Chefs' clever Christmas dessert hacks

There are two types of Christmas dessert planners; you’ve either started your pudding months ago and have a go-to cake recipe ready to pull out, or you rely on shop-bought renditions (even better, a home-made pudding from a baking-mad rellie). No matter which one you are, we promise these helpful hacks will streamline your preparations.

Turn your pudding into a parfait

“Instead of having traditional warm Christmas pudding, why not create a more climate appropriate Christmas parfait? Chop a store-bought pudding and mix through ice cream, set in moulds and then serve with a mango butterscotch.” – Alastair McLeod, AlFreshCo Catering

Looking for the perfect butterscotch sauce recipe? 

Or an ice-cream cake

“I’m not the biggest fan of traditional Christmas pudding…so I like mine with a twist. Crumble a big slice of pudding, mix in with a really good vanilla ice cream, put it back in the freezer to firm up before serving with lots of Tasmanian Cherries macerated in some Brandy.” – Christopher Hogarth, Papi Chulo

Or try churning up a batch of candy-cane ice cream. 

Try a new take on trifles

“Too hot for plum pudding? Line a medium sized metal or glass mixing bowl with plastic wrap, leaving some overhanging, then line that with thin slices of panettone, Pandoro or Swiss roll. Take two or three flavours of your favourite ice cream or gelato and fill the cake lined bowl with alternate scoops until it’s totally full. Cover with the remaining cake, plastic wrap and pop a plate on top – then stick it in the freezer until you’re ready for it. It’s still festive and tasty, just not as heavy as plum pudding.”  – David Lovett, Uccello

Check out our best-ever trifle recipes collection. 

Add a surprise centre to your rumballs

“One of my favourite Christmas hacks when making rum balls (apart from adding an extra splash or two of rum) is to put a Malteser in the middle of each rum ball. It’s a nice little crunchy surprise and it means that you only need to make half the mix.” – Mark Penna, Bacchus 

We have a great healthy alternative, too. 

Leftover panettone makes a luxe bread pudding

“For dessert, use up leftover panettone (it doesn’t matter if it’s dry or old) and bake a mouth-watering panettone bread and butter pudding served with custard and vanilla ice cream – simple and delicious!” – Guillano Melluinstso, Darling & Co

Just switch  the croissants in this recipe for panettone slices. 

And leftover Christmas cake makes great rum balls

“Too much Christmas cake?  Rum balls are the answer!  All you need is Christmas fruit cake, rum, dark chocolate and toasted coconut.” – Philip Johnson, e’cco 

We strongly suggest pairing them with a hot buttered rum. 

Create a decoration station for fussy kids

“Amuse the kids on Christmas Day with a decorating station; upside down waffle cones make great Christmas trees, and butter cookies are easy to bake. You just need some white, red, and green icing in squeeze bottles, a few M&Ms, some shredded coconut, and maybe some powdered candy canes (blitzed in the food processor) to sprinkle on top.” – Pierre Issa, Pepe Saya

Older children could try something from our edible gifts collection.

Invest in good quality coffee to finish

“I always like to finish Christmas lunch with coffee/pour over. We have a Aeropress at home and love to support our friends at edition coffee roasters.” – Morgan McGlone, Belle’s Hot Chicken

Don’t forget the petit fours!