Top 8 alternatives to Christmas pudding to try this festive season
Istock Christmas Pudding
Today, we have some delectable alternatives to traditional Christmas pudding. These deliciousnesses include festive season flavours or have a sense of luxury about them.
We have a family tradition of panettone and coffee while we open Christmas gifts. This year, we will have the wholesome yet light sourdough version packed with flavour from Grumpy Bakers (€20) to sustain us while peeling potatoes. A sweeter version is here in our Top 8.
Instead of an entire sweet course, individually wrapped delicious chocolate-covered figs stuffed with brandy provide an enjoyable alternative. From the Chocolate Shop, English Market, Cork (€4/pack of two).
Another alternative is the deliciously creamy and gently flavoured Cinnamon Cottage Christmas Pudding Ice Cream (€8.95/350g). Try drizzling with hot coffee, hot chocolate, warmed whiskey or brandy. Available from its store in Rochestown, Cork.
Children who don’t like traditional pudding will love The Farm Gate Tiffin (€12.50). This biscuit cake in a pudding shape comprises milk chocolate, golden syrup, biscuits, and marshmallows. It serves at least six children.
A cheese course instead of pudding becomes festive by setting wedges in a star shape on a plate with a pot of membrillo (quince paste)or a bunch of grapes in the centre with caramelised walnuts. (Place 1 tablespoon walnuts, 1 dessertspoon sugar, 1 heaped teaspoon butter in a saucepan and heat together for 5 minutes until sticky.)
As our products are so diverse, we are excluding scores this time.
Happy Christmas.
This impressive chocolate log tastes even better than it looks with its cute meringue toadstools. The light chiffon cake is soaked in espresso syrup and rolled with a filling of Swiss meringue vanilla buttercream, and coated in a delicious chocolate and almond fudge glaze. Every bite a treat, it will serve at least 12. Must be ordered for collection in Ballinspittle on 22/23 December. Ring 021-4778465 or online: divaboutiquebakery.com
55% cocoa solids chocolate is just right – not too dark for children, not too sweet for adults. With digestive and bourbon biscuits, brazil and hazelnuts, dried cranberries, port-soaked raisins, and a hint of orange and lemon zest. The small pudding is plenty for six servings. A good buy which will keep in the fridge for weeks. Click and collect or order from the café at Winthrop Arcade, Cork.
This luxury Italian yeast cake is from a Milanese recipe flavoured with coffee. Chocolate pieces are spiked throughout, along with slightly tart candied apricot for contrast. Accompany with sweet Vin Santo (from wine shops) for the real Italian experience. Delizioso! Serves 12. From a wide selection at Delitaly Marlboro Street, Cork.
A base of ginger biscuits is topped with vanilla cream mousse and finished with seasonal chocolate stars and a scattering of more crumb. A good combination of warm flavours and creamy textures. From the frozen cabinet. Serves four to six.
From the frozen cabinet, this pudding/bombe shape is attractive and goes down easily with its smooth mascarpone cheese custard cream flavoured with mango (Alphonso is a type of mango).
The surprise inside, typical of a bombe, is a refreshing, slightly tart raspberry centre of raspberry sauce and whole raspberries. A little passion fruit pulp and white chocolate shavings finish the look. Serves at least six. A refreshing way to finish a big meal.
From the frozen cabinet, this is less a bauble shape and more a cross between a chocolate biscuit cake and a bombe. A light chocolate mousse has a coating of salted caramel sauce spiked with chocolate brownies, a layer of biscuit crumbs, and white chocolate stars, all coated in a milk chocolate ganache.
This frozen dessert is useful to have as a standby on Christmas Day. It's good to have with coffee after a little post-main course rest or walk. The cake has chocolate mousse with chocolate sponge on a shortcrust pastry base, which holds it nicely and provides an interesting contrast to the cream mousse and soft sponge.
This meringue roulade is quite sweet, but dark chocolate ganache, black cherry compote, mixed berries, and cream provide balance and a good blend of flavours. It's a handy one that is best defrosted, as instructed, for four hours. Serves six.