Alternative christmas cakes/desserts?

[AuntieMaggie]

I want to make something cakey/desserty for christmas that isn't christmas puuding, christmas cake, etc... any ideas?

[LittleAbruzzenBearLovesYuleLog]

ps. I am inviting myself to Hoho's house - that pudding sounds superb! Another suggestion, which I admit I have not made yet myself is Mont Blanc

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/montblancchestnutand_79056

www.google.co.uk/search?q=mont+blanc+dessert&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i%7C0;d%7CsjCicOgMlD5tcM:

[LittleMissSnowShine]

littleabruzzen - I was at a friends for dinner a few weeks ago and they served up Mont Blanc for dessert. Had a very retro vibe...delicious!

I'm doing almond cake with orange syrup served with homemade Ben & Jerry recipe French Vanilla icecream. Nom nom nom.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9289/almond-and-orange-cake
www.recipesource.com/desserts/ice-cream/02/rec0270.html

Made both before a few times, always turn out gorgeous, really looking forward to this. I'll probably do a trifle too. Ha!

[FireOverBethlehem]

DS and I are having jaffa cake trifle - jaffa cakes instead of sponge, orange jelly, chocolate angel delight instead of custard and dark chocolate Terry's chocolate orange grated on top. 'Tis fab, good for buffets as well.

[HipHopOpotomus]

Hi HoHoHum I posted that recipe though I am no longer poncing! I was going to post that link again here - will make it this year for sure!

I have brought Heston's Xmas pudding as I love Xmas puddings and brandy cream. Forget about the turkey and bits - I am all about the puddings at this time of year. I love real proper homemade cream custard too so will squeeze some of that in..

[EdgarAllanPond]

i made a Cassata the other week- definitely decadent

i used this recipe as a guide Zoe bakes

though i used mascarpone for the frosting rather than ricotta, and made a round cake not bothering with the basket weave finish.

and blue curacao for the orange liquer!!

making pistachio marzipan was actually very easy and it rolls ok, though i should have been careful to sieve the ground pistachios and re-grind to get it really powdery before mixing.

the whole candied peel for the decoration i found in a local pay as you weigh shop.

i think one thing i would do different if i made it again is really soak the sponge in the liquer, and use more lemon/vanilla essence and lemon zest in the frosting.
also i'd probably use sweetened grand marnier for the liquer - or possibly just sweeten the curacao more. since then we've been drinking Blue Dongs and Blue GnT to use it up!


it was nonetheless, a very impressive, delicious and unusual cake.

[minderjinx]

Banofee pie or warm stollen with custard.

[DecktheHallswithTroughsofBolly]

a pudding which is always popular in our house is nougat parfait, simple recipe here or more complex involving cooked meringue

I usually put a mix of nuts, glace fruits and some brandy in mine; i use a mix of lavendar honey and sugar for the boiled syrup

[Phineyj]

I have brandy butter on a sliced banana personally. I can't stand dried fruit but I just love brandy butter!

I have made a really yummy thing before that I got out of one of the newspapers -- it's a pear tart with spicey flavours and caramel.

[JugglingMeYorkiesAndNutRoast]

Ooh, I always loved brandy butter too Phiney - but not so keen on the Pud !

That pear tart sounds bloody good too

Are you me in fact ?

[thebluenailbrush]

lemon tart with a raspberry compote

[4forkssake]

This sticky toffee cheesecake is gorgeous (if a bit sickly) & pretty easy to make & can be made in advance. Also a bit different from the usual Christmassy puds!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8571/sticky-toffee-cheesecake

[thebluenailbrush]

or a French pear and almond tart.

[thebluenailbrush]

french pear tart has advantage in that its good also for breakfast and will keep for a few days

[PrettyPirate]

Just found this recipe baileys and chocolate cheesecake, this might be the one for me! Chocolate AND baileys AND cheesecake - can't get any better

[LapinDeBois]

Bit of a hijack, but does anyone have suggestions for a pudding that I can freeze, but not to be served frozen IYSWIM? (I'm taking a pudding to MIL's for Boxing Day, but will be doing Christmas for the few days previously, so won't have time to cook at the last minute - but can't keep pudding frozen on the journey.)

[runningforme]

mmm bailey's chocolate cheesecake YUM! I detest dreid fruit in any form, so never eat mince pies or christmas pud. Instead I've made Nigella's peanut butter chocolate chip cheesecake, dutch apple cake with cream and Eaton mess. This year I think I would like to do a salted caramel cheesecake (or maybe a bailey's one now!) Or a really good oaty, nutty, spiced apple crumble with homemade custard......

[JugglingMeYorkiesAndNutRoast]

Ooh, can I come round for some of that apple crumble running

[ajb123]

We always go for a cloutie dumpling. A much lighter alternative to Christmas pudding - its steamed Scottish suet pudding - traditionally done in a cloth - but we go for a pudding basin which is much easier. And its great.

[redwellybluewelly]

Also searching for alternative puddings. This thread is great!

[thebluenailbrush]

lapin lots of cakes can be frozen , a few hours travel time and it should be defrosted. some tarts freeze well. I recently froze a lemon tart and it didn't suffer- even though the packaging said do not freeze (sainsbury's extra special).
chocolate fondants can be frozen. Or make meringue/s way ahead of time and fill on day with a creamy filling of sorts. narrow it down a bit- what sort of thing were you thinking of?

[thebluenailbrush]

www.deliaonline.com/premium-content/the-big-freeze/freezing-desserts.html

freezable desserts from Delia!

[runningforme]

jugglingmeyorkies hop on a plane and join us - we are missing family so much this year that I will have anyone just for a bit more noise and company

[TyrannosaurusBex]

I'm being unfaithful to my lovely Nigella and doing Gordon's chocolate cheesecake at the request of the DCs. Will do a Xmas pud for ILs. Needless to say, I'll have both. I'm having a 'do' on the 30th and am doing a dessert table so am taking note of all the great ideas here!

[ValerieDavis]

We just have trifle every year in my house :-)

[EdgarAllanPond]

is there a thread for pictures of cakes?

i have a couple of piccies of cakes to share be smug about