Ideas for pudding please

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

it's for my DDs christening do. I'm doing hot buffet of beef casserole or chilli with bits and bobs and cake after but need a pud.
Need to make in advance and not too labour intensive - suitable for adults and kids about 18 adults and 8 children.
Was thinking something sort of creamy like an eton mess but it's too summery I think.
Ideas please?

[vmcd28]

Some sort of trifle thing. Maybe think of a variation on the theme, eg a layer of summer fruits rather than loads of custard and trifle

[HazeltheMcWitch]

For that many, I'd make 2 or 3 options. But thenI have a very sweet tooth, and puddings/baking are my favourite...

Pavlova? Ok, very like your Eton Mess idea - but can be winter-ised a bit with different fruits. Plus looks a bit celebratory.

Some really indulgent brownies? Serve with raspberries and maybe cream/ice cream.

A self-saucing pudding? I'd say choc, but you could do malted, or lemon, or whatever. Mix up the dry ingredients in advance, then pour over water from boiled kettle and bake at very last minute.

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Tell me more Hazel I've never done a self saucing pud.... Have got other puds, my (lovely) Mum is going to do an apricot and almond tart.

[Cookerydoodledoo]

Hmm, apricots and almonds are fab together. To make something easy and not too time intensive, how about an eton mess style pud but use tinned apricots and crushed macaroons instead? Mix some good quality apricot jam with a little warm water on the hob and pour over for a sticky sauce. Yummy!

Or check out this maple and chocolate cheesecake recipe www.cookerydoodledoo.net/whats-for-tea-tonight-2/leftovers-previous-recipe-ideas/ scroll down to the bottom to find. I've made it a few times now for both kids and grown-ups - it takes about 10 minutes to make (leave a couple hours to set) and it is amazing!!

[bessie26]

I'd make a couple of different options too, and one of them would be this very easy cheesecake I've made it a few times & it is very yummy

[Pinner35]

Ooh nigella's easy sticky toffee pudding is fab and v easy

[wildfig]

I would do a load of brownies, cut into small chunks and then piled up in a pyramid - you could put little sparklers or candles in it to make it look celebratory, and maybe make some with cherries, or white chocolate, or pecans, etc. It's easy, doesn't need to be neat, and you wouldn't need to worry about portioning it out because it's already done, and people could have as much/little as they wanted. (As long as you don't mind chocolatey little hands on nice outfits!)

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Thanks all. The weather was so fab we switched to a BBQ so had ice cream for afters! Nigella posing looks great I'm going to try it next weekend and love the brownies idea too.