Pudding or Cake suggestions please

[warmmfeet]

We are having a family gathering in a couple of weeks, there will be 20 of us. I've offered to make the pudding.

I'm eyeing up a gin and tonic cheesecake recipe but I'm not sold on it. Might have to make 2 desserts I think.

Can anyone recommend anything relatively easy but delicious and a bit impressive?!

Last year I made Eaton mess but it was so hot that day it all went soft and gooey like a smoothie by the time we got to eating it.

A huge trifle tweaked with your favourite crowd pleasers

Ask about fridge space and then decide. And think about food safety.

If you make two types, everyone will want some of each. If you make two or three smaller dishes of the same thing, they will be easier to handle. A cake that goes with custard and/or icecream is easy to cater for in larger numbers and easy on fridge freezer space. And some icecream cones with a bottle of syrup and some crumbled Flake on the table would be an easy alternative if it’s hot and you have the freezer space.

What about an ice cream sundae bar?

I'd make something biscoff with a selection of shop bought ice creams as back up.

My dd made a lovely key lime pie for a family gathering that was well received. It was a no bake recipe from the good food website.

A white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry coulis is a massive crowd pleaser here and really easy to make.

If lots of children there I'll make a chocolate sauce (mars bar/toblerone) as well as the coulis.

There's lots of recipes on the internet, think mine is a very old BBC food magazine one.

I'd go with at least 2 puddings, not everyone likes cream.

My DCousin made a Black Forest Trifle a few years ago and people still talk about it now.

Victoria sponge cake with these on the side -

www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/cheesecake-stuffed-strawberries/

Strawberry ice cream with them as the side as the second option.

This is simple but delicious and if you get a good tin it can look really impressive- just make sure you get really good cake release spray.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/banana-choc-bundt-cake-peanut-caramel-drizzle

I don't think you can go wrong with a massive apple crumble and ice cream as one of the options...I usually make one in a big roasting dish.

For another option I'd go for something chocolate based, maybe brownies (bbc best ever chocolate brownie recipe is a winner)

Any allergies/intolerances to cater for?

This almond/orange cake is moist, delicious and gluten free. Lovely served with a chocolate sauce.
Whole Orange Cake - rind and all! | RecipeTin Eats

I love using those pre-baked pastry cases as saves the faff and time. I use them as the base for a chocolate tart, treacle tart, pecan pie, lemon meringue pie or lemon tart.

I too would do at least 2 desserts. In the hot weather, a large fruit salad with ice cream can be delicious. My grandfather use to make the best. He'd meticulously chop everything to the same size. He'd add tropical fruit like mango, passionfruit, kiwi in addition to berries and stone fruit. Yum!

Wow fantastic ideas - thanks so much. I kind of want to try all of them so will have to do some practice runs.

Toblerone chocolate sauce! Cheesecake stuffed strawberries! Black Forest trifle.

Amazing. Thanks!

A lot of people don't like bananas or peanuts @Fourlegsandatail.

A tiramisu always goes down well as does lemon drizzle cake.

@RampantIvy how constructive and helpful! Thanks!!

Thanks everyone, in the end I did a large tiramisu and a chocolate torte with raspberry coulis, both were a hit.

Fab. It's great to get feedback especially when my suggestion was used

Can you ask your cousin for the recipe Siouxsie? Black forest trifle sounds lush!