Cake/pudding for eighteen people... ready/steady/go!

[HighVoltage]

We have a big family gathering at our house on Sunday afternoon and whilst we're going to a pub for our main course they couldn't accommodate us all afternoon so pudding is at ours.

I'd love some suggestions on what to make - preferably desserts or cakes that I can make ahead, freeze well, then take out of the freezer on Sunday morning ready for 2pm that day.

Ages range from 11 months to late 80s! Any ideas on quantities would be gratefully received as well - am thinking four puddings in total (standard cake/trifle size if you know what I mean)?

[the ready/steady/go was referring to me getting baking, realised it might look a bit weird now - thinking/writing aloud ]

Panna cotta is easy, make it the night before and put it in the fridge. Cheesecake any flavour the day before.
One of my most favourite things to do (and I am a bit of a food snob) but it's so yummy. Hartleys tinned red cherry filling topped with cinnamon crumble. I have crumble mix in my freezer read to go whenever I need it and if you freeze/chill it before using it makes for a crispier topping.

A big enormous sticky toffee pudding - can make in a roasting tray - serve with vanilla icecream of bought custard

Thanks - cheesecake great idea, might do a chocolatey one. Crumble sounds good too, v popular with my three year old.

An enormous sticky toffee pudding also sounds fabulous - OH would be extremely happy.

Just have to try not to eat too much myself...

Easiest ever - jelly with summer berries.
Line a loaf tin with clingfilm ensuring the clingfilm hangs over the edges. Make up a strawberry sugar free jelly using just less than a pint of water and pour into loaf tin. Set in fridge. When set cover with a layer of summer berries or raspberries. Make a raspberry jelly but do not pour over until nearly cold because you do not want to melt the set jelly. When 2nd jelly set do another layer of berries and top with a nearly cold blackcurrant jelly. That should just about fill your loaf tin so then cover with more clingfilm. (You need it to be just about full so turns out easily.)

You can easily leave it for 48 hrs in a fridge. Take off bottom clingfilm and place plate on top then turn out. You will have a rainbow of jelly with layers of fruit. Alternatively I have done these in plastic champagne glasses. So simple!

Actually i'd just make a big cake or two - Victoria sponge / chocolate/ coffee & walnut & maybe scones & jelly & ice cream (or even bought in ice lollies /ice creams) for the kids. You'll have had your lunch & got back to yours, so in my mind it'd be more like afternoon tea - if you have a garden you can let the kids loose there with their ice lollies, which they'll probably prefer after a sit down lunch.

The temptation is to make lots of different things but then people will want some of each and you'll have to make loads!

I think I'd go for something like pavlova - lots of little ones might be easier, crumble and custard and then something chocolatey, whether cake, cheesecake, trifle. That way you get a good assortment of heavy puds and lighter things for people who are a bit full, but can't resist!

p.s please excuse the dodgy username - I changed it for the circumcision thread

Tumble makes a good point, if you make it more like afternoon tea you won't get railroaded into feeding everyone properly later if they're all still around.

banoffe pie is easy.

rice krispies cupcake things are easy

shop bought choc cake is easy

and a fruit salad

Brownies, cheesecake, giant crumble and custard.

Tiramasu, crumble with toffee sauce, banoffee pie, sticky toffee pudding, pavlovas with different toppings, key lime pie.

I wouldn't go individual, it adds so much time...faffing about

A big cake...maybe gateau-ey or go more pudding style, rhubarb and custard cake or the rhubarb crumble cake on the bbc/goodfood site is great.

Pavlova is easy too....and easy to make ahead, just thro cream and fruit at it on the day

A big creme caramel wouldn't be too hard either and is easy to do ahead.

I'd probably just put out lots of fruit (strawberries, bananas, grapes) with bowls of milk and white chocolate, raspberry sauce, crumbled meringues, whipped cream etc for a 'make your own eton mess' sort of thing. Possibly some ice cream and toppings (smashed up crunchies etc) too.

I'm usually a very enthusiastic baker but 18 is such a big number that I'd just make it as simple (and risk free!) as possible.

Thanks so much all - ForeskinHyena (hahahaha) - point about afternoon tea preventing cooking for everyone later is an excellent one (they have previous).

Mrs Tumble, lollies in the garden will indeed be popular with the wee ones - a very good point. And in fact, I can remember doing some elaborate cakes previously and getting some Ben and Jerrys in just in case - teenagers went straight for the ice cream.

If anyone has a sticky toffee pudding recipe they swear by please pass on. I think something hot, something meringuey/creamy and then ice cream/lollies with hot fudge sauce and fruit would cover everyone.

Just in case you are still open to suggestions I made this chocolate chestnut torte at Christmas. It was a huge hit and I have been asked to make it for a family gathering later in the year. The recipe says it can be made in advance, frozen and then left to defrost on the day.

I'm planning on making that, a pavlova and having a big bowl of strawberries with a jug of cream. I may pinch the lollies idea though as there will be loads of under 10's there.

This is AMAZING. www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/black_forest_trifle_62822

velvet

I love black forest gateau, thanks for recipe!
have you used it before?

Tray of brownies (yummy treat option)
Fruit salad (healthy, allergy free option if you leave bout kiwis)
If you want to make it more of an afternoon tea, add cheese scones, cheese, ham and salad.

Zing: yes, made it at Christmas. Was delicious. I made the blondies myself but you could buy ready made if you wanted to skip that step. It's pretty easy bearing in mind you also use ready made custard etc.

www.nigella.com/recipes/view/easy-sticky-toffee-pudding-180

This all in one sticky toffee pudding is really good. I prefer it to the cake and sauce ones but you could make an extra jug of toffee sauce to go on the side.

Sticky toffee pudding
Crumble - blackcurrant - bit different than apple etc
Pavlova
Cheesecake - could do baked one with fruit topping
Bread and butter pudding
Chocolate bread and butter pudding from Delia's winter collection

Key lime pie. Just made it for 14. It all went and everyone loved it.

Individual meringue cases with a big bowl of defrosted berries

I'd make a big cream tea. Who doesn't love scones, clotted cream and jam with a nice cuppa?