Fancy puddings

[EdnaMole]

Got some “foody” friends coming for lunch on Sunday- when we go to theirs we are always fed in fine style so want to reciprocate appropriately! Mr Mole is in charge of main course and he’s pretty good so I’m sure that will be ok, I’m doing the pud but I’m lacking inspiration. Don’t want to spend hours and hours on something but happy to do a bit of faffing. Any tried and tested favourites?

If they are foody , best to focus on the quality of the ingredients rather than the fanciness of the recipe.

If all else fails, get some lovely cheese from a deli (or Waitrose!) with crackers and fruit. And some luxurious chocolates.

You can't usually go wrong with Delia, the Very Chocolatey Mousse or Baked Vanilla Cheesecake are great and don't need any last minute faffing with (deliaonline.com)

Keep it simple ..poached pears?
A really creamy vanillery rice pudding?
It really depends on if your doing a wintery comfort food menu or something lighter ..if lighter think lemony things more heavier food needs something different x

What's the main course?

Nigella' olive oil cake can be made hours before and is really good served still faintly warm with whipped cream with crushed raspberries/strawberries (can be frozen, lightly thawed) folded in, or with really good vanilla icecream and a few raspberries/strawberries on the side.
It's easy, if a bit messy, to make. Just follow instructions exactly.

www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-olive-oil-cake

Love a pavlova

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/desserts/fig-pistachio-and-cinnamon-pavlova

Ooh thank you, great ideas there. Not sure what the main course will be yet as his lordship is in charge of that and will start thinking about that on Saturday morning unlike me who is ruminating about things on Tuesday evening!!!

Another Delia fan here. Depending on what main course is, I'd reccomend the 'melting chocolate puddings'. Very well behaved fondant puds. Can be made well ahead, frozen and cooked from frozen if necessary. In my oven they need 9 mins not 12 from chilled to still get the liquid centre,

If the gluten free vegan mob aren't coming I would always choose a Tiramisu. It's just layering delicious things and refrigerating.
Set and forget is my kind of pud.

I was also going to say Delia's melty chocolate puddings. Not really a chocolate or pudding fan but I love them.

Just in case, Waitrose do a burnt Basque cheesecake.

Worse case scenario, you have 2 puds. Or better still, something for Monday…

Nigella's melt in the middle chocolate puddings (she calls them molten chocolate baby cakes (!)).

Easy, delicious and look like they were really complicated and you can make ahead barring a 12 minute bake. I like them served with creme fraîche (Waitrose french crème fraîche is my favourite) and a sieved raspberry sauce

Always love a pavlova, or there is a jsmie oliver recipe for vanilla panacotta with rhubarb and prosecco that is nice. Both prep ahead

Ooh I always go for lemon posset with a homemade shortbread. I make them in advance and they are really simple (cream, sugar and lemon) - pop a couple of raspberries on top. They look great served in a martini glass and have always gone down well with guests...

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lemon-posset-sugared-almond-shortbread

Can't vouch for the shortbread as use a different recipe

Pavlova would be good, looks amazing but really simple to make

If you have a slow cooker, then creme brulee.

Hairy Bikers Bakewell pudding, this is lovely, you could make in the morning and have at room temperature with cream.
saturdaykitchenrecipes.com/hairy-bikers-recipes/raspberry-bakewell-pudding/

James Martin's whisky and white chocolate bread and butter pudding (with croissants rather than bread!) is extremely delicious and very easy. I prefer it with amaretto to whisky, though, (although that does make it very sweet) and I think it needs really good quality vanilla white chocolate rather than chocolate chips as the nice chocolate ensures it's silky smooth rather than bitty, and it needs a bit of vanilla added!

www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/james-martins-whisky-and-white-chocolate-croissant-bread-and-butter-pudding

My teen made this at the weekend (plus the pastry) and it's really lovely

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chocolate-recipes/simple-chocolate-tart/

Eton mess is quick and simple. As is crumble.