Christmas pudding alternative please

[Thewalrusandthecarpenter]

I've been asked to make a pudding (in addition to the Christmas type, fruit and cheese and biscuits) for Christmas Day - to serve 10 - I'll need to make it beforehand and transport it, and I'd like to practise it first.

I'm thinking a no bake chocolate cheesecake or possibly banoffee pie, but have never made either. I would hugely appreciate some foolproof recipes.

Have a look at the cheesecakes on the Jane's Patisserie website. Can be made a day or two in advance and you can transport in the springform tin with some cling film or foil over the top.

I would do a fruit crumble and bring some clotted cream. Old-fashioned but pretty easy. Not a fan of ultra sweet desserts and there is likely to be plenty of chocolate around for anyone who wants a sugar binge.

That's a good point (excess of chocolate) but it's at my sister's house so unlikely to be too much. However, maybe less sweet is a good call. And thank you for the Jane's Patisserie suggestion! I've seen that mentioned on here before.

I haven't made a pudding for over 10 years.

Novella has a lovely chestnut cheesecake, or in the past I have made a Ferrari rocher pavlova. This year though I am getting M&S pine cones...they are very good!!

I did a mincemeat cheesecake a few years ago - I just added some mincemeat to a standard cheesecake recipe - but there’s a good one from Nigel Slater in the Guardian:

amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/12/nigel-slater-christmas-dessert-pudding-recipes

Thank you! That's a bit different and also Christmassy.

This is my go-to and always well received for festive family occasions. But it may not be christmassy enough for your purpose? Add the cocoa powder after transport, using a christmassy stencil? Also contains alcohol.

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/irish-cream-tiramisu

Trifle is the obvious choice imho

Thank you for all these suggestions! I'm in (long term AA) recovery so I won't be using alcohol.

DS2 and I will be having this variation of Xmas pudding
https://www.janespatisserie.com/2019/11/20/rocky-road-christmas-pudding/

What about a bread & butter pudding, you could bake it till almost done, then finish it off at the venue. Make it with panettone, or add crystallised ginger, or apple and cinnamon for a festive twist. It would be a light option for those not keen on Christmas pudding. Serve with cream or ready made custard.

Or Black Forest trifle or Swedish rice pudding are other ideas.