Christmas Day Dessert

[Persephoney]

I want to do something else to go with the pudding as of the 4 adults and 3 children that will be eating, only 2 kids and 2 adults eat Christmas pud.

Was considering a pavlova - but then am worried that it's all a bit last minute with the assembly etc. Am wondering if I could just maybe get away with a plain steamed sponge pudding, brandy sauce then going all out on the cheeseboard?

Its not that much of a faff if you make the meringue base in advance and then just whip the cream (can also be done in advance) and throw fruit on top - alternatively why not do a really nice fruit salad - or just something simple like sliced oranges with a few chopped dates - plus the cheeseboard, that would be very nice.

Or....a Croquembouche?

It's a bit traditional, but we always have the choice of trifle for those who don't like / can't face a Christmas pud. Its a bit of a faff but can be in the fridge the night before so you don't have the hassle on the day.

I think even people who eat Christmas pudding don't really enjoy it that much. I'm just doing warm mince pies with thick cream, and cheese, biscuits and grapes all on the table for people to help themselves too.

Pavlova isn't too much faff honestly.
Meringue done the night before.
Whip cream in the morning and leave in fridge.
Throw hastily together with red berries to adorn. Fabulous!

You could even do one of those chocolate pavs, I think Nigella has one.

We usually have a chocolate and cranberry trifle. This year my uncle is making a lime and tequila cheesecake that sounds gorgeous. The dcs always have ice cream and jelly.

Yulelog .... last year we had a Cadburys mini roll croquembouche creation

happy - I LOVE Christmas pudding - and so do my parents ........... if it wasn't so calorific I would eat it much more than once a year .

Decent trifle?
Or a frozen pavlova defrosted?
Or fancy fruit salad in syrup and vanilla icecream?

Depends what your family like - in my house we get through a Christmas pud a meal for a week or two, then save a couple for Easter and my dad's birthday in July, so any other desserts are there to be a contrast when we're stuffed with pud!

I adore christmas pudding so do my v young children, lashings of brandy sauce is a must.

Chocolate and chestnut mousse/cheesecake/frozen slices?

I agree that it would be ideal to have something frozen as fridge space is limited.

Recommend BBCgoodfood.com loads of ideas on there.

Pannettone bread and butter pudding

Chocolate Christmas log with cream then cheeseboard here

What about Delia's little ginger puddings or the sticky toffee versions. Easy to make and you can cook them in advance then just warm them under the grill before serving

Pudding? Seriously? I generally eat so many roast spuds that I'm not hungry again until January.

We had a "last minute" wheat-free guest one year and I did pears poached in red wine. They actually went surprisingly well with the pudding for those of us who were eating it. You could do a separate load in a sugar syrup for the children? Can be made the day before.

i was thinking of making panna cotta with amereno cherries. Could do in advance and keep in the fridge. Take out during main course so that it's a bit melty and gooey for pudding.

I also vote for trifle (perhaps a chocolate & cherry trifle? eg this which is fabulous) Or a pavlova. Both can be made in advance as the others have said. I wouldn't do a steamed pudding as you'll already have the Christmas pudding and they're too similar.

I like a pudding-shaped alternative so:

steamed chocolate sponge pud
or
an ice cream bombe this kind of thing

upside down cake nami-nami.blogspot.com/2005/12/baking-for-christmas-cranberry-upside.html is another I've done and it's lovely

Delia's chocolate torte, I usually make it at Christmas, it's very rich though so a little goes a long way. Very easy and quick to make.

I'm coming around to the chocolate log too. who has a foolproof recipe? Delia?

No no no you can't call it a chocolate log without thinking of a large poo. It's a Yule log.

I know, log makes me snigger!

I reckon pah to Mary Berry's Choc. Xmas roll St. Delia's is foolproof and you can make it in 2 stages (freeze in between) and finish the day before;.everyone loves it IMO and E.

DH and I have trifle on Christmas Eve and usually eat the leftovers on Christmas Day.
Not going to bother with a Christmas Pudding this year though might buy one of the mini ones for Boxing Day.(Providing DH has left me some brandy to flame it)

I bought some poncetastic chocolate spoons for the DC to use. Might try a chocolate pudding with sauce and softened ice-cream instead of trifle for them.