Whether you're making your own or buying it in, maturing time is something you'll want to consider. All puddings need some time to sit, so that the flavours can develop.
For homemade puds, Sunday 26 November is 'Stir-up Sunday' - traditionally the latest you should leave making your Christmas pudding so it can mature ahead of the big day.
But shop-bought options have been stewing for much longer, typically 12-18 months.
Eat well, live better and stay healthy -Does maturing matter?
You’ll often see puds advertised with their maturation time proudly displayed, the theory being that longer maturation leads to richer taste.
However, longer aged puddings didn’t always prosper in our tests. Several of our top scorers, which were aged for just 12 months, were rated more highly than 18-month matured puds. So a longer ageing period doesn’t automatically mean a better dessert.
It was how well the best puddings balanced the alcohol content, blend of spices, fruit and nut quantity, moistness and depth of flavour that determined the most palatable puddings.
It's not just our tasters who think so. In her Christmas cookbook, Delia Smith says that you won't improve the taste by stashing your pud for longer than six to eight weeks.
Alternatives to Christmas pudding
If you're seeking a fun alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding, the supermarkets have an increasingly diverse selection of showstopping alternatives to choose from.
Here are a few we've spotted:
Aldi Specially Selected Chocolate Smash Dome Cake
£14.99, Serves 14
Topped with crunchy golden sprinkles this stylish dessert will turn some heads. To reveal the surprise filling, you have to crack the Swiss milk chocolate dome shell, unveiling a chocolate sponge filled with ganache and festive chocolate treats.
Morrisons Hot Chocolate Orange Pudding
£8, Serves 6
It looks a bit Christmas-pudding-y, but it's a warm, saucy chocolate delight. This swirled chocolate sponge is topped off with a warm chocolate and orange sauce, and bronze-lustre chocolate honeycomb pieces.
Waitrose The Golden Bûche de Noël
£20, Serves 12
You might have spotted it in the Waitrose Christmas ad - this blonde chocolate yule log is one for those with a serious sweet tooth. 'Blonde chocolate' mousse, paired with a salted caramel sauce and crunchy caramelised biscuit core, sits on a caramelised biscuit and milk chocolate base.
See what other elaborate festive specials the major supermarkets have up their sleeves in our full guidePrices and availability information correct as of 17 November 2023
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/christmas-puddings-are-18-month-matured-options-tastier-azjFQ0a9tY1J