Christmas food traditions are cosy, comforting… and occasionally a little predictable. Roast dinners, stuffing, gravy, repeat. It’s all lovely, but sometimes December calls for something you actually feel excited to eat. Something that doesn’t feel like a prelude to a nap.
So this year, Pizza Express is leaning into festive flavours without playing the same old songs. Their new Christmas menu launches on Tuesday 11th November, and it’s doing something slightly rebellious: making pizza seasonally acceptable.
The Era of Deluxe Dough Balls Begins
The headline news is the first-ever remix of their iconic Garlic Butter: the new Truffle Garlic Butter. It’s available as a 50p upgrade to your Dough Balls, and it’s rich, fragrant and a touch indulgent – exactly what December demands.
Then there’s the return of Dough Balls in Blankets (above) – wrapped in pancetta, sprinkled with Gran Milano cheese and rosemary, and served with a honey & mustard dip. They’re also now 50% larger, because portion control is not a festive concept.
New this year are Three Cheese & Truffle Dough Balls: warm, gooey and essentially the love child of a cheese fondue and a share plate. If you were ever going to order Dough Balls as your main personality for the evening, this is the moment.
Yes, There’s a Festive Pizza
For those who believe pizza belongs at every time of year (correct), the new Cola-Glazed Ham Hock Romana goes full seasonal comfort: béchamel base, mozzarella, goat’s cheese, apricot chutney, crispy pancetta and parsley. It’s festive, but not novelty, and crucially it tastes like a treat, not a dare.
Other newcomers include:
Prawn Thermidor Romana – rich, creamy, full of flavour
Mushroom & Truffle Romana – cosy, earthy, and deeply savoury
Cracking Christmas Brownie – served warm, with vanilla gelato
Baileys Affogato – gelato meets espresso with a festive twist
The Return of Snowball Dough Ball Day
On Sunday 16th November, their beloved Snowball Dough Balls (sweet, cinnamon-dusted and very hard to share) will be just £1, with 100% of proceeds going to Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity.
Cocktails, Too
The drinks list goes festive as well, with Pomegranate Mimosas, Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis, Baileys Lattes and more. Plus, two cocktails for £12 makes for a very easy December night out.
This is Christmas for people who love flavour more than formality. Pizza instead of yet another roast dinner? Honestly, it’s starting to make perfect sense.
The Pizza Express Christmas Menu launches nationwide tomorrow (Tuesday 11th November).
More details here: https://www.pizzaexpress.com/menu