The Christmas season is always a challenge for people with allergies. It’s hard to know what you can and can’t eat. Thankfully, we’ve put together a list of the top allergy-friendly Christmas recipes to give you a delicious slice of the festive spirit. Let us know what you think!

Stuffed Butternut Squash

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash
  • 100g vacuum-packed chestnuts
  • 50g pecans
  • 50g dried apricots
  • 150g mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 sprig rosemary, chopped
  • 3 sage leaves, chopped
  • 1 can cooked lentils, drained
  • 1 tbsp tamari
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp dried cranberries
  • Handful of kale or spinach (optional)
  • String for roasting

Methodtop allergy-friendly Christmas recipes

  1. Roast Squash: Preheat oven to 200°C. Halve the squash, place on a baking tray, and roast for 45 minutes.
  2. Prepare Stuffing: Blend chestnuts, pecans, and apricots into crumbs. Sauté garlic, mushrooms, rosemary, and sage in oil. Add lentils, tamari, and blended nuts, and cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Caramelise Onion: In a separate pan, sweat the onion for 2 minutes. Add maple syrup and cranberries, cooking for 5 more minutes.
  4. Stuff Squash: Scoop out seeds and some flesh to create space. Mix the scooped squash into the stuffing. Fill the squash with stuffing, top with onion mix and kale, and replace the lid.
  5. Final Roast: Tie squash with string, securing it. Roast for 15 minutes at 200°C.

Note. If you’re allergic to nuts, swap out the pecans for pumpkin and sunflower seeds. People who are allergic to tree nuts are usually fine with chestnuts.

Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 900g potatoes (e.g., Maris Piper or King Edward), washed and scrubbed
  • 360ml chicken stock
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to the boil.
  2. Chop the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. You can leave the skins on for extra texture or peel them if you prefer.
  3. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook for 15–20 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.
  4. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then return them to the pot. Turn off the heat.
  5. Add 150ml chicken stock and mash the potatoes with a masher until smooth. Gradually add more stock as needed until the mash is creamy and lump-free.
  6. Stir in the garlic powder, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Gluten-Free Christmas Pudding

Ingredients

  • 150g currants
  • 110g sour cherries
  • 100g raisins
  • 50g chopped dates
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • Zest and juice of ½ orange
  • 50g mixed peel
  • 75ml cold Assam or Earl Grey tea
  • ½ tsp mixed spice
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
  • 2½ tbsp brandy
  • 170g soft dark brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp golden syrup
  • ½ large cooking apple, grated
  • 50g toasted almonds, chopped
  • 25g rice flour
  • 25g cornflour
  • 110g fresh gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
  • 110g gluten-free suet
  • 2 large eggs + 1 yolk, beaten
  • Butter for greasing

Method

  1. Prepare Fruits: Combine dried fruits, peel, lime and orange zest, juice, tea, spices, and brandy in a bowl. Stir and soak overnight.
  2. Mix Ingredients: Add grated apple, almonds, sugar, and syrup to the soaked fruits. In another bowl, mix flour, breadcrumbs, baking powder, suet, and salt. Stir in beaten eggs and combine with the fruit mix.
  3. Assemble Pudding: Grease a 1.5-litre basin, fill it ⅔ with the mixture, and cover it with greaseproof paper and foil, secured with string.
  4. Steam Pudding: Place an upturned saucer in a deep pan, set the pudding on top, and add boiling water halfway up the basin. Cover and steam for 8 hours, topping up water as needed.
  5. Serve: Remove, cool, and turn out. Serve with brandy cream, custard, or ice cream.

Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Chocolate Yule Log

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 5 medium eggs
  • 120g caster sugar
  • 75g gluten-free plain flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp xanthan gum
  • 35g cocoa powder

For the Buttercream:

  • 150g dairy-free butter
  • 300g icing sugar
  • 150g dairy-free dark chocolate, melted
  • 1 tbsp dairy-free milk

Method

  1. Prepare Cake: Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a Swiss roll tin. Whisk eggs and sugar until frothy. Combine flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and cocoa in a bowl, then fold into the egg mixture. Pour into the tin, spread evenly, and bake for 10 minutes until springy.
  2. Roll Cake: Turn out the sponge onto a sugared sheet of baking paper while warm. Peel off the lining paper and trim the edges. Roll tightly from the short end with the baking paper inside. Leave to cool completely.
  3. Make Buttercream: Beat dairy-free butter until creamy, gradually adding icing sugar. Mix in melted chocolate and milk until smooth.
  4. Assemble: Unroll the cooled sponge, spread with buttercream, and roll it back up. Cover with remaining buttercream, use a fork to create a log pattern, and dust with icing sugar to serve.

Gluten-Free Mince Pies

Ingredients

  • 125g butter, cubed
  • 200g gluten-free plain flour
  • 1 tbsp icing sugar (plus extra for dusting)
  • Zest of 2 clementines
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 250g gluten-free mincemeat
  • 25g toasted flaked almonds
  • 1–2 tsp brandy (optional)
  • 50g dried cherries or cranberries
  • 1 tbsp milk (for brushing)
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar

Method

  1. Make Pastry: Pulse butter and flour in a food processor until crumbly. Add sugar, half the zest, almond extract, and 2 tbsp cold water to form a dough. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Prepare Filling: Mix mincemeat, remaining zest, almonds, brandy (if using), and dried fruit in a bowl.
  3. Assemble Pies: Roll out pastry to 2–3mm thickness. Cut 12 rounds (7–8cm) and press into a greased 12-hole tin. Prick bases with a fork and fill with 1 tbsp mincemeat.
  4. Add Lids: Cut pastry stars for lids, place them on pies, brush them with milk, and sprinkle them with sugar.
  5. Bake: Bake at 200°C (fan 180°C) for 15–18 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar to serve.

Enjoy a Safe and Merry Christmas

Worried about hidden allergens sneaking into your holiday favourites? The Allergy Test from TMI Testing can help you uncover triggers, so you can enjoy everything from mince pies to mulled wine without the worry. Get peace of mind and focus on what matters most this Christmas – making memories.