Best shop-bought desserts for Christmas 2014

£9.99, from Waitrose

Best... Panettone

Lidl Favorina large panettone

We loved the buttery dough of this budget bread. It's evenly filled with dried fruits and the bread has a nice rise to it and tears apart beautifully.

£3.99, from Lidl

Best... Party pudding

Sainsbury's salted caramel wreath

Consisting of deliciously indulgent caramel mousse and choux pastry with chocolate decorations on top, this extra-special pud means business. The pastry has good texture and doesn't go soggy - a winner all-round.

£12, from Sainsbury's

Best... Stollen

Aldi Specially Selected luxury stollen

This affordable log has a thick layer of almonds running across the top and looks really impressive. It is sweet, squidgy, fruity and very moreish.

£4.99, from Aldi

Best... Christmas pudding

Lidl 18-month matured Christmas pudding

This was our stand-out favourite pudding. The flavours blend well with a hint of treacle, whole nuts and a touch of booze.

£7.99, from Lidl

Best... Special diet Christmas pudding

Sainsbury's gluten-free Christmas pudding

This gluten-free offering is a sweet, mild pudding, with a good coarse texture and fruity flavours. This has more citrus notes than other puds we tried.

£3.99, from Sainsbury's

Best... Family cake

Co-op Loved by Us snowman cake

This cute cake is small but enough to feed eight children. Thin icing covers good Madeira sponge with a cream and jam filling.

£6, from Co-op

Best... Christmas cake

Tesco Finest hand-decorated falling holly rich fruit cake

This cake is one elegant and boozy festive number. The double-tier, sticky cake comes with pretty decorations, soft icing and great chunks of fruit and nut.

£20, from Tesco

Best... Centrepiece

M&S Made Without Gluten Christmas cake

This cake was the most attractive gluten-free cake we tried. It has a sticky middle with an added hit of booze plus the elegant decoration would look beautiful on any table.

£12, from M&S

For more taste-tested products, equipment rundowns and buying advice, visit our review section, plus our Christmas kitchen contains everything you'll ever need for perfect festive feasting.