Dessert ideas

[didireallysaythat]

Just that - I'm not sure what I'm cooking over Christmas but on one day I'll probably do a roast with veg but reading posts here I've realised that some people do pudding too.

So I thought I'd join in. But what ?

Not Christmas pudding (only i like it), not a chocolate dessert (noone likes those), there's only 4 of us so not trifle, and noone likes meringue based things.

The only "pudding" I regularly make is sponge with jam and coconut, with custard if course. But that doesn't feel particularly special.

I've never made sticky toffee pudding - is it easy ?

Think about what you all like and how much you're capable of eating. Our family doesn't eat massive amounts so I always just get icecream and soft fruit...but we're in Australia !

A nice cheescake might be good too!

Good point cheapsausages - there's usually icecream in the freezer so maybe I'm over thinking this.

(I think I was suddenly terrified by the yuke log pavlova trifle brigade on there - I understand why you do 5 veg but not 5 desserts, but perhaps it's one dessert every two days ?)

I had the same issue on here one year! Couldn't understand why people had "leftovers" for days.

Why? Did they cook too much?

Turns out yes! Some people buy shit loads of food...way more than will be eaten on purpose. Then eat it for days out of the fridge.

I was brought up to have a nice meal planned for all three "main days" and nice puddings for each day plus a Christmas cake, extra nuts and pickles etc...and that's it!

I've never made three choices of dessert for Christmas Day lunch and we only eat one main meal...lunch! We never want a meal in the evening and just have chocolate and nuts.

Sticky toffee pudding is gorgeous and it looks easy enough.I am thinking of a cheesecake as our non Christmas pudding pudding, I'm torn between maki a white chocolate one or a Bailey's one

We are having Eton mess, banoffee pie or profiteroles we just haven’t decided which one yet. I’m tempted to have all three, two of which I would be making myself so could do smaller sizes

Four people is definitely enough for trifle in my book! How about a different type of trifle-style pudding like a tiramisu or tropical fruit and coconut flavour cream, depending on what you all like?

If you want to keep it simple, you could just get some good quality ice creams in and bits and pieces (crushed biscuits, sauces, nice fruit, etc) to serve with it.

Bread and butter pudding! Mary Berry's is lovely!

No-one likes chocolate desserts!?

We’ll have 2 puddings for 4 adults and a toddler, but then we are 4 greedy adults. I think 4 is definitely enough people for a trifle - you can always have the leftovers the next day?

What about small individual ramekin puddings - creme brûlée? Then if not everyone fancies one it’s fine you can just save it.

Poached pears are my life. Very Christmassy too.

Nigella Sticky Toffee Pudding is gorgeous and very easy

We sometimes have a massive fresh fruit salad which after all the rich food and constant snacking is just right.

I think pavlova is always a winner..so light and a not of fruit is nice

Sorry - should have said I like trifle, DH likes trifle if no alcohol but DS1-2 don't. I think pavlova us meringue based (never had it so it's possibly I've mixed it up with one of those roulade things that MIL buys and sits in the fridge for a week).

But poached pears - oh yes ! I'm off to look for a recipe with no alcohol or cinnamon/cloves. And DH and I like bread and butter pudding. DS1 says he doesn't want pudding so I don't need to find something he'll eat.

Thank you all for the ideas.

Sticky toffee pudding is very, very easy. It's basically just a cake with dates and sauce. Bbc good food website has a few recipes. Can be made well in advance which is a plus. Quite rich and sweet though. Personally I'd find it too much after a big meal.

Lemon mousse?
Creme brûlée?
Ice cream?
A tart?

I agree that sticky toffee pudding is probably too rich for after a roast. I've found a few variations in muffin form so I could make in advance and then freeze. And if I skip the sauce and serve with ice cream maybe it would be ok.

DH and I like cheesecake but not everyday for a week (my recipe feeds 8+ and won't scale smaller)

Creme brulee would be wasted on the kids (and looks too frightening to make)!

Currently favouring vanilla ice cream and a wafer curl. It's not like we need a pudding after the main course !

For me it would be pannacotta, with some berry compote. Its my favourite dessert. :)

I was going to suggest panna cotta too! My fave is coconut pana cotta with a mint granita. Light yet so fresh and delicious. Just the ticket after a heavy meal.

Another vote for pannacotta with fruit.

This year I CBA cooking a desert so am buying a lemon tart.

Ok. I'm a pannacotta virgin. Please can someone share a fool proof idiot proof recipe ???

I use this one - perfect every time - a bit of reading first, its right at the bottom :) . Its great with lemon curd as a side, but I tend to do a mix of blackcurrants/raspberries and blackberries in a compote
Felicity Cloake