The Best Alternatives to Traditional Christmas Pudding

The award for the most divisive festive dessert ever, probably goes to the traditional Christmas Pudding. For many, it’s their Christmas-food-nemesis, a lump to be loathed!

In fact, I don’t think a Christmas has passed when I haven’t noticed someone flinching as a Christmas pudding is plonked on the table or found myself in conversations with friends and family who declare their distaste for it.

From seasonal sponges to a particularly luscious sounding praline yule log — there is something on this list to ensure that everyone enjoys an amazing Christmas dessert.

Note: all the desserts on this list are palm-oil free.

It’s hard not to be won over by a pudding that promises anything to do with “melting chocolate”, and this Daylesford creation is no exception. This handmade organic pudding is made with a dark chocolate sponge, an oozing centre and orange zest. Delicious!

SLAB Bakery have taken the notoriously crowd pleasing sticky toffee pudding, and created an award winning gluten-free version. Even if you don’t normally avoid gluten - this would still be a lovely pudding option. It also won a Great Taste Award star in 2019 - making it certifiably delicious and giving us one more reason to try it ourselves.

Opting for a cheesecake after Christmas dinner takes us into definite pudding-free territory. This fabulous one by Mr Prempy has a very simple ingredient list, which ticks all the gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan boxes. If the reviews are anything to go by, it also passes that all important taste test! This would be a nice, light option after a hearty dinner.

Baked Alaska’s are usually dome-shaped, but this one from the Lancashire-based bakery Lathams of Broughton, caught my eye for resembling a Christmas log. With a golden syrup ice cream centre, it’s covered with almond sponge and swiss meringue. Note that this one is available for pre-order only.

This vegan gingerbread cake (complete with mini gingerbread tree on top!) would make a beautiful centrepiece to a Christmas spread. Two gingerbread sponges are sandwiched together with a vegan buttercream and a layer of biscoff spread, and the top is decorated with cranberries, cherries & crushed pistachios. Cutter & Squidge hand make all their cakes in London, and you can expect this one to arrive in a bespoke tin.

Who doesn't love a frangipane tart? This handmade one by the Famous Hedgehog Bakery has been given a very Christmassy makeover with the addition of handmade mincemeat and a “generous glug of cognac”. This would make a delicious Christmas desert, served with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Bringing a yule log to the Christmas table is a safe bet and a sure win. This one by Fortnum and Mason’s sits at the more spectacular end of the Christmas log spectrum and is made with praline ganache and topped with crushed hazelnuts. Yum!

I’m sure you’ll agree that an Espresso Martini Chocolate Torte sounds amazing, and is Christmas even Christmas without sampling the latest Heston invention from Waitrose?! The espresso martini salted caramel ganache on the top sounds like it will be that “best bit” you end up saving till the end.