If you're looking for alternative Christmas dessert ideas, then check out these fabulous show stopping dessert recipes. There's sure to be something for everyone!
Although I'm a huge fan of Christmas Puddings, I'm completely aware that they aren't to everybody's liking and that includes some of the members of my family too. So as Christmas is a time for indulgence I always like to serve a choice of desserts. That way everyone is happy and that's the main thing.
So, with that in mind, I have gathered together some amazing alternatives to the traditional Christmas Pudding courtesy of some top food bloggers to share with you.
There is sure to be something for everyone in this collection now the only difficulty may lie in narrowing it down to just one or two!
Trifle
I'm kicking off this round-up with a selection of trifles to choose from. Trifle on Christmas day is a must in our household. I can not remember a Christmas without one from the jelly and blancmange based trifles of my childhood to the more sophisticated concoctions I serve today they probably remain my all time favourite dessert.
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
Recipe: Lost in Food
Recipe: Beyond mere sustenance
Meringue Desserts
Desserts made of meringue fruit and cream are also very popular with my family. They are just pure indulgence so are just perfect for a Christmas day offering. There is plenty of variety to choose from. Crisp layered meringue desserts to pavlova with its delicious chewy meringue or perhaps warm meringue contrasting with cold ice cream The choice is yours.
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
Recipe: Lost in Food
Chocolate Desserts
Then again chocolate almost goes as hand in hand with Christmas as it does at Easter. Tarts are great to make ahead. Or maybe the Christmas pudding shape Chocolate bombe (ice cream cake) will peak your fancy this year.
Recipe Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
Recipe Easy Peasy Foodie
Festive Cheesecakes
And who can resist a cheesecake, these have a lovely festive feel to the flavours and style.
Recipe: The Baking Explorer
Recipe: Caramel Tinted Life
Recipe: Enhance Your Palate
Cake for Dessert
Or maybe cake is more your thing. These cakes are so decadent they feel more like a dessert but if you can't find space after Christmas dinner you can of course serve them later with a cuppa by the fire.
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
Recipe: Goodie Godmother
Recipe: Supergolden Bakes
Recipe: Recipes From a Pantry
Recipe: Platter Talk
Light Desserts
For those who want something much lighter after the usually massive main course then these lighter fruit desserts may be just what you are looking for.
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
Recipe: Searching for Spice
ginger, cinnamon, and of course a drop of alcohol in the compote, these brandy snap baskets may evoke memories of the 1970s, but they’re sure to be well received by guests.
Recipe: The Foodie Quinn
Christmas puddings and alternative ways to serve it
Then again if it is not Christmas without Christmas pudding how about one of these.
For those who like to serve a traditional pudding, this traditional Christmas pudding recipe is the one I have been using for years. Or for something a little lighter you may like to try this Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding recipe which is a modern twist on the traditional Christmas pud!
Recipe: Recipes Made Easy
ginger, cinnamon, and of course a drop of alcohol in the compote, these brandy snap baskets may evoke memories of the 1970s, but they’re sure to be well received by guests.
Recipe: The Crazy Kitchen
Recipe: Curly's Cooking
What will you be having for dessert over the festive period?
Helen - Cooking with my kids
I'm not a huge fan of Christmas pudding so this is a great list of alternative Christmas desserts - there's loads to choose from.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
If you remember do pop back and let me know which ones you tried.
Cat | Curly’s Cooking
I like Christmas pudding but I would definitely prefer having most of these as a real treat. So much deliciousness!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
I love Christmas pud too but we always have a choice of desserts, after all, it is Christmas that and I'm a bit of a pig when it comes to dessert 😉
Denise Browning
Thank you for including my hot chocolate trifle among these amazing holiday desserts. All of them look so delicious and festive that would be hard to pick only one. Merry Christmas!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Yes indeed it is very hard to decide which to make from such a lovely selection and I certainly have my eye on your delicious trifle (I love trifle!) I have a feeling it will go down very well.
Michelle Rolfe
So many to choose from! I’ve marked a few to make over the holidays. Thanks for including our trifle and pavlova!☺️ Merry Christmas! Michelle x
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes
Some great recipes here Angie!! I particularly love the Chocolate tart with cranberries ,orange and pistachios! Will have to check a couple of these!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Ooh desn't that tart look epic! And so incredibly easy to do too 🙂
Angela x
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
Dessert is the best thing about Christmas Dinner..... I always look forward to it! There are so many choices here though..... where to start?? x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Hahha, I'm glad it's not just me Johanna who really looks forward to dessert!
Angela x
Monika Dabrowski
So many amazing dessert ideas in one place, if they were all on a table in front of me I really wouldn't know which one to try. Thank you for bringing this delicious collection to #CookBlogShare:)
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I know just what you mean Monika - they really do look very tempting 🙂
Angela x
Donna Dundas
I can't stand christmas pudding, so i'm always looking for different ideas. Pinning this, thanks! #CookBlogShare
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
You're more than welcome Donna, I hope you've seen a few ideas which work for you and your family 🙂
Angela x
Eb Gargano
What an amazing roundup - and such a great idea! I am very much a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas...it't got to be Christmas pudding for me! But I have a hard time persuading the rest of my family...who would all much prefer my chocolate tart - thanks so much for including it 🙂 I like the look of a lot of these, but I think my favourite has to be Bintu's amazing Orange Bundt Cake! Just WOW...and did someone say whisky?? 😉 Eb x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I completely agree Eb, it has to be Christmas Pudding for me too - but there's so many people which don't share our love of it so I thought it be great to pull a lot of alternatives together.... this all said you're family definitely have a point about Chocolate Tart! I mean how shiny is that ganache! Gorgeous! Hahaha, doesn't Bintu's bundt cake just look AND sound amazing!
Angela x
Lucy
Wow what an amazing roundup of Christmas desserts! I think I’ll have to give Jacqui’s christmas pudding ice cream a go, it sounds perfect. And then try the rest of them too! Thanks for including my pavlova.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Hahaha, I like your thoughts there Lucy 🙂 You're welcome, it looks so gorgeously festive with the colours of the fruit.
Angela x
Lucy Parissi
Thanks for including my cake - there's so many fantastic ideas here! Must get baking and baking some more!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
You're welcome Lucy, your cake is an absolute stunner! Haha, yes...and a bit more baking too 🙂
Angela x
Camilla Hawkins
Loving all this alternative festive inspiration! Thanks for including my recipe:-)
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I love the sound of your Danish recipe Camilla - I'm a huge fan of rice pudding
Angela x
Recipes From A Pantry
OMG the Christmas layer cake is so so stunning - I need a slice or two.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Isn't it just Mabintu - it has Christmas written all over it with those colours 🙂
Angela x
Corina Blum
Such fantastic ideas and so much to choose from! I'm really looking forward to having a look at some of these and am beginning to crave trifle which I haven't had for years! Thanks so much for including my apple carpaccio x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
There really is so many ideas isn't there! I love the idea of your Carpaccio - Christmas Dinner can be so filling so a simple byt effective fruit platter is a great idea 🙂
Angela x
Helen - family-friends-food
What a selection! YUM ?
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Yum indeed!
helen
thank you for including my cheesecake Angela. There are some fab alternatives here - my family usually insist on Christmas pud though, as long as it's got custard with it!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
You're more than welcome, your cheesecake sounds seriously amazing!
We were the same Helen, it always had to be Christmas Pudding when we were young, with custard like you say! But since getting married we've had different things for Christmas dessert cos hubby claims he doesn't like it (though he cleared off the portion of homemade Xmas pud pretty swiftly the other day!)
Angela x
REBECCA SMITH - Glutarama
Cor blimey! Where to start that's the problem, such a delicious array of festive goodies. Thankyou for featuring my salted caramel tart too xxx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I know - so much choice isn't there! You're more than welcome Rebecca your tart would be a great crowd pleaser 🙂
Angela x