Christmas celebrations are incomplete without a sweet finale that reflects the warmth and tradition of the festive season. From rich puddings to elegant cakes, classic Christmas desserts continue to bring families together around the table. Here are five timeless Christmas desserts, along with simple recipes, that remain favourites across generations.
Christmas Plum Pudding
A hallmark of traditional Christmas feasts, plum pudding is a dense, steamed dessert made with dried fruits, suet, breadcrumbs and spices. The mixture is steamed for several hours, allowing the flavours to deepen. Traditionally prepared in advance, it is served hot on Christmas Day with custard or brandy butter.
Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
The French Yule log is a festive sponge cake rolled with cream and coated in chocolate ganache. To prepare it, a light chocolate sponge is baked, filled with whipped cream, rolled carefully and covered with ganache textured to resemble tree bark. It is often decorated with powdered sugar and chocolate shavings.
Christmas Fruit Cake
Rich and long-lasting, Christmas fruit cake is made by soaking dried fruits in rum or brandy and folding them into a spiced cake batter. The cake is baked slowly and can be stored for weeks, with occasional brushing of alcohol to enhance flavour and moisture.
Trifle
A popular Christmas dessert in many households, trifle is prepared by layering sponge cake soaked in fruit juice or sherry with custard, jelly, fruits and whipped cream. Served chilled, it offers a light and refreshing contrast to heavier festive dishes.
Cheesecake
Cheesecake has become a modern Christmas favourite for its creamy texture and versatility. It can be baked or set without baking, using cream cheese, sugar and eggs or cream. Topped with fruits, chocolate or a festive glaze, it makes an elegant end to a Christmas meal.
Together, these desserts reflect the diversity of Christmas traditions across cultures. Whether steeped in history or shaped by contemporary tastes, they continue to bring sweetness and warmth to festive celebrations beyond the familiar cookie platter.
