What inexpensive (ish) pudding would you make for a BBQ?

[Noodge]

I'm making a pudding/dessert for a BBQ with about 50-70 people-so it'll have to be quite large or a lot of it. I am trying to think of something that most people will probably like, that isn't going to cost me the earth.

What would you make?

A large tiramisu is easy with coffee, whipped cream , sponge fingers (bought) and mascarpone, sprinkle with chocolate powder/flake.

For that many?

Something chocolatey, something fruity and something plain ish.

Or just bake 80 scones and take a couple of jars of jam, whipped cream and possibly some sliced strawberries. Just don't underestimate how much cream you'd need.

Tiramisu. You don't need to use alcohol. Pretty much foolproof.

Pineapple upside down cake. Perfect for a casual BBQ. Syrupy creamy and tart.
It’s simple to make ahead and quite rich, so maybe half a circle per person, and not everybody will want dessert.
Those large tins of pineapple slices have 12(?) in them, so 3 tins plus glacé cherries, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs and flour.
I use the Struggle Meals recipe.

Do you have a budget in mind?

Ice cream bar? Get a few different flavours, sprinkles, sweets, various sauces etc to decorate?

Pavlova would be my suggestion. Make it rectangular on baking trays. Passionfruit is my favourite but strawberries are also good. Eton Mess if you prefer.

All these people saying make a trifle or a tiramisu - how large is your trifle bowl that you can serve 50 to 70 people from it?!

This

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/4386111/recipe/dutch-apple-cake

Or this
Can also add blackberries
Serve with ice cream

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/dorset-apple-cake/amp

Eton mess!

You just need a mahoosive bowl, loads of meringue smashed up, whipped cream and cut strawberries, all mixed together with some strawberry drizzle (that bits optional)

Big banoffee pie. Loads of cream condensed caramel and bananas and a buttery biscuit base. Easy to make and no baking involved.

A few traybakes, lots of different ice creams if possible, trifles.

If you can manage the logistics then another idea would be BBQ pineapple or bananas. You could prep before hand:

• leave the bananas in skins, slice them down the middle, stuff some chocolate chips in then wrap in foil.
• tins of pineapple rings, drain, coat in cinnamon sugar.

When all the savoury Bbq food has been cooked, throw the wrapped bananas and pineapple rings on. Cook for 10-15 minutes turning half way through then let everyone unwrap there own and add squirty cream.

I would make Dorset apple cake with the free apples and serve it with cream.

A lemon no cook cheesecake

cheap and summery and no cooking

Another one for trifle but you will have to make a few

Middle-eastern desserts -

A big pot of Ashure/Rice pudding with a twist, served with a scoop of vanilla icecream

Maybe a tray of baklava or kadaif.

Why type of bowls will be available for so many?

I would go for Eton mess as the very lazy option and very summery too. With maybe some ice cream flavours as an alternative.

Everything else is going to need a few tray bakes or trifles to feed that many. Brownies are a possibility.

Maybe a few no bake cheesecakes or tinned fresh fruit salad, but they could end up costly.

School chocolate concrete. Do as a traybake. Sooo cheap and easy.

Maybe do a range of school puddings as a theme; cornflake tart, gypsy tart etc

I adore trifle but it’s a pain if you’re catering for lots of people as it has to be chilled in layers and takes up loads of room in the fridge. I’d buy in some puds to save effort, or you could have lots of “self assembly” puds like aforementioned eton mess (lots of strawberry prep). Agree with chocolatey, fruity and plain.

Big chocolate cake, chocolate torte (buy)
Berries meringue and cream (could buy cheap frozen berries as long as you avoid the ones with strawberries in, and defrost)
Apple cake (make)
Lemon tarts (buy)
cupcakes. (Buy)

Do the crumble. You don't even need to bake the whole thing altogether. Just make up the crumble mix and bake on trays in batches. When cooked break it up into tubs and store like granola or cereal. Put a big pot of fruit and sugar on the hob to stew. Have another pan with custard. Pile up the bowls, Ladle of fruit, handful of crumble mix, ladle of custard and then serve.

Eton mess. Something chocolate like a tart. A roulade.

Fruit kebabs - chopped apples, bananas, strawberries and whatever you can get cheap at the supermarket. Drizzle with lemon juice to stop them browning. If you can get your hands on a chocolate fountain serve with that, if not get some chocolate and or raspberry sauce for folk to squeeze over.

Couple of trays of rocky road - so rich people just need a wee cube.

Tray bakes - lemon cake or chocolate and have a few jugs of cream.

Turn it into a 'bring a dessert' party. :)

I don't think Eton mess is a) cheap or b) a good make ahead pudding - if you assemble it all much in advance the meringue loses its crispness

Something cakey so people can just hold it/use a napkin and don't need spoons/bowls to eat from!

Jane's pattisserie does a really good old fashioned school cake (sponge with simple icing) - i made one for about 24 people and it was so simple. Make the day before so the icing sets. The chocolate one is great too.

https://www.janespatisserie.com/2021/08/21/school-cake/