In our family, the pudding is more,popular than the cake. I do usually still make a cake - covered with nuts, not icing, which was so often left - but TBH quite a bit of it often ends up going into the garden for the birds. (Still, as long as it's not actually wasted...).
I still make mince pies, the trad. little ones with thin pastry and lots of filling - too much pastry in the shop ones for me. However I have a friend who really likes the pastry - as long as it's in the M&S mini ones! Each to her own.
First batch of mince pies usually made on 1st Dec - again with carols on, and probably a glass or 2 of mulled wine, too.