Best Christmas Puddings To Buy
Having slightly fallen out of favour in recent years in place of things such as Italian panettone (the best-selling Christmas cake item every year) and other innovative Christmas-themed desserts, there has been an influx of creative flavour profiles as retailers try to tempt us back to tradition.
best christmas puddings to buy
Our expert judges have curated a list of the best Christmas puddings - the only list you need this year. From classic puddings to sweet caramel alternatives, these are the best Christmas puddings you can buy online.
Our panel of expert judges blind-tasted all of the puddings in this year's annual taste test. Our experts include Group Food Director Jen Bedloe (opens in new tab), Food Editor Jess Meyer (opens in new tab), Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks (opens in new tab), Senior Food Writer Jessica Ransom (opens in new tab), and Junior Food Writer Georgia Sparks (opens in new tab). With years of experience trying and testing new food and drink products, the team is well-equipped when it comes to assessing the best Christmas puddings.
Unlike traditional puddings, this one had a bundt-style shape with attractive grooves all around the edge. The dried vine fruits are a surprising but successful pairing with the sweet caramel sauce and the spiced biscuit crumb adds a lovely change in texture.
Standing tall and proud, judges loved the shape of this pud and said it would be a fantastic choice for those who light their puddings. Described as a boozy, classic in flavour and at first glance, this pud could be pulled off as homemade as it has a rustic charm.
When it comes to assessing Christmas puddings judges looked for a moist sponge and even distribution of fruit. Many preferred when whole fruits were visible and commented on the overall flavour profile, making a note of any particular booze or other flavours which were present. They also assessed the shape of the pudding and how attractive it looked. For example was it glossy, did it come with additional glazes and sauces and what was the colour like?
Shop bought Christmas puddings have been cooked but will need to be reheated before serving. This can usually either be done by boiling the pudding in a pan of water or by warming it in the microwave.
Shop-bought Christmas pudding is best served when heated once. However, the leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or the oven. Keep in mind however that heating Christmas pudding for a second time can give it a rubbery texture.
A good Christmas pudding is the perfect indulgence: rich, moist, fruity and flavoursome. If you don't have the time (or talent) to make your own, there are plenty of ready-made puddings available from supermarkets, boutique producers and through charities and community fundraisers. But which one is worthy of being the grand finale to your holiday feast?
We blind tasted and reviewed 18 Christmas puddings, from brands including Aldi, Coles, Itha's and the Pudding Lady. Whether you're a seasonal scrooge or prepared to splurge, there's a perfect Christmas pud for you.
It was a big leap price-wise from there for the preferred puddings. Those that took second and third place, The Traditional Plum Pudding Co Homemade Plum Pudding and the Newcastle Pudding Lady Traditional Christmas Pudding, were among the most expensive, at $6.00 per 100g and $6.20 per 100g respectively.
It's no surprise that the top three puddings were reported to have a good distribution of fruit and moistness. There are a few factors that make a Christmas pudding moist, including whether it's steamed or baked in a water bath, the amount of fruit, and the type and quantity of fat. Steaming will keep the pudding more moist over the long cooking time, as will more fruit.
The puddings contained a variety of alcoholic drinks for flavour with the traditional brandy in all but one. Some also contained rum, cider, stout or sherry, and two contained port. The pudding with the equal-highest brandy content was our top-scoring Coles Finest Luxury Christmas Pudding (which also contained port), with 9% brandy.
Overall, the expert taste testers complained that the puddings lacked the characteristic spiciness of a Christmas pudding. Surprisingly, there was one pud that didn't list any spices on its ingredient list: The Traditional Food Company Steamed Pudding. Perhaps its lack of spices contributed to its lower score of 62%.
Maturing is the action of leaving the pudding until the flavours have developed. Maturing causes some of the compounds in the pudding to break down to release new compounds, which taste sweet and caramelised with fruity aromas and flavours. None of the top three scoring puddings specified that they were matured.
The matured puddings in our test were the Woolworths Classic Matured Pudding, matured for nine months, earning a CHOICE Expert Rating of 68% and described as rich and fruity by the expert taste testers; the IGA Traditional Christmas Pudding (which earned 62%), matured for six months; and the Coles Christmas Festive Matured Pudding (49%), matured for nine months.
Yes, pre-packaged Christmas puddings require reheating. If a small portion is needed, it's best to heat individual servings and leave the rest covered in the fridge. The pudding will last longer, and you shouldn't be reheating the pudding several times in the microwave as this can dry out the pudding or overcook it in areas.
To reheat a steamed pudding in a microwave, remove the seal from the pudding container or any foil packaging. Some puddings that are wrapped in plastic will require piercing in a few spots. If the pudding is in a pudding bowl, invert it onto a plate, but don't remove the pudding bowl.
We tested 18 Christmas puddings, from high-end offerings by specialist producers to supermarket brand puddings that are available nationally instore or online. Price is based on the price we paid for one pudding (not including postage and handling where applicable) in October 2022.
Our experts tasted the Christmas puddings 'blind' (without knowing the brands). They assessed the puddings for appearance and quality of finish, moistness, flavour and aroma, texture, and quality of the mixture.
We've done a supermarket sweep of this year's Christmas puddings to find the very best. These are our winners which include a showstopping traditional pud, a value family option that doesn't compromise on flavour and a Christmas pudding for people who don't like Christmas puddings.
It's the reason we only eat Christmas pudding at Christmas. Unlike hot cross buns, which could and should be a perennial snack, pudding is best served two or three times a year, lest ye overload on fruity carbohydrates and buttery fat. Choosing the right pudding is serious business, then.
That said, puddings are the Christmas treat that retailers seem to spend the most time perfecting and supermarket quality this year was the best we've ever seen. Just don't forget the brandy sauce, cream, custard, ice-cream, and a few cherries for kicks.
Dense much? It's like slicing a knife through cold butter to get a wedge of this sticky boy on the plate. Super sweet with kirsch-like notes that I suspect come from the combination of sherry, apple cider and an enthusiastic amount of mixed peel because cherry isn't on the ingredients list. Supernova-level density means a whole bowl of this pudding will send the best of us over the edge, but a tiny sliver served with port and cheddar is the kind of snack Santa would love to find at the end of your chimney. (He also says enough with the fruitcake.)
With a 2.5 health star rating, this is potentially the "best for you" pudding on this list. Has Coles manipulated the health star algorithm to reach that score? Who's to say? Not me, legally, but I can tell you the pudding's handsome crown of glazed cherries and almonds hides an otherwise standard supermarket offering. It needs a custard drenching to cut through the sugar, but the potential for a good time is there.
A nice value pud with light, cakey texture and a small kick of cognac. On the sweet side, but falling just short of cloying thanks to ingredients starting to get along with each other after nine months in confinement. There's a strong whiff of orange juice and lemon peel when the dessert slips out of its little gold bowl and the shape holds together well if you're after a stunt pudding to set on fire. (Light the brandy in a small saucepan or ladle before pouring over the pud for your best chance at a fetching blue flame.)
Our range of contemporary and traditional handmade puddings feature a variety of flavours sure to please every taste bud. Made fresh in our kitchen in Castlemaine, Melbourne, each pudding is carefully packaged before delivering straight to your doorstep. Our puddings are made with only the best ingredients, to create the moistest and most delicious pudding you will ever have. No two puddings are the same, but supreme taste and full fruit texture make them the perfect festive treat.
Now stand each bowl on a large sheet of foil and bring the edges up over the top, then put another sheet of foil over the top and bring it down underneath to make a double package (this makes the puddings watertight). Tie with more string, and make a handle for easy lifting in and out of the pan. Watch our video to see how to tie up a pudding correctly.
Boil or oven steam the puddings for 8 hrs, topping up with water as necessary. Remove from the pans and leave to cool overnight. When cold, discard the messy wrappings and re-wrap in new baking parchment, foil and string. Store in a cool, dry place until Christmas.
To celebrate the delightful flavours of Christmas, we create a gluten-free version of our perennial Christmas favourite - Gluten Free Christmas Pudding. Our selection of gluten free plum puddings and vegan Christmas puddings are just as delicious as the originals. We also stock dairy free pudding varieties for customers who are lactose intolerant.
Georgie Porgie brings you the best of the best for Christmastime with our Traditional Christmas Pudding now available to buy online! Steamed on-site with fresh traditional ingredients, this unique combination of brandy, rum, currants, sultanas and raisins brings all the decadent aromas of Christmas to your home. A deliciously festive pudding that is easy to serve and goes well with flaming brandy or fresh cream! 041b061a72