ingredients:
- Mixed dried fruit
- Milk
- Self-raising flour
Warning: The optional icing sugar + children = white ‘snowy’ kitchen mess.
2. Baked brie with balsamic cherries
This is a fancy sounding recipe courtesy of averiecooks.com. Yes, it sounds posh but really it’s just cheese, cherries and balsamic vinegar baked together for the perfect Christmas comfort food. And who doesn’t like melted cheese.
Ingredients:
- Brie
- Cherry jam or preserves
- Balsamic vinegar
3. Brie and Cranberry Filo turnovers
Image source: Cookin’ Canuck
More cheese! These tasty turnovers can be made using shop-bought filo pastry, cranberry sauce and brie. With those simple ingredients you could probably make these with the leftovers from the Christmas dinner. Cookincanuck.com has the recipe for you.
Ingredients:
- Filo pastry
- Brie
- Cranberry sauce or chutney
4. Cheddar broccoli egg muffins
If you’re not yet sick of cheese, these egg muffins make a perfect starter or Christmas morning breakfast- you’ll need the energy to deal with the ensuing present opening mayhem! Recipe courtesy of Fitmamarealfood.com.
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Cheddar cheese
5. Buttery Christmas Shortbread
Image source: My own attempt!
Shortbread is a simple treat that’s a hit in my house. For the festive version, create or cut out your own shape sand decorate. Another one to keep the kids occupied over the Christmas period. The tried and tasted version of this recipe is available at studentrecipes.com.
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Caster sugar
- Flour
6. Brandy butter
Christmas is a good time to combine alcohol and puddings (although remember to DrinkAware). This brandy butter recipe is a prime example – easy to make and perfect with mince pies or Christmas pudding. Check out the recipe at BBC.co.uk
Ingredients:
- Butter (unsalted)
- Icing sugar
- Brandy
7. Buttered sprouts with chestnuts and bacon
Image source: BBC
Brussel sprouts. Their annual appearance on the Christmas dinner table is welcomed by some, but hated by many. Why not try and spruce them up with chestnuts, butter and bacon with this recipe from BBC.co.uk?
Ingredients:
- Sprouts
- Bacon
- Chestnuts
Do you have any recipes of your own you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments! You can also get more money tips by signing up to our email newsletter.
