Alternative to Christmas pudding

[pigleychez]

What does everyone have apart from Christmas pudding?

DH and I aren't keen and the kids normally have ice cream anyway. Normally a melt in the middle choc pud does us instead but fancy something different. Plus we are hosting this year too so wanted to have some options.

Trifle!

Trifle, lemon or traditional tiramisu. We don't bother with pudding; may have some mints with coffee. Offer stollen, mince pies or Christmas cake?

Trifle for Christmas Eve
Steamed syrup pudding for Christmas Day (I put all the ingredients in the mixer bowl, let it come to room temperature then mix it and put on to steam before we eat. By the time we are ready to move on to pudding, it's done)

If I was hosting, I'd do some individual puddings (I have ramekins , clear glass dishes, small brandy glasses and shot glasses)
I'd do jellies in a small glass
Creme brulee (Lakeland Limited do a gorgeous one. Heat, chill then top with sugar and grill )
Apple crumble
Banoffi Pie
White chocolate Baileys Cheesecake (baked)
Pecan and toffee cheesecake (baked)
Chocolate Brownie

All of these can be made up in advance, add the cream at serving time.
Ice cream, fruit couli

A few years ago, I made figgy pudding, was a bit of a faff but delicious. If you have time & energy, it's worth a go!

As an aside, I was just about to hit 'post' & realised I'd spelt that as faggy pudding. Which might taste less pleasant...

@ Faggy Pudding

I'll give it a miss ta, too full of dinner

Yule log?
Pavlova

Last year I did a baileys and toblerone cheesecake and it was flippen awesome!!

Not sure about this year just yet, will only be DH, me and our 2 DC so might need to scale back!

mydanishkitchen.com/2010/12/10/12-days-of-christmas-ris-a-la-mande/

Danish christmas pudding. It is lush

Seconding Yule log. Nigella has a good recipe and it does look properly impressive on the table.

Golden syrup steamed pudding? I have a recipe that you cook in the microwave and it is delicious.

I made THIS last year. I only used clementine (glace and fresh) and added dried cranberries. It cost a small fortune in the end but tasted fab.

We don't like Christmas pudding so we usually have something like cheesecake, profiteroles or panna cotta

We always have a raspberry pavlova (frozen raspberries) and sometimes a yule log. We don't bother with the yule log if DD has chosen chocolate cake for her birthday cake (boxing day).

We always have a raspberry pavlova (frozen raspberries) and sometimes a yule log. We don't bother with the yule log if DD has chosen chocolate cake for her birthday cake (boxing day).

We had pears poached in red wine last year. The Christmas pudding eaters were very jealous. It was lovely to have something light after a big lunch.

I make one of these Ice Cream Christmas Puddings every year... just made up of several different flavours with a double choc chip on the outside to make it look more like a traditonal pud. Lots of lovely ideas here...will be bookmarking!

I always make three desserts so we have a nice selection. We tend to have one during the day, one for dessert after dinner and pick at another in the evening.

Last year I made the red velvet cheesecake recipe I saw on Kirstie's homemade Christmas but it didn't go down too well... I lurve cheesecake, it's my favourite dessert ever but that one was too heavy and sickly for us. I also made the chocolate orange cream cake I'd made at Halloween that had gone down a storm, super yummy cake. We have a Yule log every year regardless.

This year it's the usual Yule log, a chocolate gingerbread cheesecake and I think I'm going to do trifle for the first time. We always had trifle for Christmas dessert as kids, I completely forgot until DH randomly brought a trifle home a couple of months ago and it triggered the memory. So think I'm going to pluck for that...

Will you be serving Christmas Pudding too, given that you have guests?
A few years ago we had a guest who has wheat and dairy intolerance. I made poached pears and rice pudding made with coconut milk, topped with bruleed brown sugar. Not only did she enjoy it, the pears and the rice went well with the pudding for those who wanted a bit of all (honestly!)

Other thoughts: sticky toffee pudding, or if you want something lighter, lemon tart. Nigella's lemon meringue ice-cream is lovely, easy and make ahead and would love that, served alone with fruit or brownies after Christmas lunch

We usually have panettone with ice cream. But I have also made cherry trifle before, too. One of my DC likes Christmas pudding, so I get a mini one for him and my MIL to share .

We have pavé, which I have just made for this year (you freeze and defrost a few hours before eating). Basically it's very rich chocolate biscuits layered with cream whipped with melted chocolate, coffee and brandy.

poolomoomon do you have a link to the chocolate orange cream cake please?

"What does everyone have apart from Christmas pudding?"

On Christmas Day - nothing. We are too full from lunch to fancy a pudding.

On Boxing Day we have Christmas pudding as we enjoy it.

Last year I made plum puddings, using a sticky toffee pudding recipe, with dried prunes instead of dates. I made a sauce by soaking prunes in Armagnac, and I used some of it with water, sugar and thickened it with cornflour.

It was really yummy.

Last year a popular local pub was doing apple and mincemeat crumble - it was delish. Haven't tried making it but would guess about a quarter or a third mincemeat.

I used to do an apple/mincemeat pie (layer of mincemeat topped with apple) but not for Chr. Day. Was always v popular.