One of the more curious aspects of Christmas is how we insist on serving certain foods that – while traditional – many, many people dislike really quite intensely. Brussels sprouts? Check. Stilton in a jar? Check. Lumpy bread sauce? Check. It’s just what happens.
But what if, this year, you could persuade your mum to sack off the Christmas pudding that is a) impossible to light and b) no one likes anyway, especially once some questionable brandy butter enters the picture – for something actually yum? Do the right thing and pick up one of these...
1. Graze Champagne Pudding, £8
Based on the traditional Christmas pudding, this is an altogether lighter and fruitier affair. Plump fruits are doused in everyone’s favourite fizz – Marc de Champagne – and the whole pudding is topped off with Belgian white chocolate sauce and some pretty freeze dried raspberry bits to finish.
2. Paul’s Bûche Raspberry Nougat, £29.95
Feeling more continental? No one can fail to be impressed with artisanal French bakers Paul and their typically chic range of Bûches de Nöel. We like the sound of the Bûche Raspberry Nougat in which layers of coconut dacquoise, nougat bavaroise and raspberry mousse are encased in raspberry sponge.
If that wasn’t enough, it’s then studded with choc chips and the result is enough to make Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry throw in the towel.
3. Waitrose Chocolate, Almond and Salted Caramel Sparkle Bar, £12.99
This almost needs no description, no sales patter, nothing. It’s a dark chocolate mousse with almonds and – joy of joys – salted caramel. And there’s 700g worth. You can thank us later.
4. Iceland Luxury Croquembouche Patisserie Kit, £7.99
Frozen food fans rejoice, for this towering profiterole spectacle is everything you need for a Christmas dessert based centrepiece. We can’t actually believe how much of a bargain this is, and who doesn’t like profiteroles? Especially when they’re covered in tiny gold and silver stars. Pour over the choc and caramel sauces and you’re good to go.
5. Brew Café Gingerbread House, £49.95
Do you live in south-west London and have a hankering for a giant gingerbread house? Then you’re in luck. Antipodean mini-chain Brew are doing a bespoke Gingerbread House for all your alternative Christmas pudding needs. Pick one up from their Battersea, Wandsworth, Putney, Wimbledon or Chiswick stores and take home to your mum.
6. Aldi Specially Selected Salted Caramel Bombe, £1.99
We’re suckers for any kind of melting middle salted caramel puddings, so these are just the ticket. Warm it up and have with lots of cold clotted cream for pure indulgence. Also, if everyone else is insisting on having Christmas pudding, you can get one of these in just for you – or share at a push.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.