Many of us are now opting for some less traditional desserts to follow our Christmas dinner.
A new survey from Waitrose shows the traditional Christmas pudding now has some stiff competition when it comes to Christmas Day dessert. It’s still got the majority vote, with a third of the population saying it's their festive favourite, but there are other popular choices oo.
Contenders for the title
Chocolate yule log is our second favourite dessert for Christmas Day, with 18% of us opting to enjoy it instead of the traditional fruity pudding. Coming joint third with a 12% share of the votes each were mince pies, and the retro classic that is king trifle. Meanwhile, 9% of polled responses said they preferred Christmas cake!
Although a third of us prefer Christmas pudding, 71% said that they were going to serve it on Christmas Day. So it seems that tradition rules over taste when it comes to Christmas.
But looking at the results by age group reveals an interesting picture. While people over 35 tended to vote in favour of Christmas pudding, 18-34-year-olds would rather opt for a chocolate yule log. And continental desserts like Stollen cake are more popular among the younger generation too, according to the stats, with 15% of 18-24-year-olds and 16% of 25-34-year-olds dishing up the German treat, compared with just 8.5% of those in the 45-54 age range.
I wonder if you agree with those questioned in the survey. Do you stand by your Christmas pudding, or are you more interested in panettone? Vote in the poll below. If your favourite isn’t included, let us know what you indulge in using the Comments box at the bottom of the page.
Drinks on the day
The researchers also looked into the UK’s favourite festive drinks on behalf of Waitrose Cellar, finding that almost a third of us like to celebrate with a Buck’s Fizz on Christmas Day. It’s a good drink to enjoy earlier in the day, as it’s not too heavy, but don’t waste good Champagne making it. A mix of cheaper Prosecco or other sparkling wine and orange juice works just as well.
Irish coffee came in second place with a 26% share of the vote, while mulled wine was next with roughly a quarter of all votes. But for non-mixed drinks, Baileys and red wine top the charts, with a fifth of the UK opting for each.
The best of both
The top rated pairing of food and drink? You might’ve already guessed it – mince pies and mulled wine. A pretty much inseparable combination, though we reckon a hot mince pie also goes down a treat with a strong cup of tea.
Second on the list comes Buck’s Fizz with scrambled eggs and salmon, a breakfast that 7% of the nation opt for on Christmas Day.
What’s the best Christmas dessert? And the best drink to relax with during the festivities? Let us know your favourites in the Comments below.
You might also like:
Why you should buy local this Christmas