An ultra-easy pudding you can make in 20 minutes. That's what we call a merry Christmas!
33 surprisingly easy Christmas desserts for the big day
Keep the stress low but the wow-factor high this festive season with these surprisingly simple Christmas desserts. From trifles and truffles to easy pavlovas, every one is guaranteed to delight. (And we promise we won’t tell anyone how easy they really were to make!)
Easy Christmas tree pavlova
A pavlova is always a crowd-pleaser, but with this little cutie, you really will win everyone’s heart. You’ll need a piping bag for this recipe.
Upside-down peach and raspberry pavlova
This upside-down method removes the stress of worrying if your pav will hold up or crash, but still ticks all the boxes for taste, texture and aesthetics.
Tropical trifle
Bring out the bright flavours of summer with this tropical mango trifle. Mangoes are the hero of this delicious Christmas dessert, with a vibrant mango jelly layer at the base and juicy slices fanned on top to pair with the golden passionfruit, green kiwi fruit and starfruit for a show-stopping visual. Fluffy chunks of Malibu-spiked madeira cake sink into the smooth whipped coconut cream filling, creating a luxurious texture of this velvety-smooth festive dessert. You’ll need an 8-cup (2L) capacity trifle dish, and you’ll need to start this recipe at least 4 hours ahead.
No-bake gingerbread and blackberry cream cake
“This chilled dessert is for you if you refuse to turn on your oven in summer but still want to add an impressive dessert to a shared table. You can decorate the top as elaborately or as simply as you desire.” – Tracey Pattison
Fresh ideas
Grapes
Grapes are at their peak right now, look for firm, bright fruit for a sweet juicy snack.
Kirsten Tibballs' espresso chocolate truffles with honey and vanilla
“Surrender yourself to these simple and irresistible morsels – the most indulgent way to get a coffee hit. Small in size but big on flavour, these to-die-for truffles are laden with chocolate and coffee goodness and mellowed with a touch of honey and vanilla. They also make excellent gifts, if you can bring yourself to part with them.” – Kirsten Tibballs
Biscoff, caramel and coconut ice cream trifle
This can be ready in 20 minutes, or made in advance if you have room for a trifle dish in your freezer. You’ll need a 3.5L trifle dish for this recipe.
Pandoro Christmas tree stack
Reimagine your panettone this year with our showstopping Christmas tree stack. Slices of the sweet Italian bread are layered with a thick spread of Nutella and generous dollops of velvety vanilla and orange cream to balance the sharp flavours. Indulgent, elegant, and incredibly eye-catching, this impressively easy dessert is one to whip out this Christmas.
Gingerbread trifle
A no-bake, decadent Christmas dessert made in under 30 minutes.
Andrew McConnell's rustic rhubarb tarts
These super easy rhubarb tarts are proof that you don't need to spend hours slaving in the kitchen to produce a tasty dessert. Chef Andrew McConnell knows that working with seasonal produce will always score a win on flavour.
Rum balls
Roll up for the ultimate rum ball recipe from the CWA experts.
Vegan no-bake rum ball slice recipe
When it's 30°C outside and the family want a light (healthy) dessert that won't have you sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool, this is the dessert to turn to. Charlotte Binns-McDonald has your back with her rum-ball-turned-slice recipe (that's also vegan).
Christmas crack
Give this simple but super-addictive classic Christmas treat a crack!
Festive bombe dessert recipe
Take the stress out of Christmas Day with this festive bombe.
Frozen cherry chocolate pudding cake
Give tradition a cool twist with this crowd-pleasing cake!