Christmas Traybake Ideas

Christmas Traybake Ideas – Sweet, Savoury & All Things Festive

The Christmas season is undeniably the time of year most synonymous with food. Whether your home is the hub of festive hosting or you simply enjoy the comfort of warming dishes during the colder months, there is one style of cooking that continues to gain popularity during December – the humble traybake. Simple, versatile, and incredibly rewarding, traybakes offer a fuss-free approach to cooking that suits both intimate gatherings and large family feasts.

In this blog, we’ll explore creative Christmas traybake ideas, covering sweet indulgences, savoury centrepieces, and lighter, healthier options for those wishing to enjoy the festive table without feeling weighed down. We’ll also look at why traybake cooking has become such a popular trend, and how using the Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray can elevate your traybake success to new heights.

Why Traybakes Are Perfect for Christmas Cooking

The festive period often arrives with a to-do list longer than Santa’s good-and-naughty roll. Cooking should be joyful—but the reality is that many of us find ourselves juggling ingredients, timings, and the pressure of feeding guests with very different tastes and dietary needs. Here’s why traybakes make this infinitely simpler:

They Reduce Stress

Cooking everything on one tray means less washing up, less faffing, and far fewer opportunities for mishaps requiring emergency gravy. As most traybakes are prepped in advance and baked hands-free, you’re able to enjoy a glass of mulled wine whilst your oven does the heavy lifting.

They’re Budget-Friendly

Traybakes make use of seasonal produce, pantry staples, and underrated cuts of meat that transform beautifully when slow-roasted. Unlike complicated multi-part dishes, traybakes thrive on simplicity.

They Feed a Crowd

Whether it’s your immediate family or half the street coming over after carolling, traybakes scale easily.

They Encourage Healthier Eating

You control the ingredients. Swap oils for low-calorie sprays, add extra vegetables, use lean meat, or reduce sugar content – the flexibility is yours.

They’re Ideal for Leftovers

Christmas leftovers are not merely unavoidable—they’re part of the tradition. A cold traybake slice is perfect with salad, in a wrap with cranberry sauce, or rewarmed under the grill.

The Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray — A Game-Changer for Traybake Lovers

Before we dive into recipe inspiration, it’s worth mentioning one tool that makes traybake cooking even better – the Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray. For anyone who has found their potatoes less crisp than expected, or their roasted vegetables edging on soggy rather than caramelised, this tray is an essential.

Its elevated mesh design allows air to circulate beneath food, ensuring an even bake and reducing the need to flip ingredients halfway through. Perfect for roasting parsnips, crisping pigs in blankets, baking pastry, or achieving flawless crunch on everything from chicken thighs to vegetable fritters, the Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray helps achieve that professional finish without extra oil or complicated methods.

Check out the Pep Crisper Baking Tray HERE!

Savoury Christmas Traybake Ideas

1. Festive Chicken, Cranberry & Stuffing Traybake

Not everyone wants a full turkey feast, so this traybake offers all the flavours of Christmas dinner without spending all afternoon basting poultry.

What goes in the tray:

• Chicken thighs (bone-in for more flavour)
  
  

• Baby roast potatoes
  
  

• Red onion
  
  

• Sausage meat stuffing balls
  
  

• Fresh rosemary
  
  

• Fresh or dried cranberries
  
  

Halfway through cooking, add dollops of cranberry sauce so it melts into a savoury-sweet glaze. Serve with greens or simply rustic bread rolls.

2. Sticky Maple Roast Gammon Traybake

Gammon is a Christmas staple: affordable, family-friendly, and delicious hot or cold. Cube a smoked gammon joint and roast with halved carrots, shallots, and thick chunks of apple.

Create a glaze of:

• Maple syrup
  
  

• Mustard
  
  

• Orange zest
  
  

• Ground cloves
  
  

Using the Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray ensures sticky ingredients caramelise rather than create steam, giving you golden edges and tender centres.

3. Herb-Baked Salmon with Lemon, Fennel & Potatoes

For those wanting something lighter and fresher among the festive feasts, salmon traybake is elegant, nutritious and simple.

Scatter the tray with:

• Fennel slices
  
  

• New potatoes
  
  

• Spinach or kale (added last 8 minutes)
  
  

• Lemon wedges
  
  

• Dill or parsley
  
  

This dish pairs beautifully with a glass of crisp white wine and minimal fuss.

4. Vegan Christmas Traybake with Maple Vegetables & Chickpea Stuffing

Plant-based dining is more common than ever at the Christmas table, and traybakes offer a glorious method to showcase colourful vegetables.

Suggested ingredients:

• Brussels sprouts, halved
  
  

• Butternut squash cubes
  
  

• Beetroot
  
  

• Red onion
  
  

• Chickpeas tossed with breadcrumbs, garlic, sage & olive oil to create a stuffing texture
  
  

Drizzle with maple, sea salt and smoked paprika for a sweet-smoky balance.

5. Pigs in Blankets Loaded Traybake

Guilty pleasure? Absolutely. Crowd-pleaser? Without question.

Layer:

• Pigs in blankets
  
  

• Crispy potatoes
  
  

• Caramelised onion
  
  

• Grated cheddar or gruyere
  
  

Serve with spiced mayo or mustard dip and watch it disappear faster than your advent calendar chocolate.

Healthy & Lighter Traybake Options

Not every festive meal needs to feel indulgent (though there’s certainly room for indulgence too!). Here are options that nourish without sacrificing festive flavour.

Mediterranean Cod & Vegetable Traybake

Tomatoes, peppers, olives & white fish create a colourful and nutrient-rich meal. Add fresh basil after baking for brightness.

Root Vegetable & Lentil Traybake

Roast parsnips, carrots and red onions before adding pre-cooked puy lentils. Drizzle with balsamic glaze for depth and serve with rocket.

Harissa Chickpeas with Cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower is having its food trend moment—and deservedly so. Combine it with chickpeas and harissa spice for a warming winter supper that packs protein and punch.

Traybake Turkey Meatballs

Lean, versatile, and freezer-friendly. Bake turkey meatballs with chopped courgettes and sweet potatoes, finishing with a drizzle of yoghurt and pomegranate seeds.

These lighter traybakes are perfect between the more indulgent days of the season, giving you balance without boring flavours.

Sweet Christmas Traybake Ideas

Winter and sugary comfort go hand in hand. Traybakes offer the perfect dessert solution: sliceable, shareable, and ideal for parties, school fairs, or Boxing Day buffets.

1. Classic Mince Pie Crumble Traybake

All the flavour of mince pies with none of the pastry faff. Press a shortbread-like base into your tray, spread with jarred or homemade mincemeat, and scatter crumble topping over the top.

For extra luxury:

• Add flaked almonds
  
  

• Drizzle with brandy icing
  
  

• Serve warm with custard
  
  

2. Chocolate Orange Brownie Traybake

A flavour pairing as festive as stockings and fairy lights.

Add zest to your batter and decorate with quartered chocolate orange segments baked into the top. The Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray helps air circulate below, reducing the risk of underbaked centres and overcooked edges.

3. Gingerbread Blondies

Chewy, spiced squares make the perfect edible gift. The aroma of ground ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg fills the kitchen like the scent of Christmas market stalls.

Add:

• White chocolate chips
  
  

• Crushed gingernut biscuits
  
  

• A drizzle of caramel
  
  

4. Clementine Drizzle Cake Traybake

Lighter and citrusy, this is a great alternative to dense fruitcakes. Topped with candied peel and a tangy glaze, it's refreshing after richer meals.

5. Healthy Banana, Cinnamon & Oat Traybake

For a breakfast-style treat, bake over-ripe bananas with oats, honey and spices. Cut into bars for Christmas morning snacking that won’t induce a sugar crash.

Tips for the Perfect Traybake

Traybakes may be simple, but small adjustments can elevate them:

• Crowding the tray causes steaming. Use a crisper tray to allow airflow.
  
  

• Cut ingredients to similar sizes to cook evenly.
  
  

• Add quick-cooking ingredients later.
  
  

• Use marinade as your friend – even 10 minutes helps.
  
  

• Finish under the grill for next-level crispness.
  
  

Serving Suggestions & Garnishes

Fresh herbs, citrus, seeds, roasted nuts, honey drizzle, pesto, cranberry relish and spiced yoghurts can transform a simple tray of roasted foods into something special.

For parties, traybakes can become:

• Wrap fillings
  
  

• Crostini toppings
  
  

• Salad bases
  
  

• Baguette stuffings
  
  

A sandwich of roast veg, cranberry sauce and stuffing? Christmas magic.

Final Thoughts — Why Traybakes Belong in Every Kitchen This Christmas

Christmas is about connection. Traybake cooking gives us time to enjoy the season, not just survive it. It encourages creativity, reduces stress, supports healthier choices and celebrates comfort food in its heartiest form.

Sweet or savoury, light or indulgent, traditional or experimental—traybakes cover every craving. With the right equipment, especially a tool like the Pep Pans Crisper Baking Tray, you’re guaranteed crispier textures, even cooking and beautiful presentation with minimal effort.

This Christmas, let traybakes take centre stage. Experiment, substitute, add your personality, mix familiar ingredients with new flavours, and let the oven reward you with dishes that smell incredible and taste even better.

Because when the plates are scraped clean, the baking tray washed, and the fairy lights flicker while the last of the chocolate orange is shared – that’s when the memories are made.

Let your festive season be filled with joy, warmth, and delicious traybakes. Happy Cooking — and Merry Christmas!