Naman Shrestha
Adapted from ‘The X-Mas Club: A Christmas Romance of Faith, Miracles and Friendship’ by Lenora Worth, Lifetime’s ‘A Christmas Cookbook’ is a holiday romantic drama movie helmed by Mars Horodyski. The story centers on Veronica Cearley, who goes into the holiday season fresh off a break-up from her long-term boyfriend. With dozens of manuscripts to proofread and a need to rediscover her heart’s desire, she encounters The X-Mas Club, a community consisting of single festive food lovers who celebrate the occasion by cooking delicious treats and sharing meals.
The newly single woman’s fascination intensifies when she crosses paths with the club’s charming founder and photographer, Cullen Murdock. Complications arise when she begins to fall in love with him, as one of the first rules of being a part of the club is to remain single during the holiday season. However, as Veronica grows closer to Cullen during the bake-off, she considers breaking the club’s rule and letting love take over. In the film, the setting of Christmas complements the themes of new love and friendship, with the X-Mas Club’s kitchen helping Veronica give love another try.
Where Was A Christmas Cookbook Filmed?
The shooting for ‘A Christmas Cookbook’ was conducted in Ontario, specifically in Simcoe County. From what we can tell, principal photography for the Lifetime production took place in June 2025, over the course of ten days. Located in Central Canada, the province offers a vast and versatile landscape and a talented local talent, making it a prominent filming destination for different kinds of projects.
Simcoe County, Ontario
All the pivotal sequences for ‘A Christmas Cookbook’ were reportedly lensed in Simcoe County, which is situated north of the Greater Toronto Area. In particular, the production team set up camp in the city of Barrie. Located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the city’s locales were transformed into film sets as the crew members adorned its streets and businesses with Christmas decorations in the summer of 2025. The settlement of Alliston also reportedly served as a filming destination for the Christmas movie. In order to tape the indoor scenes, the filming unit supposedly took over a few actual establishments in Simcoe County. In the backdrop of exterior shots, you might be able to spot multiple local landmarks and places of interest like the MacLaren Art Centre, Sadlon Arena, the Five Points Theatre, Kempenfelt Bay, and more.
A Christmas Cookbook Cast Detail
Ashley Newbrough and Franco Lo Presti bring the wholesome narrative of ‘A Christmas Cookbook’ to life through their undeniable onscreen chemistry. Previously, the duo has worked together in ‘Unwrapping Christmas: Lily’s Destiny,’ with Ashley portraying Lily Morgan and Franco playing the role of Owen Mansfield. Out of the two, Ashley has also served as an executive producer for a couple of movies — ‘Blue Moon Ball’ and ‘Flowers and Honey.’
Ashley Newbrough as Veronica Cleary
Ashley Newbrough steps into the role of Veronica Cleary, the newly single woman who finds love in the X-Mas Club, in ‘A Christmas Cookbook.’ Widely recognized for her portrayals of Jenna Whitaker in ‘Hearts Around the Table: Jenna’s First Love’ and Lottie in ‘Operation Nutcracker,’ she also features in ‘Privileged’ as Sage Baker and ‘Mistresses’ as Kyra. Her other notable film and TV credits include ‘A Dickens of a Christmas,’ ‘A Bestselling Kind of Love,’ ‘Love on the Right Course,’ ‘Saving Christmas Spirit,’ ‘Betch,’ and ‘The Love Club.’
Franco Lo Presti as Cullen Murdock
In the Lifetime production, Franco Lo Presti essays the character of Cullen Murdock, the founder of the X-Mas Club and Veronica’s love interest. Hailing from Scarborough, Toronto, Franco is a talented actor who has showcased his acting prowess by taking on different kinds of roles. You can spot him in ‘From the Vine’ as Gio, ‘Christmas Catch’ as Carson, ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ as Nick of Time, and ‘Bad Blood’ as Luca Cosoleto.’ In addition, he also features in ‘Heated Rivalry,’ ‘Crossroad Springs,’ ‘Chucky,’ ‘Workin’ Moms,’ and ‘Murdoch Mysteries.’
The two leads are accompanied by a bunch of other talented actors who play supporting yet important roles in the Christmas movie, including Erica Deutschman as Josie, Zoe Doyle as Marian, Patrice Goodman as Elise, Anna Hopkins as Carrie, Sherry Miller as Tammy Cleary, Paloma Nuñez as Dana, and Kelly Penner as Theo. In addition, while Sharjil Rasool as portrays Raj, Miguel Rivas plays the role of Javier.
Read More: Christmas in the City: Filming Locations and Cast Details
