Skip to Content
    Track OrderStore FinderHelp
    Menu
    • Favourites
    • My Account
    • Basket
    Free Standard Delivery Over £49
    Large Item Delivery £9.95
    Free Same-Day Click & Collect
    In as little as 2 hours
    Free & Flexible Returns
    For your peace of mind
    12 Months' Interest-Free Credit
    When you spend £300. T&Cs apply
    Feeling festive?Christmas magic, this way
    Home/Content

    A Cosy Bonfire Night In

    If you’re not bothered about the whizz-bang of bonfire night, can’t leave the pets alone, or you want to make your bonfire night more cosy and comfortable before, during and after the fireworks display, you’ll love what we have planned.

    Start off with homemade toffee apples

    Why buy them when you can have all the sticky fun of making them? Follow our toffee apple advice below and enjoy in the glow of the bonfire.

    You will need:

    • 7-8 apples
    • 400g caster sugar
    • 4 tbsp golden syrup
    • 1 tsp vinegar
    • 100ml water
    • Baking paper
    • Wooden skewers or lolly sticks

    How to make toffee apples:

    • The first step is to remove the waxy coating on the apples so that your toffee will stick. To do this, submerge the apples in a large bowl of boiling water.
    • Dry them off well, remove any stalks, and carefully push a lolly stick into the end of each apple.
    • Place the apples stick-up on a piece of baking paper, and place it near your hob to make dipping easier.
    • Pour the sugar and water into a pan on a medium heat, and cook until all of the sugar has dissolved.
    • Stir in the vinegar and golden syrup.
    • Place the sugar thermometer in the pan and let the mixture boil until it reaches 150C, or test a little bit of the mixture by dropping a little bit into a bowl of cold water. If it hardens instantly, it’s ready for the apples.
    • Taking one apple at a time, dip and twist them in the toffee until they have a nice coating all over. Let the excess drip away before placing on the baking paper to set. If the toffee starts getting too thick to dip in, heat it up again until it’s gooey.
    • If you want something extra, have a shallow bowl of sprinkles, chocolate or chopped nuts ready to dip the toffee apples in before placing them on the paper to set.

    Create a hot chocolate customisation station

    Special occasions call for indulgent treats, and outdoor events call for hot drinks – so naturally we have concluded that an extra special helping of hot chocolate is the perfect combination for bonfire night.

    If you’re having people over, it’s far easier to let them help themselves to drinks, so we recommend making up a batch of your finest hot choc and keeping it in your slow cooker so it’s always ready to warm hands and tantalise taste buds.

    Everyone likes theirs a little different, so why not clear some space for small bowls of toppings, whipped cream and flavoured syrups so that each person gets to enjoy their cup of hot chocolate just the way they like it.

    How to make hot chocolate in a slow cooker

    You will need:

    • 1 litre of milk
    • 300ml double cream or evaporated milk
    • 200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
    • 100g milk chocolate, broken into pieces
    • Whipped cream to serve
    • Toppings of your choice

    Method:

    • Cover with the lid and cook on low for 2 hours, whisking gently half way through.
    • After 2 hours, give it another whisk, and it’s ready to start serving.
    • If you’re not ready yet, allow to simmer on the low setting while stirring occasionally until you’re ready to serve.

    Once you’ve poured, dolloped and sprinkled your way to hot chocolate heaven, you have our permission to take the rest of the evening off. Get settled on the sofa with your squishiest cushions and snuggest blanket and enjoy some quality time with the family to round off the evening.


     SHOP ALL COOKWARE

    These recipes should keep the family happy while they’re standing in the cold, but once you’re all indoors again you’ll want to warm up as soon as possible – and here’s where a well thought out hallway will work wonders.

    Keep a collection of blankets and throws near the door so everyone can grab a warming layer on their way through (or nip in the door to wrap up if it’s chilly during the fireworks)

    Clear your coat hooks so everyone can lose their outer layers asap, make space for shoes to be placed, and hang a thermal curtain over your door so once you’re in you can draw it across to keep your home cosy.

    Don’t forget a doormat to protect your floors from muddy footprints. Then it’s onward to the kitchen to get warmed up from within!