Festive dessert recipes
The traditional Christmas pudding, desserts that make the most of festive ingredients, lighter options and a few non-traditional options for those who like something a little different.
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Boozy chocolate bombes
By
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
Showstopping individual coffee sponges with hidden mousse, and a Baileys and white chocolate topping - stunning!
3
ratings
For The Keen Cook
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Cranberry & orange meringue pie
By
- Ready in 1 hr 40 mins
The creamy, citrus filling in this pie contrasts wonderfully with the sweet, fluffy meringue - a sure-fire showstopper
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Choc-cherry fudge torte with cherry sorbet
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
This divine, squidgy chocolate cake is dairy and wheat-free, so vegans can dig in!
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate Jaffa pots
- Ready in 50 mins
Chocolate orange ganache, clementine jelly and a Madeira cake layer - what's not to love about these individual trifle-like puddings
4
ratings
Easy
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Iced chestnut ripple cheesecake
By
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
With a dark chocolate digestive base and nutty cream cheese topping, this frozen dessert has a winter twist
3
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Bûche de Noël
- Ready in 1 hr 11 mins
Paul Hollywood's sumptuous chocolate, raspberry and cream sponge falls somewhere between a Yule log and Swiss roll. Add a drop of Drambuie for a cheeky adult twist
7
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Mascarpone raspberry trifle terrine
By
- Ready in 4 hrs 30 mins
All the delicious fruit and cream flavours of a traditional trifle but set in a loaf tin so it's easy to slice and looks smart
3
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Christmas pudding trifle
- Ready in 15 mins
Use leftover Christmas pudding to rustle up this speedy and sumptuously creamy trifle with Grand Marnier-steeped oranges
2
ratings
Easy
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Malt chocolate cheesecake
- Ready in 5 hrs 55 mins
This crowd-pleasing dessert is made ahead, so all you have to do on the night is take it out of the fridge and bask in the glory
83
ratings
Easy
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Clementine & prosecco jellies
- Ready in 4 hrs 25 mins
James Martin's glamorous and refreshingly light dessert will be right at home at a festive dinner party
13
ratings
Easy
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Christmas spiced friands
- Ready in 40 mins
These light cakes may just be the perfect pudding after an enormous Christmas dinner
1
rating
Easy
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Chestnut fool
- Ready in 10 mins
An autumnal accompaniment to cakes and puds, this nutty cream goes particularly well with spiced friands
0
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate & chestnut truffle torte
By
- Ready in 6 hrs
This glamorous dessert makes the perfect festive centrepiece for a posh Christmas party
15
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Sloe gin & fruit sponge puddings with custard
By
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
MasterChef finalist Tim Kinnaird's boozy pud is one Christmas treat that's just for the adults
0
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Sticky rum-poached pineapple with coconut ice cream
- Ready in 1 hr 20 mins
Homemade ice cream, boozy fruit and sticky caramel sauce - how could your dinner companion not love you for this dessert?
1
rating
Moderately Easy
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Nutty chocolate crunch
By
- Ready in 25 mins
Turn all those nuts, biscuits and chocolate from Christmas into these delicious tiffin bites, great for gifts
11
ratings
Easy
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Pistachio & raspberry pithiviers
By
- Ready in 1 hr 25 mins
Frangipane and berry individual puff pastry parcels - for a special touch decorate with your guests' initials
0
ratings
Easy
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Granny Cook's Christmas pud
- Ready in 4 hrs 10 mins
If you prefer a lighter, fruity Christmas pudding, share Sarah Cook's family recipe, which makes three sizes of pud
4
ratings
Easy
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Butterscotch pudding & whisky sauce
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
This special pud from chef Matt Tebbutt is so good it was olive's recipe of the month - one mouthful and you'll see why
6
ratings
Easy
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Baileys banana trifles
By
- Ready in 10 mins
A quick and impressive make-ahead dessert with Baileys for grown-ups, or use extra toffee sauce for kids
15
ratings
Easy
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Peppermint hot chocolate
By
- Ready in 12 mins
Everyone's favourite quick winter treat gets a festive facelift
6
ratings
Easy
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Cointreau custard
By
- Ready in 20 mins
A boozy custard made for grown-up puds. It's divine with Christmas pudding...
1
rating
Easy
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Brandy & vanilla butter
By
- Ready in 10 mins
Not just for Christmas pud, this brandy butter goes perfectly with mince pies or spread over toasted panettone
4
ratings
Easy
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Black Forest trifle
By
- Ready in 30 mins
James Martin's indulgent trifle won't keep you in the kitchen for long but will impress guests at your next get-together
18
ratings
Easy
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Salted caramel chocolate torte
- Ready in 2 hrs
Indulge guests at your next party with this impressive dessert. A touch of salt really sets off the caramel and dark chocolate
56
ratings
Easy
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Cinnamon shortbread
- Ready in 45 mins
Shards of this simple, Christmas-spiced shortbread add a professional finish to creamy desserts
2
ratings
Easy
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Stem ginger & treacle tart
- Ready in 2 hrs 45 mins
James Martin gives the traditional treacle tart a Christmassy twist
6
ratings
Easy
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Iced nougat & raspberry terrine
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
This posh pud is much easier to prepare than it looks and can be made ahead of time
15
ratings
Easy
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Christmas stollen pudding
By
- Ready in 55 mins
Good Food reader Marion Biles shares her recipe for this creamy and luxurious pud using leftover stollen
3
ratings
Easy
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Gordon's Christmas pudding
- Ready in 5 hrs 20 mins
Gordon's version is fruity but lighter than a traditional one - plus the individual puds take less time to steam
5
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Poached pears in spiced red wine
- Ready in 50 mins
A completely fat-free pud that isn't boring. It's not just Good Food, it's genius
13
ratings
Easy
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Light & fruity Christmas pud
- Ready in 4 hrs 15 mins
An irresistibly tipsy passion fruit and Cointreau-laced pud that steams in half the time of a traditional Christmas pudding
7
ratings
Easy
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Boozy Christmas bombe
- Ready in 25 mins
If you like rum and raisin ice cream, you’ll love this brandy-soaked Christmas bombe
3
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate orange bombe Alaska with hot chocolate sauce
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
This twist on baked Alaska looks simply stunning – and the dark chocolate and orange flavours are just as good. Try it for Christmas, Hogmanay or New Year
8
ratings
For The Keen Cook
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Coffee semifreddo
- Ready in 20 mins
This elegant dessert is easy to slice straight from the freezer
39
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate & coffee truffle pots
- Ready in 20 mins
What better way to finish a meal than rich chocolate truffles and coffee? This easy dessert combines the two
10
ratings
Easy
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Pomegranate ice
- Ready in 40 mins
This is so refreshing and so simple to make, you'll want to have some in the freezer at all times
2
ratings
Easy
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Yule chocolate log
- Ready in 50 mins
Mary Cadogan’s festive chocolate log will go down a treat with everyone - it's a lighter recipe than most
25
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Pecan toffee meringue with mulled pears
- Ready in 1 hr 40 mins
A great dinner party centre piece you can make ahead
4
ratings
Easy
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Cranberry-crowned pud with white chocolate custard
- Ready in 2 hrs 5 mins
We've wound back the years with this classic steamed pud, perfect for a cold winter's day
4
ratings
Easy
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Sticky clementine cake with cheesecake cream
By
- Ready in 1 hr 50 mins
This golden, citrus-packed pud will bring a little ray of sunshine to your table this Christmas
10
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Yummy chocolate log
- Ready in 40 mins
A Christmas treat the kids will enjoy helping to make, with an unusual minty filling
18
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Zabaglione trifle slice
- Ready in 1 hr 30 mins
This dish is inspired by trifle and tiramisu, taking some of the best elements of each
13
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Festive date & pecan pudding
- Ready in 1 hr 55 mins
Not your traditional Christmas pud, but a winner with our food team. A cross between sticky toffee and Christmas pud with a lighter feel
11
ratings
Easy
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Coffee cocktails & star biscuits
By
- Ready in 35 mins
Give your after-dinner coffee an edge with indulgent cream and Kahlúa
1
rating
Easy
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Panettone pudding
By
- Ready in 45 mins
This is a posh version of bread and butter pudding, rich with cream and vanilla - great for using up any excess Christmas panettone
53
ratings
Easy
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White chocolate & ricotta cheesecake
By
- Ready in 2 hrs
This mouthwatering cheesecake is the perfect way to finish a large Sunday lunch, as it's incredibly light despite being made with chocolate
25
ratings
Easy
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Sticky orange & marsala pudding
- Ready in 1 hr 50 mins
This syrupy twist on Christmas pud takes no time to prepare and can be steamed or made in the microwave.
8
ratings
Easy
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Hazelnut & Baileys meringue cake
By
- Ready in 1 hr
A fantastic combination of sweet nutty meringue, fresh cream and tart raspberries
11
ratings
Easy
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Pine nut & honey tart
- Ready in 3 hrs 30 mins
This make-ahead tart is the ultimate finale for a festive buffet - just make sure you have enough as guests may well want seconds
7
ratings
Easy
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Glam trifle slice
- Ready in 1 hr 40 mins
Everyone's favourite layered dessert gets a smart makeover - custard, raspberry, jelly and cream in a neat terrine
5
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Ginger & Christmas pud cheesecake with ginger sauce
- Ready in 1 hr 35 mins
A set pudding is perfect for entertaining - this one has a creamy texture, dotted with fruit sponge and ginger loaf
1
rating
Easy
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Dark chocolate & cranberry roulade
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
This is a fantastic cake to serve as a dessert or at teatime over the festive season and can be made up to a day in advance
5
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Fruit & nut Christmas pudding loaf
- Ready in 3 hrs
The loaf shape makes this pud easy to slice and serve, and it takes less time to cook than a steamed one
12
ratings
Easy
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Raspberry & coconut trifle cake
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
This towering beauty will make the perfect sweet centrepiece for a buffet, or a lighter option if you’re not into Christmas pudding
4
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Poached pears in spiced tea
By
- Ready in 25 mins
This low-fat, easy and fresh-tasting pudding is perfect for feeding a crowd on a budget
4
ratings
Easy
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Christmas pear & chocolate tiramisu trifle
- Ready in 3 hrs
The perfect end to a Boxing Day banquet, John Torode's dessert combines an Italian classic with British seasonal fruit
6
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Ruby fruit jelly trifle
- Ready in 2 hrs
Christmas celebrations are not complete without a trifle and this recipe is guaranteed to be the crown jewels of the table
10
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chestnuts in Cognac & vanilla syrup
- Ready in 35 mins
Steep nuts in brandy and cinnamon liqueur and store them in jars to serve with desserts like ice cream or fruit salad
0
ratings
Easy
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Caramel & orange mousses
- Ready in 3 hrs
This festive dessert makes the perfect end to a buffet party, and it can be made ahead too
5
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Pears in port with meringue cream
- Ready in 2 hrs
This festive make-ahead pudding is a great way to use up leftover port (or red wine)
1
rating
Easy
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Christmas pudding ice cream
By
- Ready in 12 hrs
Impress your guests with this showstopping Christmas dessert, which can be made up to one month ahead
14
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Tia Maria cheesecake
- Ready in 1 hr 5 mins
Perfect for a special occasion, this American style dessert really has the wow-factor
65
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate & clementine log
By
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
This fudgy, fruity alternative to a classic Christmas pudding can be prepared on Christmas Eve to save time on the big day
6
ratings
Easy
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Coconut, raspberry & lime meringue slice
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
Making one large meringue is much less fiddly than doing individual ones, and you can prepare all the elements ahead
17
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Mum's Christmas pudding
By
- Ready in 3 hrs 40 mins
Good Food reader Christine Ford shares her late mum's Christmas pudding recipe - the ideal last-minute option as it doesn't need to mature to taste really good
2
ratings
Easy
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Ginger treacle sponge
By
- Ready in 2 hrs 15 mins
We know how you love hot treacle sponge and sticky ginger cake, so this gorgeous pud is sure to become a favourite
3
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Black Forest cheesecake
- Ready in 30 mins
This make-ahead cherry pudding with cookie base and chocolate collar is a fantastic final flourish to a meal
8
ratings
Easy
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Christmas mess
- Ready in 15 mins
Take the classic summer Eton mess combo of cream and meringue and give it a festive twist with frozen mixed berries, cinnamon and blackcurrant liqueur
2
ratings
Easy
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