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Super easy Christmassy pud?

(21 Posts)
Jackaranda Sat 21-Oct-23 19:40:12

I'm very out of practice entertaining and we are (very happily) having the family Christmas (8 of us) at ours this year - I have a plan for nibbles and main course. Our wonderful dil is bringing a pavlova. But I need another dessert - preferably something I can prepare and maybe freeze in advance. Any suggestions for something super simple please? Several people aren't keen on cheesecake sadly, which is a shame, as I have a good recipe for that!

Jaxjacky Sat 21-Oct-23 19:50:17

I’ve made this minus the hazelnut and dust, it easy easy, edible glitter makes it festive.
www.google.com/url?q=https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chocolate-recipes/chocolate-semifreddo/&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi5vdfZ5oeCAxUPVkEAHVqoAy8QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw03tMR8wqQmMnrjcsnSYotb

Grandmabatty Sat 21-Oct-23 19:55:06

Tiramisu? Trifle. A selection of cheese and biscuits. Delia's chocolate amaretto torte

MiniMoon Sat 21-Oct-23 19:57:56

Something simple with no baking that you make the night before. Sherry biscuit log.
One pack or two chocolate chip cookies, Cadbury's flake, sherry and whipped cream.
Dip the biscuits in sherry and sandwich together with whipped cream. Coat the log in whipped cream and sprinkle with crumbled flake. Store in the fridge overnight.

Norah Sat 21-Oct-23 20:01:59

Chocolate Souffle.

toscalily Sat 21-Oct-23 20:09:12

Really! chocolate soufflé is not the easiest for many cooks. Perhaps a winter fruit salad (made earlier) with premium ice cream, serve in pretty dishes with a biscuit /shortbread on the side.

Callistemon21 Sat 21-Oct-23 20:13:07

MiniMoon

Something simple with no baking that you make the night before. Sherry biscuit log.
One pack or two chocolate chip cookies, Cadbury's flake, sherry and whipped cream.
Dip the biscuits in sherry and sandwich together with whipped cream. Coat the log in whipped cream and sprinkle with crumbled flake. Store in the fridge overnight.

Or something similar with ginger biscuits (if they like ginger, some of my family don't!) and with raspberries mixed in with the cream.

Pavlova? Just whiz up egg whites, sugar, vanilla essence and Delia says vinegar (optional), bake slowly, leave to cool in the oven.
It doesn't matter if the meringue cracks, cover with whipped cream and fruit.

Callistemon21 Sat 21-Oct-23 20:14:24

Our wonderful dil is bringing a pavlova.

😂😂😂
I should RTT!!

Callistemon21 Sat 21-Oct-23 20:14:48

A proper fruit salad!

toscalily Sat 21-Oct-23 20:17:02

Distracted by Strictly Callistemon21 grin

Callistemon21 Sat 21-Oct-23 20:25:34

toscalily

Distracted by Strictly Callistemon21 grin

The rugby's on now, watching the fisticuffs!

Doodledog Sun 22-Oct-23 01:22:38

I’ve made a version of this before and it went down well. I think the recipe I used was on the Sainsburys website but this is very similar

Terry's Chocolate Orange Trifle
Easy and delicious Terry's chocolate orange trifle, perfect for the festive dinner table.
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 People
Ingredients
150 g Terry's chocolate orange
500 ml readymade custard
450 ml double cream
Zest of 1 orange
2 tbsp icing sugar
2 tbsp Cointreau
1 x jumbo chocolate swiss roll
Juice of 1 orange
3-4 tbsp Cointreau
2 tins mandarin segments (or fresh slices from an orange)
1 Terry's chocolate orange
Grated chocolate
Orange zest

Instructions
Melt your Terry's chocolate orange carefully until smooth.
Pour your readymade custard into a bowl, and add in the melted chocolate. Mix together until smooth. If it goes lumpy, heat the custard mix in a pan over a low-medium heat and stir until all smooth and lovely.
Add your double cream to a bowl, add 2tbsp of Cointreau, the icing sugar, and the zest of the orange and whisk to soft peaks.
Slice your chocolate swiss roll into 1-2cm size slices.
Sprinkle over 3-4tbsp of Cointreau, and the juice from the orange.
Start building your trifle - I put the slices of the swiss roll around the edge of the trifle bowl at the bottom, and a few on the bottom as well.
Pour over half of the chocolate orange custard and spread.
Add on the slices of mandarin from the tin, and add on any more swiss roll if you have any. Pour over the rest of the custard.
Spread over the top the whipped orange cream, and decorate with anything you fancy.
I used Terry's chocolate orange slices, grated chocolate, and some extra orange zest along with some festive sprinkles.
Leave it to set a bit in the fridge so the custard isn't as runny. Enjoy!

(You can get mini chocolate orange segments and I used those to decorate as well as reserved mandarin segments)

Jackaranda Sun 22-Oct-23 08:51:11

Thanks everyone! Some really good suggestions there! You've given me plenty of ideas. Enjoy your Sunday smile

nandad Sun 22-Oct-23 10:01:53

The recipe linked below uses raspberries but I make it with mincemeat. Don’t over fill it. It freezes beautifully and only needs to be defrosted and slightly warmed through on the day. I serve it with crème fraiche or Greek yogurt.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/raspberry-bakewell-cake

Jackaranda Mon 23-Oct-23 20:03:06

Thank you nandad - I'm going to try that pud next weekend. I will test some others too as we have a flurry of family visits coming up smile

Chocolatelovinggran Tue 24-Oct-23 07:55:59

Thank you for starting this thread Jackaranda- lots of good ideas to steal!

Esmay Tue 24-Oct-23 09:20:31

Ice Cream Cake :
Made for 40 years with success :

Buy three different flavours of good ice cream , which taste nice together . I use Ben and Jerry's - one should be vanilla .

Allow to soften .

Make a biscuit base with crushed digestive biscuits and melted butter .

Layer the ice cream -the vanilla should be in the centre .

Smooth over the top .

I might decorate it with whipped cream and cherries /nuts .

Refreeze .

Enjoy !

Witzend Sat 28-Oct-23 09:35:23

You can’t freeze it, but I’ve often made in advance a Christmas Dried Fruit Compote (Delia, so should be available via Google) sundry dried fruits inc. IIRC prunes, figs and apricots) simmered IIRC in orange juice with some spices added).

Keeps for a few days in the fridge and has always proved popular for breakfast too, esp. for those who like something fruity on their cereal.

teabagwoman Sat 28-Oct-23 09:46:22

Have fallen on this thread with glee as have just been told that I’m doing the desert for a pre-Christmas lunch. Rarely entertain now and have lost all confidence so this thread has come to my rescue.

Shelflife Sat 28-Oct-23 10:29:45

I always serve a selection of puddings, one of which is an ordinary fruit salad. After a large meal it is quite popular!

Doodledog Sat 28-Oct-23 10:43:21

This month's Good Housekeeping magazine has a recipe for
No-Bake Irish Cream and White Chocolate Tart.

The recipe doesn't say it can be frozen, but it can be made up to three days ahead and kept in the fridge. I am planning to make it, as the younger Dogs don't like Christmas pudding. I'll just buy one of those for Mr Dog and I. Check out the calorie content though! shock Still, Christmas is not the time to be abstemious, is it?