If you don't like Christmas pudding, what do you have for dessert?

[buzzgirly]

I am hosting this year, first time in five years as I got very drunk the last time and my mum and mil had to finish dinner.

Nobody likes Xmas pudding, so any other suggestions for an easy dessert? I looked at Nigella's steam chocolate pudding but it seems a bit of a faff. I thought about meringues, how far in advance could I make these?

I have a Yule log.

We usually have Pavlova as a bit of a homage to our Kiwi Christmases of old, so meringue is very similar and I think if you store in airtight containers you could make a few days in advance (unlike a Pav, you really would need to make that on Xmas eve).

Profiteroles are quite easy to make and you can stuff them with brandy cream and drizzle with a chocolate brandy sauce (or no brandy and just do plain, we often do Kahlua or Baileys cream / sauce). Again you can make them quite a few days in advance and store in airtight container. I don't think they defrost quite the same, go a bit soggy.

If you prefer something hot what about a Panetone Bread and Butter pudding, I think I remember someone doing that with nutella instead of butter/jam and with brandy cream would be pretty delish.

We have pavlova. The meringue will keep well in an airtight tin, so you can do it a few days in advance. Then it's just whip the cream and pile the fruit on. Mmmmmmmmm, yum!

... and on top of the fruit crumble a flake or two for extra deliciousness!!

I made a panna cotta with a sort of Christmas-sy berry sauce thing last year (surprisingly easy) and one year made Delia's chocolate bread and butter pudding.

Pavlova's a great idea though. May do that this year. Thanks Kiwi!

Not much beats a good old trifle!

Whatever you choose I always make something I can prepare the day before as it really akes the pressure off.

Jelly and custard.

I'm the only one who like it - with lashings of brandy butter mmmm.

I make a trifle or the cheats ice-cream bomb (sponge roll sliced around the outside of a glass bowl, fill the middle with ice-cream & fruit then refreeze - turn out about half an hour before you need it and serve in slices)

I like Christmas pudding but nobody else does. I usually find a chocolate sponge pudding - they often have them next to the Christmas puds in the supermarket and I try to find a luxury version to make it a bit more special (and to relieve the guilt that I'm not making it myself!).

Chocolate steamed pud is a good option because you can have the brandy butter/ boozy cream that go with Christmas pud to accompany. Plus, guests only want a teeny amount after a huge meal.

I make Chocolate trifle and mince pies as well so I've got something to offer to guests who don't like Christmas pudding.

I think would not only be a drooling alternative but may actual beat normal Christmas pud.....
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5046/chocoholics-christmas-pudding

We are having Eton mess, its DS's favourite

Black forest gateux, chocolate Yule log for the kids

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I will go for a pavlova, it sounds easy and I can make meringues day before. Will I still be able to get fresh strawberries around Xmas?

Gettingthetshirt that sounds amazing, but it's a bit ambitious for me!

Pasch you have described dd's ideal dessert.

Re strawberries - yes you will be able to get them but they may well be insipid-tasting, imported ones. How about mango and passion fruit?
Mmmmmmmm - discussing food before breakfast is not a good idea :)

Pavlova is really easy - I top mine with passion fruit as strawberries are like bullets this time of year. Have made a trifle but I made each component from scratch as dh had memories of over sweet processed trifle- it was a success but very time consuming. Jamie Oliver does a banofee pie with apples - think he calls it toffee apple pie.

Ours isn't a Christmas Pudding house but I've got a Portmerion 'Holly and Ivy' pudding basin and jug that needs to be used.
I'm going to make a syrup sponge pudding for after dinner (but I'll put it in the steamer after dinner because we won't eat it straight after the meal)

We have a Christmas Eve trifle -assembled the day before but only put the cream on at the last minute.

For the DC last year I made chocolate cups (lined silicone cake cakes with chocolate to peel off) filled with ice cream and Milky Bar pudding (white chocolate mousse) with chocolate spoons. I've got a silicone mould for 6 spoons and tiny little moulds for jelly for them.

American style baked lemon cheesecake. I got it from an Annabel Karmel book and it takes about 10 mins to make then I bung it in the oven. I make it on Christmas Eve so it's nice and dense on the day. Served with vanilla Green & Blacks. No one here likes dried fruit but if I have someone coming that does I make some easy Christmas pudding ice-cream to go with it.

Oooooohhhhh Banoffi Pie

And I picked up a baked Baileys & White chocolate cheesecake recipe card from Waitrose. Might give that a try.

Though Banoffi and Baileys pud might be Boxing Day or New Years.

A Pavlova cheat I do is buy the EasiYo fruit pouch of Tropical and drizzle that over top of the cream and then crumble a couple of Flakes on top. EasiYo can be found at lots of places, I saw it yesterday at The Range.

I would avoid strawberries but blueberries or sliced kiwifruit is nice too but I do much prefer the Tropical fruit drizzle and chocolate combo myself!!!

feetheart mango and passion fruit sounds fab!

whatkung I never even thought of cheesecake, that's also a possibility.

70s that is brilliant - I think a chocolate spoon would be on the top of dd's christmas list!

The tropical pavlova sounds nice. I am looking for something for myself and the DCs as we don't like Christmas pudding (all the other adults do) so it needs to be alcohol free, none of us like bread pudding or trifle either (we rarely eat puddings). It also needs to be something that can be scaled down as we go away on Boxing Day and don't want leftovers. Pavlova sounds perfect.

DD and MIL make a big chocolate tiffin thing the day before.

Nigella has a Christmas trifle recipe I think that always sounds nice.

I'm very fond of lemon meringue pie - great 70's revival pud!

In BBC Good Food this month (Dec issue) there is a cranberry and orange meringue pie which sounds fabulous.