A Christmas “dessert” with distinctly meaty origins, a traditional Christmas pudding elicits mixed opinions at the dinner table.
Often referred to as plum or figgy pudding, the spherical suet-based, spiced and brandy-soaked cake has origins in medieval England.
Though some believe the bitter, currant-filled dessert should have been left in the Middle Ages, others feel strongly that no Christmas dinner table is complete without a pud – even if only a bite or two is taken from it once the flames have subsided.
While once consisting of a hardly appetising combination of fat, spice and fruits, together with meats, grains and vegetables packed into animal stomachs and intestines as an act of preservation, the plum pudding has evolved over the years. From a tentative sausage to a plum pottage dish which was still very meat-heavy – the ‘plum’ part merely being a generic reference to any dried fruit, such as raisins, currants and prunes.
It wasn’t until the 16th century that plum pudding became a distinctly sweet dish, largely thanks to the invention of the pudding cloth. The latter can preserve a dessert of any size for months – thereby removing the need to involve animal products in the process (even though suet remains a key ingredient to this day).
By the time Oliver Cromwell ascended to the throne, Christmas pudding had become such an integral part of festive feasting that the Puritan King felt the need to ban the dessert entirely. From the 13-ingredient recipe to the flaming brandy, which was said to represent the passion of Christ, Cromwell found the entire affair distinctly repulsive.
Yet good old King George I brought the classic Christmas pud back into popularity after he requested it at his first Christmas banquet as King. This is the reason why you’ll notice many classic-style Christmas puddings are named after the “pudding king”.
For those who still can’t stomach the traditional Christmas pud and prefer a contemporary alternative, we’ve got you covered. From the classic flaming champion to profiterole pyramids and tasty trifles, keep scrolling for the best supermarket Christmas desserts.
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King George Christmas Pudding, 1.36kg
As traditional as it gets, the behemoth Christmas pud from Fortnum’s – our beloved late Queen Lizzie’s local supermarché – weighs a whopping 1.36kg. Made using real beef suet, this pud is made using Fortnum’s own Cognac, Pusser’s full-strength Navy Rum and is served with Cognac butter. We’re feeling slightly tipsy just thinking about it.
Buy now £44.95, F&M
George's Classic Christmas Pudding
Packaged in a traditional pudding cloth, Devon-based Georgie Porgie’s Puddings has made a name for itself as the top recreator of King George I’s favourite Christmas dessert. You can pre-order this pud up to a year in advance, and it’s available in four different sizes – from 142g to an eye-watering 2.2kg. Extra points for being entirely spherical.
Buy now £9.75, Georgie Porgies Puddings
M&S Collection Christmas Pudding 12-Month Matured
Matured for an entire year before being packed up and sent out to festive households, the M&S Collection Christmas Pudding is made using an exclusive recipe containing vine fruits, Braeburn apples, and nuts, and is soaked in brandy and Cognac. This option doesn’t contain any suet, making it suitable for vegetarians.
Buy now £7.00, M&S
No.1 Christmas Pudding
Though one of the more expensive supermarket Christmas puds, the Waitrose No.1 Christmas Pudding is created with an abundance of luxuriously plump, dried fruits, pecans and Cognac before being matured for an entire year to develop that signature, incredibly rich flavour.
Buy now £12.50, Waitrose
Asda Extra Special 12-Month Matured Luxury Christmas Pudding 400g
Extra special indeed, this 12-month matured indulgent pudding from Asda is infused with French Cognac and Spanish sherry for a decidedly European, boozy festive treat. We love how this option is especially nutty, containing almonds, pecans and walnuts.
Buy now £5.00, Asda
Morrisons The Best 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding
Laced with delicious cider, rum and sherry before being matured for a whopping 18 months with the help of some flavoursome Cognac, ‘The Best’ Christmas pudding from Morrisons is at once the cheapest and most highly rated by customers. Though priced at just £2, the 100g pud will likely only feed 1-2 guests.
Buy now £2.00, Morrisons
Specially Selected Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding 800g
An absolute saviour for those of us who adore the aesthetics of a traditional Christmas pudding, but simply can’t stand the taste – this Sticky Toffee option from Aldi delivers on the need for a sweet, spherical and brandy-soaked festive centrepiece thanks to the decadent toffee sauce centre.
Buy now £8.99, Aldi
M&S Our Best Ever Trifle
Despite the origins of many Christmas desserts, and Rachel Green’s accidentally savoury attempt at the iconic dessert – the humble trifle is a relatively traditional Christmas pudding which certainly appeals to sweet tooths. Crafted from layers of juicy strawberry and raspberry compote, vanilla custard, British cream and a luxuriously fluffy sponge – the ‘Best Ever’ trifle from M&S is set to go down a treat.
Buy now £7.00, M&S
Picard Chocolate Frozen Log
One of the best-kept secrets to that je ne sais quoi French style of hosting is Picard frozen meals. We know that pre-made, frozen food doesn’t exactly sound glamorous, but that’s because you haven’t seen the way they do it across the pond.
This frozen chocolate log is made using three different types of chocolate and has been designed to look as though it belongs in a pâtisserie window. It’s sure to impress and delight as part of any festive dessert spread.
Buy now £12.40, Ocado
Organic Chocolate & Orange Yule Log
For those who value the taste of farm-fresh food, look no further than the organic chocolate and orange yule log from Daylesford – a gorgeous treat which is made at Daylesford Farm. The rich chocolate sponge is filled with a zesty orange curd filling and is coated with a dark chocolate ganache. Yes, please.
Buy now £25.00, Daylesford
Tesco Finest Black Forest Christmas Puddings 800G
A semi-traditional option for those who don’t consider a pudding to truly be a pudding unless it contains some sort of chocolate addition – Tesco has got your back this Christmas.
Buy now £12.00, Tesco
M&S Profiterole Stack
We’re not exactly sure how profiteroles became a decidedly English dessert, but we don’t think any Christmas pudding selection is complete without a pyramid-shaped stack of the creamy, chocolatey pastry.
Buy now £9.50, Ocado
Patisserie Valerie Mince Pies 6 Pack
We're always slightly weary of larger mince pies as they tend to be overfilled with an overly dry pastry which imbues the pie with a chalky texture. Shockingly, this was the exact opposite of what occurred with these sizeable mince pies from Patisserie Valerie.
We were astounded as we sampled what we believed was going to be shortcrust pastry. Instead, we were treated to what was actually essentially a large piece of buttery shortbread moulded into the shape of a classic mince pie with a pretty six-point star and dusting of sugar on top.
We love that these pies don't necessarily have to be heated up to enjoy, as they are slightly more biscuity in texture. The filling is smooth and strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart. These were our favourite pies so far.
Buy now £14.96, Patisserie Valerie
Verdict
When it comes to traditional Christmas puds, Fortnum & Mason takes the biscuit with their extra-large plum pudding which is certainly fit for a king. On the alternative side, Aldi's sticky toffee-filled Christmas pudding serves as a sweet, delectable break from tradition.
