Christmas pudding and dessert alternatives

[TheTecknician]

I'm interested to know what sweet indulgent nosh folk go for if, like me they simply do not like Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, mince pies and trifle. It's true, none of this traditional tuck is to my taste, believe it or not. I'm not looking for suggested alternatives for me personally but I would like to know what else is out there (for fussy ***)! Can't be just me.

We have plain panettone. I don't think it's improved by being made into bread and butter pudding. DP will have custard with it and the kids used to have ice cream when they were younger.

Then some quality street afterwards - that's the real treat.

I'll make a biscoff cheesecake and probably buy a sticky toffee pudding for anyone that wants a heavier dessert. Hopefully nobody will want it and then I can eat it the next day 😁

We all love Christmas pudding, but eat it on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day after cheese and biscuits.
Don’t want to be too full to appreciate it properly.

After Christmas dinner we usually have something like cheesecake, mousse cake or meringue roulade.

And we do absolutely love to eat Panettone and stollen too, but mid morning or mid afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee, (and maybe a satsuma).

Scrumptuous. Best recipe is on nigella website (with raspberries) x

Is it true that Christmas pudding can be reheated by shallow-frying or is it an urban myth? It sounds disgusting either way. I know past-it fruit cake can be toasted and buttered - not sure if that applies to Christmas cake.

Well, Prue Leith says so and who am I to argue. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/recipes/fried-christmas-pudding-recipe/

or fhttps://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/brandy-butter-fried-christmas-pudding-cheese/458e50a5-f06d-41e4-a16e-e8c48e167330?nk=c0babc8cea907392c625fdc2a756676e-1734178289

or just melt butter and fry it up.

Is it true that Christmas pudding can be reheated by shallow-frying or is it an urban myth?

Yes, really good addition to a cooked breakfast on Boxing Day in my house.

I just eat cold with clotted cream, not sure about reheating

Panettone and chocolate bread and butter pudding for us. On the heavier side, but a crowd pleaser.

We have pecan pie, a roulade (black forest inspired, raspberry and white choc, pumpkin spice), and an almond pastry puff

I feel quite strongly that panettone is not a pudding. It is a potential seasonal alternative to bread for toast, eggy bread, bread and butter pudding or a bacon sandwich.

Proper stollen is lovely and moist not dry but I would have it as an afternoon or morning coffee treat not a pudding.

Always end up being gifted a panettone. DP eats it but it never gets finished so I usually do this after Christmas https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/panettone-pudding

For actual Christmas dessert we've never had traditional dessert (mince pies / Christmas pudding etc) as no-one eats it.

Over the years we've had loads of different things. Some bought in, some made.

We've had cheesecakes, roulade, profiteroles, yule log and one year we just went for plain Victoria sponge. We've been guests for several years as well and always take a dessert. I usually buy the posh M&S desserts or make a cheesecake. Although last year I did take a box of cheap Iceland Churros to my sisters (along with the posh puds) and they went before the expensive desserts!

Youngest DC has Greek yogurt and berries as they can't have sugar.

Last year I made gingerbread blondies, served with vanilla ice cream. They were a bit hit. I plan to do the same again.

We always have orange jelly with mandarins in as a second pudding. Alternatives are lemon cheesecake (really easy recipe!) Pavlova. Ice cream wwith a fruit coulis. Mostly everyone is full up so just the jelly!

Are you an adult? Have you never come across this dilemma before? Presumably you go without dessert or you have thought about something else to make (or take). What are your ideas?