A Very NPD Christmas: Creative Inspirations from the UK Food Scene 

At ItsFood Christmas isn’t just about benchmarking the crispiest roast potatoes or tallying the vine fruit count in puddings. Instead, we’ve set out to explore the most innovative and inspiring food and drink experiences across the UK. By diving into festive menus, unique collaborations, and global flavour twists, we aim to fuel the next wave of creative concepts for new product development. 

From global flavours to bold collabs and reimagined classics, this year’s Christmas food scene has delivered an abundance of creative inspiration. At ItsFood  we’ll be taking these ideas and transforming them into the next wave of innovative NPD concepts—because the future of festive food starts here. 

Festive Global Flavours 

Christmas menus are moving beyond traditional turkey and stuffing, with global influences taking centre stage: 

Soy Roasted Brussels Sprout, Gochujang & Sesame Toastie @Pophams 

A creative twist that turns the humble Brussels sprout into a bold, flavour-packed bite with umami-rich soy and spicy gochujang, sandwiched between Pophams’ signature artisanal bread.

Turkey Raan with All the Trimmings @Dishoom 

Dishoom’s Bombay-inspired take on Christmas dinner brings slow-cooked spiced turkey leg to life, paired with vibrant chutneys and aromatic rice. A true meeting of East and West. 

Smoked Turkey KDog with Crispy Bacon Crust @Uh K Dogs n Juicy (Camden) 

A playful Korean American street food mashup featuring smoked turkey, crunchy bacon, and indulgent toppings for a festive flavour explosion. 

Turkey Christmassaman curry @Leon

Turkey curry might be a bit of a classic staple in some Christmas households, Leon have cleverly merged this creamy coconut & lemongrass Thai curry with turkey, roast spuds and carrots for a tasty festive hit. 

So, what? We don’t expect to see a Turkey Raan fighting for space in the Poultry aisle next Christmas, but we can see a Gochujang glazed Christmas Ham, Honey mustard & Miso glazed parsnips or a prawn cocktail Bao Bun in Food to Go. 

Reimagined Christmas Favourites 

Familiar festive staples are being transformed into new, exciting formats: 

Mince Pie Bun @Buns from Home & Mince Pie Börek @ Leydi 

Two great examples of twists on mince pies – at Leydi we saw a  Turkish-inspired twist that wraps mince pie flavours in delicate, flaky pastry, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savoury, and at Buns from Home we tried a delicious soft, buttery bun swirled with spiced mince pie filling, offering the essence of Christmas in every gooey bite. 

Three-Bird Dumplings @Daddy Bao 

A modern reinvention of the classic three-bird roast, packed into a soft dumpling with a punchy yuzu & brown butter dipping sauce. 

Chai Eggnog @Dishoom  

A delicious warm punchy cocktail with warming nutmeg, cinnamon & cardamom. Eggnog making a re-emergence this year and Dishoom offered up a great example 

So what? Lots of opportunities to have fun with flavours and formats, what about Mini Mince Pie Croissants to kick off Christmas morning, Turkey Feast croquette with cranberry dipping sauce for party food, or a thick, indulgent Eggnog Cream to go with your mince pies. 

It’s Chilli This Christmas 

Spice is making its way onto festive menus, offering a fiery contrast to traditional flavours: 

Santa’s Little Gobbler @Meat Liquor A festive sandwich combining fried turkey, sprout slaw, and cranberry hot sauce with red-eye mayo, packing bold, zesty heat into every bite. 

Turkey Toastie with Chilli Jam @Ole and Steen 

A Danish bakery’s take on Christmas comfort food, layering turkey with a sweet and spicy chilli jam in a toasted sandwich. 

Miso Roast Parsnips with Hot Honey and Whipped Tofu @Daddy Bao

A spicy twist on the traditional honey roast parsnips adding a layer of chilli heat. 

So what.... Lean into the nations love of spice next Christmas with a Slow cooked Ham Hock with Pineapple & habanero glaze, modernise the classic with Brie & Chilli infused cranberry tartlets, or transform the humble sprout...Roast Brussel sprouts with Smokey chilli butter.  

Sweet Memories 

Artisanal bakeries and cafés across the UK are using traditional sweet flavours as a canvas for creativity, turning it into everything from ice cream to doughnuts. Here are some of our favourites. 

Popham's & The King’s Ginger Mince Pie 

This pastry powerhouse collaborates with The King’s Ginger liqueur to elevate the humble mince pie into a boozy, buttery, and utterly indulgent treat. 

Pannetonne Gelato @Gelupo this festive flavour combines buttery panettone with a touch of Marsala wine, incorporating traditional elements like raisins, candied orange, and cedar fruit. 

S’mores Doughnut @Bread Ahead 

featuring a marshmallow-flavoured filling encased in a light, fluffy doughnut, topped with chocolate icing and graham cracker crumb 

Santa Baba Doughnut @Donutelier 

An extravagant rich fruit filled doughnut with virgin rum syrup and cherry glaze, a clever twist on a rum baba.

Ginger & Treacle Loaf Cake @Gails 

A delicious seasonal loaf cake made with treacle & muscovado sugar highlighting Brown Sugar as a flavour trend 

So what...for Christmas 2025 be inspired by these throwbacks, why not look at a Panettone masala trifle, Rum toffee glazed profiteroles or Caramelised chocolate & Brown sugar yule log