Help! Impressive pud to take to friends' dinner party...

[YoniOno]

... I only just remembered we're meant to be bringing pudding, which means going out tomorrow morning to get ingredients and making it during DS' nap [panic]

Any fail safe, idiot proof stunners?

M& S is there for a reason!

How much trouble do you want to go to?

Because if you want to SERIOUSLY push the boat out, there is "Black Forest Gateau Trifle. " But it is a serious faff.

What's the main? Tarte tartin is easy particularly if you use rolled puff pastry (even Gordon Ramsay tells you to).

Tiramisu.

It's really easy but looks impressive. If you get some savoy biscuits (ladyfingers) there's a recipe on the back.

Basically you soak the biscuits in coffee (strong instant will do) and your choice of booze (brandy/Tia Maria/Marsala)

Mix together mascarpone and cream.

Layer soaked biscuits and cream mixture a coupe of times. Top with grated chocolate or cocoa powder.

pavlova

loads of beautifully presented fruit makes it look spectacular without loads of effort

Cat litter tray cake! Google it!

It has to be a bit home-made and impressive really as I'm a SAHM and the other 3 couples think I just sit around eating bonbons all day I do but that's besides the point

Black Forest trifle? Tell me more!

Delia's fake it chocolate mousse out of her how to cheat at cooking - add a smidge of baileys if its for grown ups.

Cat litter tray WHAT now?

Ooh actually Tiramisu might work, plus I love it.

Main is fondue (Swiss couple)

I think there is no pudding nicer or easier than caffe affogato (2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a small cup, like espresso size, and strong black coffee poured over it - only requires you to buy the best ice cream and coffee you can afford.) But I'm not sure i would have the confidence to serve this up as a guest, if you see what I mean.

Lemon tart

Eton Mess. Love it.

If the main is a fondue, I'd go for something fairly light if I was you.

Either meat or cheese fondue will leave you feeling Sooooooo Full!!

Key lime pie consisting of lime juice/zest, double cream and condensed milk whipped up on a biscuit base is about zero effort but tastes so good you think it had to be harder

This - Baileys and choc cheesecake, really easy.

Lime is my favouritest thing ever, but the problem is I brought Nigella's chocolate lime cake with margarita cream to a NYE party with some of the same people, so I don't want to be a one trick pony.

Plus that time I got v pissed and showed off a lot about how amazed I was that it was really good, and ate most of it myself.

I think it's going to be Tiramisu unless Quint comes back to tell me about Black Forests.

oh everyone loves eton mess, surely?!

and the messier the better.

Dip cookies in baileys, whipped cream and crushed flake over the top and voila

If the main is a fondue no one will thank you for a heavy dessert. I promise you, you want something to cleanse the palate such a fruit or a lemon sorbet maybe with a light shortbread biscuit? Fondue is HEAVY, lovelt but heavy. Peppermint tea after is also nice.

It has to be Delia's Squidgy Chocolate Log. Looks like it took ages, and doesn't really. It's got no flour in it, so it's really light.
I can really recommend it.
recipe here

I discovered Nigella's spiced baked plums (iyswim) from How To Eat, and have never looked back. They're child's play to make and taste bloody gorgeous. I serve them chilled with the cream she recommends too - half'n'half cream and Greek yogurt, sprinkled with brown sugar.

Honestly, it is heaven. And I can't bear Nigella, so for me to endorse anything of hers is proof enough.

Paul Hollywood's chocolate pecan tart or Jamie Oliver's pine nut tart both are delish

Too rich after Fondue.

I suggest a simple puff pastry strawberry tart. Line heart shaped ovenproof dish with puff pastry, bake, add vanilla custard cream, halved strawberry, poor over thin layer of strawberry jelly, refrigerate to set.

pour not poor