How to Feed a Large Crowd and Not Have Clogs
In our eagerness to please at Christmas we often make far too much food and either end up eating every variation of turkey and vegetables imaginable for the following days or it ends up in the bin.
Food waste is a huge problem throughout the year and according to a report by the charity Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) UK households waste 6.6 million tonnes of food per year. Christmas is a particularly wasteful time of year with some estimates suggesting we waste as much as two million turkeys and five million Christmas puddings. We're all wising up to the environmental impact of food waste so it's time to do your bit and start calculating your Christmas food requirements to avoid waste, it'll save you money too.
Christmas meals are unusual in their size, most of us rarely cook for large groups and it makes it tricky to work out how much food to prepare. So, if you're confused about how much food you'll need for your crowd, this guide should give you some answers.
What size turkey do I need?
To feed eight people, you will need a turkey weighing a minimum of 3.5kg to satisfy your dinner guests.
Check out our turkey taste test for a range of delicious turkeys that will feed a variety of guests, from smaller crowns for four people to whole turkeys for up to twelve people.
What size roast joint?
Decided not to feed your guests turkey this year? If the joint is off the bone, allow 250g per serving – so 2kg for eight people.
Allow 350g – 400g per serving for roasts on the bone – around 3kg for eight.
What about roasties?
No Christmas dinner would be complete without roasties. Make 250g per person – you'll need 2kg for eight people.
GHI TIP: Are you catering for children, too? For five to ten-years-olds, allow roughly two-thirds of what an adult would eat.
How much is enough stuffing?
If you're buying stuffing, we recommend at least 100g per person, so to feed eight people you'll need around 800g. Or, if you're making it get inspired with these recipes.
I don't want to be left with sprouts! How many should I prepare?
Whether you love them or loathe them, we recommend making 80g per person, that's 650g for eight people.
If you end up with leftovers, try using them in this recipe from our cookery experts at Good Housekeeping.
Enough carrots and other roast vegetables?
80g-100g is about right for any serving of vegetables, so you'll need roughly 800g for eight people.
Will one pot of cranberry sauce be enough?
As a rule of thumb, we recommend a jar of cranberry sauce weighing at least 200g for eight people.
Alternatively, try making your own cranberry sauce using one of these tasty recipes.
How much gravy do you need?
With gravy, make a minimum of 125ml per person – that's one litre for eight people. But, if your family are real gravy fans, prepare more!
What about bread sauce?
We recommend 75ml-100ml per serving. So 800ml in total to serve eight should be plenty.
Anyone for pudding?
When it comes to Christmas pudding, we reckon a 900g pudding will be plenty to feed eight.
The same measurement applies to Christmas cake – 900g should be plenty for eight people.
Our 800g Christmas cake taste test winner is the perfect size for 6-8 people, alternatively the 2kg runner-up cake will leave you with plenty left over to enjoy with a cup of tea!
40+ Christmas cocktails to to enjoy this festive season
Northern Lights Cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Watch magic happen before your eyes as this tequila-based cocktail changes colour.
Recipe: Northern Lights Cocktail
Spiced Apple Ginger - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Also lovely as a mocktail, just leave out the vodka and make sure your ginger beer is booze-free too. The dipped crunchy rims make these extra special
Recipe: Spiced Apple Ginger
Italicus Spritz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This rosolio, or lighter Italian liqueur, is flavoured (amongst other things) with bergamot, chamomile, aromatic herbs and rose petals. It has a balance of honeyed sweetness with bitterness, a great new one to try in a spritz.
Recipe: Italicus Spritz
Knickerbocker - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Both refreshing and boozily warming!
Recipe: Knickerbocker
Winter Spiced Negroni - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A wonderful Christmas cocktail to celebrate the season with! Try our spiced twist on a negroni.
Recipe: Winter Spiced Negroni
Mulled Cider Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
One for a cosy winter night. This traditional Mulled cider cocktail recipe is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Recipe: Mulled cider
Hot buttered rum - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Try our rich and warminghot buttered rum Christmas cocktail. Butter, lemon and sugar are heated together and then finished off with a glug of rum. Delicious!
Recipe: Hot buttered rum
Negroni fizz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Mix on-trend Negroni with seasonal blood orange juice for a bitter-sweet take on the classic Buck's Fizz. Make sure everything is well chilled .
Recipe: Negroni fizz
Pear and Ginger Spritz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Bring a refreshing zing to the festive season this year! This lighter cocktail is a delicious combination of pear, ginger beer, mint, and of course, everyone's favourite, gin!
Recipe: Pear and Ginger Spritz
Easy Eggnog Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This Christmas cocktail usually takes a lot of time and effort to make – try this quick-and-easy recipe for a deliciously festive drink.
Recipe: Easy eggnog
Sloegasm cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Christmas champagne cocktails are a great way to add a little festive magic to your celebrations, and a great way to treat your guests too.
Recipe: Sloegasm cocktail
Honey and Pear Brandy Old-Fashioned - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A twist on a classic short and strong cocktail to marry with the flavours of our menu. Top up with more soda water if you prefer a longer drink.
Recipe: Honey and Pear Brandy Old-Fashioned
Churchill's Breakfast - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Famed for his early morning tipple of whisky and soda, it's well documented that Churchill liked a drink! A punchy warmer, with a cinnamon stick cigar – an homage to Winston's legacy.
Recipe: Churchill's Breakfast
Winter Sangria - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Recipe: Winter Sangria
Spiced Orange Fizz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
The mulled orange syrup is quick to make – and even easier to drink. Use any fizz you like in this seasonal delight.
Recipe: Spiced Orange Fizz
Tangerine Mule - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
With a subtle hint of winter spice, this cocktail is a lighter festive twist on the traditional Moscow Mule.
You'll need:
25ml Vodka
20ml Tangerine Juice
5ml Sugar Syrup
2 drops Chocolate Bitters
London Essence Ginger Beer
Method
Mix together in a highball glass and serve with a tangerine wedge.
Peach and Verbena Spritz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A refreshing and delicately light cocktail - the ideal Christmas morning aperitif.
You'll need:
60ml Sauvignon Blanc
2 dashes Peychauds Bitters
10ml Peach Syrup
London Essence Grapefruit & Lemon Verbena Crafted Soda
Method
Mix together in a highball glass and serve with lemon zest garnish.
Cinnamon Highball - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A lighter alternative to the traditional winter warmer that embodies the true essence and festive flavours of Christmas.
You'll need:
25ml Aged Rum
15ml Lime Juice
5ml Cinnamon Syrup
30ml Cloudy Apple Juice
London Essence Classic Tonic Water
Method:
Mix together in a highball glass and serve with a cinnamon stick.
Pink peppered grapefruit - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
With the rising popularity of pink cocktails, this serve is a sophisticated combination of fresh fruit flavour and warm pink peppercorn notes.
You'll need:
25ml Pink Gin
50ml Pink Grapefruit Juice
5ml Pink Rose Syrup
London Essence Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water
Method:
Mix together in a highball glass and serve with a grapefruit wedge garnish.
Cream & Tea - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Pour 60ml of Cream Sherry and 140ml of ice tea into a tumbler with ice. Garnish with a slice of orange.
Rebujito & Mint - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Pour 60ml of Manzanilla and 140ml of lemonade over ice. Cut a lime and squeeze into the glass. Stir before garnishing with a slice of lime and 3 mint leaves.
Apple and Ginger Cocktail Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Merry Berry Liqueur Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This simple berry liqueur only requires 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time.
Recipe: Merry Berry liqueur
Christmas Pudding Vodka Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Spiced Blackberry Gin Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
The combination of berry and cinnamon gives this gin cocktail a real taste of Christmas.
Recipe: Spiced blackberry gin
Spiced Apple Martini Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This apple and cinnamon cocktail is a festive option for Martini lovers.
Recipe: Spiced apple Martini
Orange and Basil Sparkler Cocktail Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Who doesn't love a little sparkle during the Christmas festivities? This orange and basil cocktail is a refreshing treat for your guests.
Recipe: Orange and basil sparkler cocktail
Mulled Cranberry and Raspberry Punch Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Orange Spiced Vodka Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Mulled Gin Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Gin cocktail meets mulled wine in this unique Christmas drink.
Recipe: Mulled gin
Raspberry Orange Liqueur Recipe - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This sparkling raspberry and orange drink makes a thoughtful handmade gift for liqueur lovers.
Recipe: Raspberry orange liqueur
Twinkle cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Time to party with this simple Champagne cocktail recipe that's ideal for a New Year's Eve party. Let's celebrate!
Recipe: Twinkle cocktail
Pomegranate gin fizz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A sparkling gin cocktail that's perfect for a festive party.
Recipe: Pomegranate gin fizz
Pomegranate sparklers - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A sparkling gin cocktail that's perfect for a festive party.
Recipe: Pomegranate sparklers
Apple blackberry gin - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Make sure to mature and store this gin in a cupboard or dark place – light will turn its pretty ruby colour to a muddy brown.
Recipe: Apple and blackberry gin
Peach Bellini - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Rich Hunt, previously Head Bartender at Milk & Honey, Mahiki and Hawksmoor, as well as former winner of Bartender of the Year, is here to tell us how to make the perfect Bellini...
Recipe: Peach Bellini
Sparkling clementine and thyme cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
The mix between tarty orange flavours and herby thyme makes this cocktail the perfect aperitif.
Recipe: Sparkling clementine and thyme cocktail
Recipe by Heather Christo
Cranberry Orange margaritas - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
If you love tequila and Christmas, you'll LOVE this margarita.
Recipe: Cranberry Orange margaritas
Recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Blood orange meringue pie cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A family-favourite dessert and seasonal blood oranges come together to create a festive delight!
Recipe: Blood orange meringue pie cocktail
Gin and appletiser cocktail - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Aside from the complementary apple and gin flavours, this cocktail requires sweet cranberry ice cubes.
Recipe: Gin and appletiser cocktail
Recipe by Fuss Free Flavours
Snowball - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
A Snowball is a classic Christmas cocktail and easy to make.
Recipe: Snowball
Rudolph Cranberry Fizz - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Champagne and vermouth make up this delightful cocktail, but it's actually the marshmallow reindeer we're in love with!
Recipe: Rudolph Cranberry Fizz
Recipe by U Try It
Panettone Flip - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Created by Richard Woods, Head of Spirit & Cocktail Development at Duck & Waffle, this cocktail is part of the restaurant's '12 Drinks of Christmas' menu. But you can make this one at home!
Recipe: Panettone Flip
Recipe by Duck and Waffle
Espresso Martini Liqueur - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
Try drizzling over your favourite ice cream, stir a little into hot chocolate or simply serve over ice.
Recipe: Espresso Martini Liqueur
Gingerbread Cream Liqueur - best Christmas cocktail recipes 2022
This gingerbread cream liqueur is a smooth after-dinner tipple or add a dash to hot chocolate - it's a perfect homemade Christmas gift.
Recipe: Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a675607/how-to-feed-a-crowd-at-christmas/