Alternative Christmas Pudding

This deliciously, decadent, cake filled with chocolately goodness is a favourite at Christmas. It may be rich but it is still remarkably light. It is often favoured over a traditional Christmas Cake but equally can be served as a pudding (you can even have both, why not, it is Christmas?).

Chocolate Yule Log

A traditional English trifle is easily the British food number two pudding for Christmas. There's something frivolous yet decadent with all that custard, cream, fruit and Sherry.

A trifle is easy to make and here are three different trifle recipes: a traditional Sherry trifle, a quick, easy cheats trifle and a Zuppa Inglese, the Italian version of English trifle from Kyle Phillips, About.com's guide to Italian food.

• Traditional English Sherry Trifle Recipe
• Quick and Easy Trifle Recipe
• Zuppa Inglese Recipe

Scottish Cranachan is a very festive recipe, it is perfect for Christmas, Hogmanay and rounds off a Burns' Night Supper beautifully. To be authentic it is good to use Scottish raspberries and Scottish heather honey, but don't worry if you can't find Scottish, the wonderful ingredients in the Cranachan taste good anyway.

• Scottish Cranachan Recipe

Tipsy Laird, also called Typsy Laird, is the Scottish trifle dessert served on Burns Night but works equally well for Christmas. Tipsy Laird is essentially the same as Trifle but with whisky not sherry, and Scottish raspberries.

This version is quick and easy to make using ready-made custard or make with custard powder following the packet instructions. Use Scottish raspberries if you can for complete authenticity.

• Tipsy Laird Recipe

A Rhubarb & Champagne Jelly recipe is a quick and simple, yet sophisticated dessert. Though Rhubarb is more often thought of as an ingredient of "nursery food" in puddings, here it shines as a delicate jelly made with Champagne.

For an elegant Christmas table, make the jelly in tall, elegant glasses and listen to the gasps of delight from your guests.

• Rhubarb and Champagne Jelly Recipe

Oranges, more specifically Clementines have long been associated with Christmas, what Christmas stocking isn't complete without one? This ultra-easy posset recipe makes the most of tangy, citrus fruits and is a perfect end to a heavy Christmas lunch.

• Clementine and Posset Recipe

On any list of desserts chocolate must make an appearance. This Decadent Chocolate Cream is a wholly indulgent Chocolate Cream Recipe for a quick and simple dessert, perfect for the Christmas table.

• Decadent Chocolate Cream Recipe

You may also want to try this deliciously, light yet rich Raspberry Chocolate Meringue. It is lightly chocolate flavored, so not too heavy, and with cream and raspberries will round off your Christmas meal splendidly.

There are 2 Crème's that must appear on any list of desserts, a Crème Caramel and a Crème Brûlée. Both of these can be made in advance and finished off at the last minute. Perfect for a hectic Christmas Day menu.

This Crème Caramel recipe comes from Rebecca Franklin, About.com's Guide to French Food.

And a sublime, step by step Crème Brûlée recipe from Danilo Alfaro About.com Culinary Arts.

The how about a few Christmas Cookies. Here is a collection of Christmas cookies from the talented food writers at About.com. There's something here for everyone.

• Christmas Cookie Collection