ONE OF THE TIMES PICKS FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

'…a Delia-style bible with extra party planning and more sparkle' – The Times

'A new Christmas classic' – Farah Storr

‘Divine. Such good writing, and such delicious recipes – but also so genuinely useful. This book is the dream’ – India Knight

The Christmas Companion is your indispensable guide to a cosy, relaxed and memorable Christmas – made all the more magical with a little thoughtful planning. Whether it’s just you, a few nearest and dearest, or the whole extended friends and family, this book is packed with recipes, crafts, tips and timelines to help you prepare with ease and celebrate in style.
From mapping out your festive menus to prepping make-ahead dishes and organising your hosting duties, this guide takes the stress out of the season.

Fabulous recipes for every occasion include:
· Cocktails and nibbles including Chestnut Martinis and Pistachio & Parmesan Cantucci
· Centrepiece mains like Pomegranate Glazed Turkey and Ginger & Apricot Ham
· Vegetarian showstoppers such as Beetroot & Horseradish Galette, Camembert & Cranberry Pithivier and an array of seasonal salads and sides
· Indulgent treats and puddings including Flourless Chocolate Orange Cake, Salted Caramel Pecan Pie, Gingery Christmas Cake and Candy Cane Hearts

With pages of inspiration for decorating your home, edible gift ideas, hosting checklists, and step-by-step guides for everything from advent calendars to handmade crackers, The Christmas Companion helps you plan ahead, stay organised, and savour every moment of the festive season.

This is your trusted guide to bringing the sparkle, warmth and wonder of Christmas to life – year after year.

‘Skye is a maker of magic in the kitchen, and every glorious photograph inside makes me want to don my apron and press play on the carols’ – Luke Edward Hall

Skye's unabashed love for Christmas shines through these pages like a golden star placed high on a tree. At the heart of this book lies a collection of recipes for festive feasting that I can't wait to try and know will love, for Skye is a maker of magic in the kitchen, and every glorious photograph inside makes me want to don my apron and press play on the carols. Helpful tips and tricks, checklists and menu suggestions abound alongside, but prevailing Skye's book is a sense of fun, a revelling in the sheer joy that Christmas conjures. * Luke Edward Hall *
It is DIVINE. So crazily beautiful, and such good writing, and such delicious recipes - but also so genuinely USEFUL. This book is the dream * India Knight *
A new Christmas classic * Farrah Storr *
Skye McAlpine has a flair for entertaining and her latest book puts her in her happy place: making the magic happen around the Christmas table. Think of it as a Delia-style bible with extra party planning and more sparkle. She covers all the bases with ideas from cocktails and canapés right through to making the most of leftovers, with many dishes given an Italian twist. Cold turkey tonnato (a tuna sauce more traditionally paired with veal) goes straight to the top of my Boxing Day list. * Tony Turnbull, The Times *
Queen of hosting Skye McAlpine has written a Christmas cookbook and we want everything * Stylist magazine *

Skye McAlpine is a cookery writer who believes that food tastes best when shared with others. She is the author of three other books, A Table in Venice, A Table for Friends and A Table Full of Love, writes a monthly column for The Sunday Times and has contributed to publications from around the world, including vogue.com, Vanity Fair, Corriere della Sera and Conde Naste Traveller. In 2021 she launched her own created range of homeware, Skye McAlpine TAVOLA. Skye divides her time between London and Venice with her husband, Anthony, and her two sons, Aeneas and Achille.

@skyemcalpine