Christmas in July! Brussels sprouts bangers, Prosecco crisps and chocolate stilettos: The biggest festive foodie trends for Christmas 2015 revealed
- Marks & Spencer has unveiled its Christmas 2015 food and drink collection
- The range hits stores from October 2015 and features 350 new products
- Mac'n'lobster, Prosecco crisps and sprout-filled sausages all feature
Sponsored by M&S
Only Marks & Spencer could magic up a sparkling Christmas feast on the hottest day of the year.
The brand created a festive extravaganza in central London this week as it announced the stars of its Christmas food and drink collection as big brands begin to unveil their ranges to the media.
And the M&S line-up is a cracker for party planners, cheese fans, cocktail lovers and even those keen on still getting their greens at the most wonderfully indulgent time of the year.
Grainne Allen, Head of Product Development at M&S says; 'Christmas is about enjoying delicious food with family and friends and this year we've got some surprising twists to really wow guests with. We've got everything from fizzy crisps to bangers with sprouts, so lots to get everyone talking over the table!'
After some extensive tasting and tippling MailOnline writer Toni Jones shares her top ten picks…
Marks & Spencer unveiled its food and drink collection for Christmas 2015 in London this week
The range will hit stores from October 2015 and features over 350 new food and drink products
The collection includes several showstopping products like these limited edition chocolate stilettos (price TBC)
FOOD TO TICKLE YOUR TASTE BUDS OVER THE PARTY SEASON
1. PROSECCO CRISPS, £2
Yes, you read that correctly, Prosecco crips! These are hand-cooked potato chips that have been steeped in winter berries and then laced with M&S's much-loved Prosecco.
They actually fizz on the tongue, and for an extra bit of Christmas pizzazz come covered in edible gold stars. Best served simply with a chilled glass of Prosecco (of course).
Get the party started with Prosecco-laced crisps, £2, and Brusselmole dip, £1.90
2. COOL CANAPES, from £4.00 to £10.00
Bite-sized bits of deliciousness, the party food range has some standout new recruits for 2015.
With 58 mini dishes to choose from you might need a bigger guest list, but I would recommend stocking up on the Bacon & Cheese Twists with Parmesan Fondue Sauce (£8, gluten-free but still packed with taste and described as the Mary Poppins of the canapé world because they are practically perfect in every way), the Chorizo and Chicken Cups (£8, these look impressive on the plate and are great for anyone trying to cut down on carbs) and the Mini Lobster Mac And Cheese (£10, sweet lobster pieces served in a rich cheese sauce, totally decadent).
The party food range has some standout new recruits for 2015 including Chorizo and Chicken Cups (left) and Mini Lobster Mac And Cheese (right)
As well as tasting superb (and expensive), every canapé recipe is tested for the 'faff factor' and anything too fiddly doesn't make the cut. And they all bake at the same temperature, which is brilliant if you're a kitchen novice and means you will spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your party (Product Development Manager of Party Food Barbara Ross recommends allowing 6-8 canapés per person).
With 58 mini dishes to choose from you might need a bigger guest list (Pictured Left: 10 Haggis, Neeps & Tatties Right: 10 Chorizo & Chicken Cups)
3. BRUSSELMOLE, £1.90
Cool canapés need to be served with a delicious dip, and this green machine is the perfect addition to the plate (as well as a tasty way to sneak more veg into somebody's diet). In this recipe the avocado normally found in guacamole has been swapped for the good old sprout, with a sweet dash of maple syrup added to balance out the earthiness of the powerful little vegetable.
Great spread onto toasted sourdough with bacon or pancetta or simply served with crisps and canapés for dipping.
And sprouts are also sneaking their way onto the breakfast table as part of the British Pork, Sprout and Bacon Bangers, £2.50, perfect for a boxing day breakfast.
Sprouts are sneaking their way onto the breakfast table as part of the British Pork, Sprout and Bacon Bangers
4. THE CORNISH CAMEMBERT AND BRIOCHE WREATH, £8
As fabulous to look at as it is to eat, this edible wreath is a great way to break the ice and get guests sharing and talking at a dinner party. And although it looks incredibly fancy it's actually fuss-free as the cheese and bread bake together.
Grainne Allen said: 'At Christmas we all want to impress and so anything with a sense of surprise or novelty is a winner.'
The gorgeous Candle Wreath Dessert, £15, is another showstopper that demands an Instagram shot.
Inspired by the food team's recent trip to Japan it features a pretty candle at its centre to light at the table for a nice bit of wow factor.
This edible wreath is a great way to break the ice and get guests sharing and talking at a dinner party (left) and the gorgeous Candle Wreath Dessert, £15, is another showstopper that demands an Instagram shot.
5. ABIGAIL'S PARTY INSPIRED CHEESE
Christmas without cheese is like Mary without Joseph, Ant without Dec, M without S... and this year's offering is one of the most decadent yet, featuring truffle, pâtés, bakes and booze. 'We wanted to take cheese away from the cheese board and use it in other ways over the festive season,' said Product Developer Kirsty Grieve. 'At M&S we like to squeeze cheese into as many things as possible. At the end of a big Christmas lunch often people are too full to contemplate a cheese course, so why not have it as canapés, at the start, in the middle…?'
Christmas without cheese is like Mary without Joseph, Ant without Dec, M without S... and this year's offering is one of the most decadent yet, featuring truffle, pâtés, bakes, booze and lobster
As a cheese fiend I won't argue with Kirsty, and my dream cheese picks from the Christmas selection are the utterly fabulous Lobster and Langoustine Thermidor Bake, £10, with cheddar, Gruyere, crème fraîche, Brandy and brown crab meat with delicious pieces of lobster and langoustine.
Or the brilliantly simple but stylish Cheese Bites Tower, £10, the super rich Delice Aux Truffles, £6, handmade soft cheese with a decadent layer of black truffle, and of course the Caramelised Cheddar Bauble, £6, a punchy mature cheddar blended with caramelised orange and coated in sparkling candied orange peel which I will be buying all my friends as a Christmas gift.
DRINKS TO GET YOU DANCING THIS CHRISTMAS
1. SHERRY TRIFLE CREAM, £11
A Christmas classic, but not as you know it. This old school dessert has been reworked to create a sweet and creamy drink layered with flavours of custard, raspberry and sponge that tastes just like your gran used to make, but with the added benefit of loads more booze.
Other desserts to drink include the Black Forest Gateau Liqueur, £10, and the ready-mixed Mince Pie Martini, £12, a taste of Christmas in a glass made with dried fruits, citrus peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Just shake and pour to instantly impress thirsty guests.
Toni shakes up a Mince Pie Martini at the M&S Bah Humbug Bar
The ready-mixed Mince Pie Martini , £12, a taste of Christmas in a glass made with dried fruits, citrus peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
2. WHITE CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL, £12
Meet the new hero product of your Christmas cocktail cabinet.
Made with 'so hot right now' yoghurt liqueur (the drinks team were inspired by the New York bar scene on a recent tasting trip) mixed with vanilla, rum and citrus, this is a smooth, sweet and indulgent drink that isn't too creamy. Serve super chilled with a few lemon twirls.
Made with so hot right now yoghurt liqueur the White Christmas Cocktail is indulgent and smooth
3. SLOES, SLOES AND MORE SLOES
More is more when it comes to sloes this year and the berries have found their way into four of the brand's latest drinks offerings.
Off the booze? Try the British Apple & Sloe Pressé with Elderflower, £2 or the Sloe Berry Sling ‘mocktail’ - a sweet blend of juicy berries with all the cocktail flavours but no alcohol (£2).
On the booze? Try a sparkling Sloe Gin Fizz, £5, instead of Bucks Fizz, or a slug of Sloe Gin, £14, and tonic served over ice. Simple and delicious.
4. BEER WITH CHEESE
Another excuse for cheese! Pairing various Christmas flavours with craft beer makes for a different dining experience for festive foodies and is a brilliant way to try as many different new types of cheese as you can.
Jenny Rea, beer expert at M&S, recommends trying a bottle of British Clipper with the Caramelised Orange Cheddar Bauble, or the Battersea Rye with Blacksticks Blue.
Pairing various Christmas flavours with craft beer makes for a different dining experience for festive foodies
5. PARSNIPS = THE NEW SPROUTS
After the success of last year's Sprout Juice the pressure was on for the drinks team to find the next green goddess… step up the Parsnip In A Pear Tree Juice, which as well as having a wonderful name tastes great and contains two of your five a day. Who needs booze? It does also taste great with a dash of vodka though.
The entire range - created by M&S's team of 40+ food experts - hits stores from October 2015, giving you plenty of time to start planning your winter parties.
Grainne Allen continues: 'Shoppers come to us at Christmas to seek out the latest food trends and innovation and we hope our collection of 350 new food and drink products means there will be something for everyone for Christmas 2015!'
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