Christmas pudding is falling out of favor – with many Brits preferring to indulge themselves with a Panettone over the festive season.
Upmarket department store Selfridges claimed to be selling three times more Panettone than puddings – and sales were falling at Waitrose too.
Asda though said Christmas puddings were still selling well, with many of us still including one on our Christmas menu.
Christmas pudding is a rich and dense dessert, usually made with fruit, spices, breadcrumbs, egg and a generous helping of brandy or rum.
Most can be microwaved in just minutes on the big day, so they are easy too.
Shop-bought puds will of course vary in the amount and type of booze they put in, the level of fruit and nuts they contain and moistness and texture.
But which is best?
We asked Lynsey Hope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, to try out some supermarket offerings and share her verdict:
M&S Food Collection Perfectly Matured Christmas Pudding (907g)
- £15
- £1.65 per 100g
Full of flavor with a generous splash of alcohol as well as good helpings of fruit and whole almonds The Braeburn apple flavor goes well with the brandy and cognac.
At the pricier end of the scale, but it comes in a handmade tea towel which makes it a nice gift.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Tesco Finest Christmas Pudding (400g)
- £5
- £1.25 per 100g
Quite a boozy offering from Tesco, this pudding is made with vine fruits, glace cherries, cider, brandy, Amontillado sherry, cognac AND port.
All that alcohol really packs a punch and gives this a deep flavor.
It's packed with flavor and nicely spiced.
The sponge was a bit dry and perhaps too boozy. This one is best reserved for grown-ups.
- Taste: 4/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 5/10
Asda Extra Special Jewelled Topped Christmas Pudding (800g)
- £12
- £1.50 per 100g
Quite a showstopper, Asda's pud has a beautiful jeweled fruit topping which makes it stand out from the crowd.
Taste-wise it is quite traditional with hints of candied orange peel and a moist, sweetly spiced dough.
There's a strong brandy presence too, which went down a treat.
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Waitrose No 1 Christmas Pudding (400g)
- £7.50
- £1.88 per 100g
Dome-shaped with a lovely sheen, this pud looked very appetizing and I couldn't wait to tuck in.
You can microwave for two and a half minutes or steam for an hour.
It's made with plump vine fruits, cream, pecan nuts and a generous splash of cognac, which give it a rich and creamy flavor.
It's light and not sickly at all, with a slight hint of marmalade.
It's expensive though – £1.90 more than a similar pud from Waitrose in 2022 – and the most expensive per 100g.
- Taste: 8/10
- Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Aldi Specially Selected Christmas Pudding (400g)
- £4.49
- £1.12 per 100g
Aldi's pud had a lovely sweetness and I enjoyed the fruity aroma of the sultanas, currants and raisins.
The texture as light and moist and it was very boozy thanks to the cognac, rum, stout and brandy soaked glace cherries.
It's also the cheapest pudding per 100g, and for the price, it's a great budget option.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 10/10
Morrisons The Best Christmas Pudding (400g)
- £5
- £1.25 per 100g
Not "The Best" but not the worst either.
It has a lovely aroma and lots of vine fruit, which was the overriding flavor.
The sponge was lovely and rich and but it was lacking sweetness and spice.
There wasn't enough booze either. It looked darker than a traditional pud, but the texture was nice.
- Taste: 6/10
- Value: 7/10
- Overall score: 6/10
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding (800g)
- £10.50
- £1.31 per 100g
Sainsbury's offering had the most homemade feel, thanks to plump sultanas, raisins and currants.
It had a well-balanced flavor with lots of sweetness and tasted perfect with a dollop of cream.
The price isn't bad, I'd go back for more before Christmas Day.
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Lidl Deluxe 22 Month Matured Christmas Pudding (800g)
- £9.99
- £1.24 per 100g
This is Lidl's higher-end pud but it's still one of the cheapest, beaten only by Aldi on price per 100g – and it's worth every penny.
It had an appealing smell, a classic look and it was moist and light.
The flavors were delicate and not overpowering and the level of alcohol was spot on – just enough to give you a kick after your turkey.
Loved it, definitely my favorite. I think this would be a hit at any Christmas gathering.
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall score: 10/10
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