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?

If it’s in the afternoon make and freeze loads of plain scones, defrost, warm and serve with cream and raspberry jam.
Cheap and easy.

Tell your friend that she can have Eton Mess for breakfast. It's the perfect summer breakfast, especially when served with iced coffee.

Couple of cheesecakes!

Or super duper easy option: self serve ice cream bar with toppings/cones etc

Are you comfortable with making meringue ? Pavlova is my go-to option, is popular with everyone and you can store it for weeks. I'd do a mixture of fruit on them so they are nice and colourful. Mango, kiwi, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, mixed berries.

My failsafe pudding is a no bake chocolate cheesecake which can be made and frozen in advance. Last year I made several in October and froze for Christmas. It has a bourbon biscuit base and cream cheese and cream topping with chocolate melted in. Vegetarian but not vegan.

Chocolate Cheesecake
250g bourbon biscuits, crushed
125g melted butter
300g soft cheese
200ml double cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
60g icing sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
150g melted chocolate

8” loose leaf tin.
This sticks very easily so line the tin. I put a big cross of greaseproof paper in the bottom so you can lift it out.
1.Add the crushed biscuits to the melted butter and mix.
2.Press into the base of the tin and refrigerate.

1. Beat cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon together in a bowl
2. Lightly whip the cream in another bowl then fold into the cheese mix

5.If using melted chocolate, melt and stir in moat of the chocolate. 6 Pour over the base and level. Drizzle the remaining melted chocolate over to decorate. Refrigerate. It can be frozen. Chill first and iIf possible get it out of the tin. Prepare a board covered in foil as a base. Cover in clingfilm and foil.

We did 14 for a family lunch awhile back.

I would do Eton mess that people assemble themselves with store bought meringues (don’t faff about making 18 people’s worth of fresh meringue, there’s a time and a place and this isn’t it!).

Parents can make just a bowl of strawberries for little ones. Anyone avoiding loads of sugar can just do berries and cream.

Then we had some store bakery cookies and some mini rolls/flapjack bites (from Waitrose/M&S) for kids/fussy adults laid out in big bowls if none of the above suited them.

Chef OH recommends brookies and ice cream

I'd do a fruit salad, meringues, whipped cream. I'd get local ice cream and have some waffle cones available and mini flakes. Plus a large sponge cake, in traybake form, for those who have pudding stomachs. Personally I'd go lemon drizzle but chocolate would probably be popular.

Banoffee pie - digestives/butter mix on bottom, buy the cans of caramel filling, slice bananas on top, whipped cream and then grate a bit of chocolate.

Bread and butter pudding is surprisingly quick and easy.

If doing pud for lots then pavlova is easier than you think and looks pretty impressive. Msybe do 2 for the number of people. Mary berry has a recipe for a strawberry one that is easy. I just cook meringue night before (leave in oven overnight to dry out), whip cream night before and get strawberries/raspberries etc. Don't assemble until needed, or leave deconstructed so people can take own meringue, cream, fruit as wanted.

Or cook something like an apple/ cinnamon cake and beetroot chocolate brownies the day before.

Pavlova
Chocolate brownie & ice cream

Keep it simple, bake (or buy) two large cakes different types EG chocolate and lemon drizzle then have a bowl of mixed berries and some whipped cream.
Something for everybody there.

I’m a veggie who is allergic to eggs so anything sponge based or meringue I wouldn’t be able to eat. How about apple pie or strudel? You could offer a choice of cream, custard or ice cream.

Not for vegans though.

@Orangedoll

Here is a recipe for ice cream as per previous poster's suggestion. We always do some with crushed up Oreo in for the DC

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/no-churn-ice-cream

More or less exactly what I was going to suggest. Always brownies for a crowd.

That lemon posset cheesecake sounds amazing, so thank you for sharing it. I have added to my ever expanding pudding folder 😊

Yes - whip the two together. An electric whisk or stand mixer work best. I've even made dairy free versions using plant based double cream and vegan condensed milk for someone with CMPA.