All these recipes and ideas are wonderful!

For tea time, I normally bake a fruit/christmas cake in advance and then scones when we feel like it. DH usually makes Chelsea buns at some point and MIL makes date balls, short bread and mince pies. (I also prefer the store bought mince pies but can't have them when MIL's ones are around for obvious reasons. I don't mind the Woolies ones, but will definitely try the Pick-n-Pay ones soon.)

Hil, I am going to try your cinnamon buns this year.

For dessert, DH makes delicious ice-cream and I like a very specific tiramisu pudding. (This is in fact the only tiramisu pudding I ever eat. I am always disappointed with what they serve in restaurants. Not enough oomph!)

And in January we can all share our diet ideas!

Just found this thread, you all are my personal Xmas treat, I must say!

We differ every year, but every year is good. This year I have started making cookies and freezing half the dough. Made pumpkin cookies with maple frosting, and something called "stained glass" candy with colored mini marshmallows. That last one sounds so trailer park, like you should have it with a glass of Tang while wearing your special Christmas flip-flops.

I plan to make gingerbread men but realized I have no men cookie cutters (or women for that matter), so perhaps I will make gingerbread stars or bats, for which I do have cutters.

I learned so much on this thread, you gals have some sweets I have never heard of! Off to look at the toffee pudding, not sure what it is but it sounds dreamy.

Every year my aunt makes frosted sugar cookies and those jam-drop butter cookies that have a million different names Dainty powdered sugar drop cookies, fudge and peppermint bark are always present. Some distant relative usually brings obligatory store-bought cheesecake. Too bad everyone at the reunion is stuffed with X-Mas Eve dinner to have much dessert haha!

Last year I (after plenty of 'kitchen testing') made a bunch of Peppermint Brownie Mix-in-a-Jar for Christmas gifts and was really well received, so probably doing that again!

I make a mean strudel, and might do that for Christmas; I'm thinking a cheese and walnut filling, or maybe pear--or both.

And someday....bûche de Noël. It will happen!

I just had to throw in a traditional desert from my DH's side because I had never heard of it before. Grape nut pie. It's basically Pecan Pie but replacing the pecans with Grapenuts. I ignore most holiday deserts as much as possible because I am gluten intolerant but some of your traditions are making my mouth water!!