Mince Pies, Mulled Apple & a Stack of Christmas Cards

Our Blog Published on November 12, 2026

The first mince pie of the season deserves a proper sit-down. Put the kettle on, warm a couple of pies and bring that stack of Christmas cards over to the table. Write the first one while your tea’s still hot. You might find yourself reaching for a second card before you reach for a second pie.

This Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, we’re inviting you to join us for the Whistlefish Christmas Card Writing Weekend.

Set aside an hour, put on a favourite Christmas film or playlist, and make an occasion of writing to the people you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Here’s what we’d put on the table.

Warm Mince Pies with Cornish Clotted Cream

A warm mince pie with cold clotted cream is hard to beat. Give your favourite shop-bought pies a few minutes in the oven, then serve with a generous spoonful of cream.

In the mood for something a little lighter? Split a Cornish saffron bun, toast it lightly and spread it with salted butter. It’s especially good with a strong cup of tea.

If you’re writing with little ones, give them a plate of gingerbread stars and a card of their own to decorate. Grandparents tend to be very forgiving about a wonky Christmas tree drawn in felt-tip.

Image courtesy of Rodda's.

Brie & Cranberry Toasties for a Lunch Break

If the cards are coming out around lunchtime, make brie and cranberry toasties.

Spread cranberry sauce over thick slices of sourdough, add sliced brie and toast until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted.

Cut them into fingers for sharing, or keep the whole thing for yourself and write the next card after lunch.

Lyn’s Christmas Tradition: A Big Ham & a Ham Pie

In the run-up to Christmas, our founder Lyn loves to cook a big ham and make a ham pie.

A few thick slices of ham with mustard and buttered bread make an easy lunch if you’re writing cards together. Or make a proper evening of it and put a ham and leek pie in the oven while you get started.

There’s something lovely about taking a break for a slice of pie with a golden puff pastry lid, then coming back to the table to write a few more cards.

A Cornish Cheeseboard to Share

We’d make room for two Cornish cheeses on our Christmas cheeseboard.

Start with a wedge of Cornish Yarg from Lynher Dairy, with its pretty nettle rind and delicately crumbly centre. Then add Cornish Blue from The Cornish Cheese Co, a mild, creamy blue with a little sweetness.

Set them out with oatcakes, sliced pears and a spoonful of quince paste. If you’ve got some of that ham to hand, add a few slices and a jar of good chutney.

It’s an easy spread to put together if a friend’s coming over with their own stack of cards, and everyone can help themselves between envelopes.

Mulled Apple Juice to Sip While You Write

Warm cloudy apple juice gently in a saucepan with a cinnamon stick, a couple of strips of orange peel and a few cloves. Once it smells good, strain it into mugs.

It makes the kitchen smell like Christmas and gives everyone something warm to drink, including anyone too young for mulled wine.

For a later start, put the film on and make hot chocolate with a few squares of dark chocolate melted into warm milk.

Bring out the chocolate oranges if you’ve already got one tucked away for December. We’ll happily count this as an occasion.

Start with the Person You’ve Been Meaning to Write To

While the kettle boils, think of someone you’d love to hear from. Perhaps it’s a friend you keep meaning to call, or the neighbour who always takes in your parcels.

Pick their card first. One little line that could only be for them is often the one they’ll remember.

“I still laugh when I think about our very soggy seaside walk. Let’s do it again next year, preferably in the sunshine.”

If you’ve got company, pass the mince pies round and write a few cards together.

If you’ve got the table to yourself, pick a film you know by heart so you can look down long enough to finish a sentence.

Either way, that first envelope ready for the post feels rather good.