Sunshine, Good Food & a Smooth End to the Year 🎅

December can get frantic, but a little planning now — payroll cycles, IRD dates, supplier payments and tidy-ups — means you can step away with peace of mind and enjoy a proper break.

And what better way to celebrate the season than with fantastic Kiwi Christmas food? Below we’ve collected five of the best New Zealand-style Christmas recipes, perfect for BBQs, long lunches, potlucks, and Boxing Day leftovers.

Set the table, pour something cold, and enjoy.

✨ GCOL’s Top 5 NZ Christmas Recipes✨

🍖 1. Honey–Mustard & Pineapple Glazed Ham

🎀 Ingredients:

• 1 whole or half ham on the bone
• Whole cloves (optional)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• Optional: pineapple rings and glacé cherries

📝 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160°C.
2. Carefully remove the ham skin, leaving the fat layer intact.
3. Score the fat in a diamond pattern and stud with cloves if using.
4. Heat brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice and mustard until smooth.
5. Brush ham generously with glaze.
6. Add pineapple rings if desired and glaze again.
7. Roast for 1–1.5 hours, basting every 20 minutes until glossy and caramelised.
8. Rest before carving.

🍓 2. Pavlova Wreath With Berries, Kiwifruit & Passionfruit

🎀 Ingredients:

• 6 egg whites
• 1½ cups caster sugar
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 2 tsp white vinegar
• 1½ cups whipped cream
• Strawberries, raspberries
• 2–3 kiwifruit, sliced
• 3–4 Tbsp passionfruit pulp

📝 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 120°C and line baking tray.
2. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks.
3. Add sugar gradually until thick and glossy.
4. Fold in cornflour and vinegar.
5. Shape into a wreath.
6. Bake for 1½ hours then cool fully in oven.
7. Top with cream and fruit.

🍗 3. Cold Roast Chicken With Cranberry, Lemon & Herb Stuffing

🎀 Ingredients:

Chicken:

• 1 whole chicken
• 100g softened butter
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 Tbsp mixed herbs
• Salt & pepper

Stuffing:

• Onion & garlic
• 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 2 Tbsp parsley
• 1 egg

Drizzle:

• Cranberry sauce
• Lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey (optional)

📝 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Mix butter, garlic, lemon zest, herbs and spread under skin.
3. Make stuffing and fill cavity loosely; tie legs.
4. Roast 1 hour 20 mins or until juices run clear.
5. Cool slightly then slice.
6. Drizzle with warmed cranberry + lemon mix.

🦐 4. BBQ Grilled Prawns With Lime, Chilli & Garlic

🎀 Ingredients:

• 500g raw prawns (peeled)
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 red chilli or chilli flakes
• Zest & juice of 1 lime
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper
• Coriander (optional)

📝 Method:

1. Mix marinade ingredients; toss prawns.
2. Marinate 10–20 minutes.
3. Grill 2–3 mins each side.
4. Serve with lime wedges.

🍰 5. NZ Christmas Summer Cake — Vanilla, Berries & Lemon Cream

🎀 Ingredients:

• 1½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 150g butter (soft)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup Greek yoghurt or sour cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup fresh berries

Lemon Cream:

• Cream, icing sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, fresh berries

📝 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 170°C; line tin.
2. Cream butter & sugar, add eggs.
3. Add yoghurt, vanilla & zest.
4. Fold in dry ingredients & berries.
5. Bake 40–45 mins, cool fully.
6. Spread lemon cream & decorate with berries.
7. 
   

🏢 Christmas Office Hours

🎅 We will be closing at 12pm on Tuesday, 23 December
✨ And reopening Monday, 12 January

📧 During this period,
👉 Tony and Gina will check emails daily for any urgent matters
🕊 Non-urgent matters will be attended to on our return

💌 A Christmas Message From GCOL

Thank you for another year of trust, collaboration, humour, spreadsheets, tax challenges, business wins and the occasional curveball.

We hope the break brings sunshine, rest, great food, and time with the people who matter most.

🎄 Have a safe, happy and restorative Christmas and New Year!

— The GCOL Chartered Accountants Team 🎅✨