Easy pudding for 18 people

[Orangedoll]

I was lying awake last night wondering what on earth I was thinking inviting my entire extended family for a reunion next weekend. But it’s done now and so to cope with my anxiety I am going to plan the whole thing as carefully as possible.

This is where mumsnet comes in. I need inspiration for an easy pudding that can serve 18 people for a multi generational family gathering (age range 2-95, 3 young kids, some fussy adults) ideally suitable to be prepared in advance and with minimal last minute faffing.

I was considering crumble, but the vegetarian main is a crumble so that feels a bit much.

I’m also considering buying something ready made, but for some reason feel like I should be making something homemade for my family.

So what would you do, if you wanted to delight and impress, but were also hoping to make things easy for yourself?

Can you not ask people to bring a pudding! Then you'll get a selection!

Two lovely desserts from Cook! It's what they do best.

Do cheese instead!

For a similar number I have made chocolate brownies and a lemon drizzle traybake (both Mary Berry ‘easy’ recipes) plus a pavlova.
The cakes and meringue can be made the day before and just assemble the pav on the day.
It’s nice to have a selection and any leftover cake will keep for a couple of days

Sadly not really, as I’ve already got them bringing salads and sides. Or they’re coming by train!

Strawberries, ice cream, cream. Done. Or a pavlova if you want to home cook something - bit of faff to whip the whites but all done in advance and just left in the oven overnight.

If you do anything with the little supermarket meringue nests then suggest you make it DIY so people can vary the proportions…

Do you whip the cream for this Nigel? I use Nigella’s no churn lemon ice cream recipe quite a lot and this sounds like it might work similarly.

Love the sound of the crumble!

I’m probably telling you something you already know, but if you do go for ready made, make sure at least one of the options doesn’t include gelatine (melted pig bits).

If you’re making the mains- give yourself a break and buy something pre-made.

your family want to see you at the reunion, not you hading backwards and forwards from the kitchen.

My favourite pudding is coffee/tea with bowls of dates, Turkish delight, individually wrapped squares of chocolate, some easy to pop in mouth fresh fruit

Sounds like a large meal to be followed by coffee and cakes. Are you perhaps overwatering. I know I do out of a terror of not providing enough but there it is.

Pav or something like a lemon meringue/lemon tart, or a tray of brownies. Not something that needs assembling at the time.

😂I’m hopefully not over catering or over watering. We are a greedy lot, and it will be spread out over several hours. Some people are staying over as well, so leftovers will be helpful.

The afternoon tea part is just to refresh people before their journeys home.

www.janespatisserie.com/2015/11/25/no-bake-baileys-cheesecake/

Someone on here recommended this ages ago - Jane's Patisserie no bake cheesecake. It's huge, and very quick to make (I just decorate with drizzled chocolate), and goes down well.

I'd do an apple pie and a treacle tart, give options for cream or ice cream, buyin some ice cream sauce and sprinkles and anyone who doesn't want the pie/tart can have an ice cream sundae.

Sounds perfect!

If there are kids, ice cream cones (waffle cones from Lidl) and a few tubs of decent ice cream always goes down well.

I'd probably make up little meringue nests with whipped cream, fruit coulis and berries and serve with good quality vanilla ice cream. Easy and delicious.

Some people are staying over as well, so leftovers will be helpful.

If your family eats cheese, so would finish it off if not used, I'd have a some cheese and crackers in reserve in case those stopping over get the munchies in the evening, to serve alongside any leftovers.

I’d keep it simple eton mess (crumbled meringue, strawberries and cream on the side) and have a couple of large tubs of ice cream and have a choice of a choice of a couple of nice ice creams available.

Thanks - I'm going to try this for a big family gathering im hosting next weekend!

Oohh - I've got vegetarians coming for a family dinner soon. Can you share your spinach and goats cheese crumble recipe?

Eton mess, the taste of summer! As you're already cooking the main course, make things easy for yourself with a pudding that is just assembled.
I'd have some ice cream and topping sauce available for the children too.

You could make cheesecake or banoffie pie as a large tray bake or order some cardboard pots and make individual ones, then have a big bowl of fruit salad and ice cream as well.

Brownies and ice cream. You can pre make rhe brownies but warm them up in the oven before serving.

Chocolate mouse, can pre make in a large decoratice bowl or make individual ones. Make a tray of biscuits to serve along with raspberries.

Go blackberries and make some sort of fool.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lemon-meringue-ice-cream-cake
Easy, bought lemon drizzle instead of Madeira cake, limoncello optional and made in advance

Is it too early for Eton Mess for breakfast? Asking for a friend...