Best alternative Christmas pudding for 2025, including sticky toffee and chocolate orange flavours

Score: 90/100

Testers couldn’t get enough of Aldi’s decadent Christmas pudding, which combines glacé orange slices, orange liqueur, almonds, mixed peel, and orange oil, for an authentic, citrus flavour that’s guaranteed to bring festive cheer. The texture was perfect, too; sticky, soft, and studded with fruit and raisins.

Available 2 November 2025

Score: 85/100

Tesco’s star-shaped hybrid dessert is a triple threat, combining the texture of a moist sticky toffee pudding with the festive flavour of a fruity, spicy Christmas pud and a panettone for good measure.

Our panel enjoyed the kick of alcohol and thought the warm caramel sauce was the perfect finishing touch. Try serving it with clotted cream ice cream or traditional brandy cream.

Score: 84/100

Christmas pudding is traditionally made with brandy; however, Meg Rivers has used gin instead — and to great effect. Our panel loved the fragrant floral aroma, plus the bright bursts of orange, jammy whole cherries and warming cinnamon, describing the texture as “just right.”

Score: 82/100

This is more in line with the classic dessert, but the addition of Cointreau creates a moreish, sticky Marmalade-like texture, while the cranberries (along with generous raisins and sultanas) are jammy and plump. Warm and comforting, as Christmas pudding should be.

Score: 77/100

With a liberal helping of caramel running throughout, Morrisons’ twist on tradition is rich and moist. Although the spice element is subtle, there are plenty of walnuts and vine fruit, which would be delicious paired with a generous dollop of ice cream. The perfect pud for two to three people.

Score: 73/100

This giftable pud is lighter on the palate than the distinctive, aromatic cherry and almond nose suggests. With juicy cherries, crunchy almonds and soft spices, the moist cake is ideal for those avoiding overly boozy bakes. However, we recommend a little brandy cream to lift the flavour.

Score: 72/100

Chocolate orange has long been a winning combination, and this pudding includes a generous sprinkling of both white and dark melted pieces, alongside orange liqueur and bursts of sweet orange peel.

The smaller serving size is perfect for couples looking to round off their festive feast (although we won’t judge you for keeping it to yourself) and it’s nut-free, too.