12 puds of Christmas
It’s December again – leading the Parties To Go team wondering where the year went so quickly, and looking ahead to the festive feast (namely, the 12 puds of Christmas).
Our Wimbledon caterers love all things sweet and savoury, but at this time of year, surely it’s the desserts that take centre stage?
Here are our 12 puds of Christmas – each dish more delicious than the last. Which is your favourite?
1. Profiteroles
Who doesn’t love these gorgeous little balls filled with cream and capped with rich chocolate sauce – or cheeky salted caramel?
The festive season is a great time to elevate your desserts, so for this 12 puds of Christmas recipe, we’d suggest:
- Topping off with caramelised hazelnuts for a bit of crunch
- Adding lemon juice and rind to the filling for a creamy, zesty finish
- Swapping the sauce for maple syrup
2. Festive crumble
Winter berries – particularly cranberries – are synonymous with the big day. Toss them in sugar over a low heat until they start to thicken, then tip into a dish and sprinkle over crumble mix (for a cheat’s recipe, just mix flour with half the amount of butter, then a few handfuls of sugar).
3. Trifle
When it comes to the 12 puds of Christmas, the boozier, the better! Trifle is easy as, well, cake – sherry-soaked sponge sandwiched under a flavoured jelly of your choice (blackcurrant is especially nice for Christmas), then a layer of custard, cream and more decorations than the tree!
4. Panettone
One from Italy, panettone was said to be invented by a young cook who stuffed brioche with raisins and candied fruit for none other than the Duke of Milan’s Christmas banquet. It’s now the ideal ‘cake with a brew’ staple over the winter season – and a firm ’12 puds of Christmas’ favourite!
5. Chocolate log
For little cooks at home, you can make an oh-so-easy chocolate log by buying a Swiss roll, then pouring melted chocolate over the top (or even using a pot of ready-made frosting. After all, you don’t want too much work over the holidays!). We’d love to hear how the kids get on with this fun Christmas recipe.
6. Meringue
These crispy peaks of deliciousness aren’t as challenging to whip up as they seem. A Parties To Go ’12 puds of Christmas’ favourite, you’ll need just three eggs, an equal weight of sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract to make them. Separate your eggs first, though – you only want the whites – and make sure you whisk the sugar in slowly. The mix shouldn’t slip off your spoon! You can use a piping bag or dollop them on to your baking tray for a more rustic look.
7. Fruitcake
Christmas cake should be fruity, boozy and not too stodgy – but it can be tricky to get right. Halfway through our ’12 puds of Christmas’ list, here’s a good BBC recipe that’s ideal for home cooks.
8. Mince pies
You can make mincemeat with a variety of currants, peel, suet, or – if you’re Mary Berry – the addition of blanched almonds and a cooking apple. Little ones will love it straight from the jar, though – you can spoon it directly onto ready-bought puff pastry for a delicious, festive treat in minutes.
9. Chocolate bombe
There are lots of ways to make a chocolate bombe, and our recipe is a closely-guarded secret… So if you’d like to know more, get in touch!
10. Stollen
This is actually a kind of festive German gingerbread, and a decent one should be absolutely bursting with nuts. Here’s another great BBC recipe to follow.
11. Poached pears
How does a bowl of poached pears in mulled wine sound? All you need is a ratio of 3:1 wine:water, plus your peeled pears, sugar to taste, and a good amount of spice: think star anise, cinnamon, candied pee etc. Serve warm for a fruity, decadent treat.
12. Grazing board
One that the whole family can join in prepping, this is one of the quickest, most enjoyable 12 puds of Christmas on our list (and we’ve checked it twice). Make it fruity (cheese, grapes, plums, pears, cranberries) or stick to sweet (peppermint, gingerbread, cherries, cranberries, pretzels) and let us know which you prefer!
From all of the Parties To Go cooks to you, ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!’
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To arrange an event with our Wimbledon cooks for 2025, get in touch.
