From the best supermarket Christmas puddings including Iceland and Aldi to independent sellers like Cartwright & Butler, here are the best Christmas puddings for 2023 all tried and tasted by our expert Food Team.
As the festive season approaches, a wide range of store-bought Christmas puddings from supermarkets to micro-bakeries and independent shops will be available, and choosing just one can be a hard decision, especially when they all give Mary Berry's Christmas pudding a run for its money.
Our expert panel who tried and tested a range of Christmas foods, including Christmas puddings for 2023 are Group Food Director Jen Bedloe, Food Editor Jess Meyer, Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks, Food Writer Amanda James, and Junior Food Writer Georgia Sparks. With years of experience and a vast amount of culinary expertise, this team is well-versed in identifying what really makes the best Christmas pudding.
So, if you’re after the best shop-bought Christmas pudding on the market then look no further. Whether you fancy a traditional Christmas pudding, a Christmas pudding with a twist, or one for a small gathering then we’ve got you covered. With Cartwright & Butler taking the top stop for the overall best Christmas pudding, Iceland taking the best supermarket Christmas pudding and Aldi being best value for money at under £10, there is certainly something for everyone.
It's not just Christmas pudding that we've taste-tested this year - have a browse through our expert picks for the best Christmas cake, best Christmas desserts, and best mince pies. We've even rounded up the best turkey on offer this year.
Recent updates
This article was updated on the 20th of December. We checked the prices of all the products featured in the article and updated some of the deals for accuracy.
Where to buy Christmas pudding for 2023
- Cartwright & Butler: The best all-rounder Christmas pudding is available now online and in independent shops and luxury department stores
- Iceland: A rich and juicy fruit pudding with a classic dome shape. The best traditional Christmas pudding on a budget
- Aldi: Rich flavour with a warming boozy kick. Great for those looking for a great value for money Christmas pudding to feed the family
Best tried and tasted Christmas puddings
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.
Best Christmas puddings from last year
How did we test the best Christmas puddings?
The puddings were prepared according to the instructions provided on the packaging at the Future's Test Kitchen, located at the Testing Centre of Excellence in Winnersh, Reading.
To maintain a fair and unbiased assessment, the puddings were not served with extra booze or flamed, and they were served plain, without any cream, butter, or custard.
On the day of testing, judges were sent an anonymous detailed spreadsheet where they recorded observations and tasting notes. Specifically, judges were tasked with providing feedback on the pudding's appearance, flavour, and texture. Judges assigned a rating on a scale of one to five, with one indicating poor quality and five representing the best.
When evaluating the Christmas puddings, judges placed a strong emphasis on a moist sponge, distribution of fruit, level of booze, and even the colour of the puddings.
Many judges preferred when fruits were visibly present, traditional flavours came through, a decent hit of booze, and an overall classic taste and look. They also evaluated the pudding's shape and its visual appeal. This included factors such as its glossiness, glazes, and sauces.
Meet the experts: Tried and tasted by...
An experienced recipe writer, editor, and food stylist, Jen is Group Food Director at Future plc where she oversees the food content across the women’s lifestyle group, including Woman & Home, Women’s Weekly, Woman, Woman’s Own, Chat, Goodto.com, and womanandhome.com. Jen studied Communications at Goldsmiths, then landed her first job in media working for Delia Smith’s publishing company on Sainsbury’s magazine. Jen honed her practical skills by combining courses at Leith’s cookery school with time spent in the test kitchen testing recipes and assisting food stylists on photoshoots.
Jess is a Food Editor at Future plc, working across brands in the woman’s lifestyle group, including Woman & Home, Woman’s Weekly, Woman, Woman’s Own, Chat, womanandhome.com, and Goodto.com. An experienced recipe writer, food stylist, and home economist, Jess honed her skills in print and digital food media, working with well-known brands such as Great British Bake Off, Tastemade US and UK, and Slimming World to name a few.
Amanda has clocked up experience in both digital and print working at brands including Olive, ASDA Good Living, and Ocado becoming an expert food and recipe writer, reviewer, and tester. At Future Plc Amanda has a busy schedule having taken on the health and Christmas specials. With a savoury tooth and discerning palate, Amanda enjoys testing the main categories, but secretly she loves a dessert with a novel twist, such as the Smash Nose Snowman Cheesecake from Tesco.
Rose Fooks is Deputy Food Editor at Future plc, creating recipes, reviewing products, and writing food features for a range of lifestyle and home titles including GoodTo, Woman’s Weekly, and Woman & Home. Our resident baking expert, Rose has a Diplome de Patisserie and Culinary Management at London’s Le Cordon Bleu. Her favourite time of year is Christmas as she loves nothing more than creating elaborate edible centerpieces such as her Gingerbread Cuckoo Clock to wow friends and family.
Georgia Sparks is the brains behind the taste tests, calling in products and liaising with suppliers as well as managing a team of assistants to make sure all the products are ready for each tasting session. Georgia is the Junior Food Writer in the Food Team at Future Plc, and when the Christmas madness subsides she is typically found in the kitchen developing and testing recipes as well as assisting on shoots or writing food features for Chat magazine.
Are shop-bought Christmas puddings already cooked?
Store-bought Christmas puddings have usually been cooked but just require reheating before serving. This reheating can be done by either boiling the pudding in a pot of water on the stove or using a microwave.
In the traditional preparation of a Christmas pudding, it is typical to cook it twice. Initially, often well in advance of Christmas, the pudding is steamed. Later, when it is ready to be served, the Christmas pudding is reheated. The reason for cooking the Christmas pudding ahead of time is to allow the flavours to mature, enhancing the pudding's deliciousness on the big day.
Can you reheat a shop-bought Christmas pudding?
Store-bought Christmas pudding is typically best enjoyed when heated for the first time. However, if you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave or the oven. Keep in mind that reheating Christmas pudding a second time can result in a somewhat rubbery and even a slightly tough texture. You can also use leftover Christmas pudding to make cake pops, add to a brownie mixture, or whip up festive ice cream.
To reheat, cover the Christmas pudding and put on a microwavable plate. Heat on high until piping hot, approximately 2-3 mins, depending on how much is left. Or heat the oven to 130C Fan/Gas 2 cover and bake for around 45 mins until hot through.
Can you get Christmas pudding without alcohol?
There are many free-from options available that still offer a traditional, Christmas pudding taste and appearance. You can find these in major supermarkets and online including Waitrose and Ocado.
What is a non-alcoholic substitute for brandy in Christmas pudding?
You can easily change the alcohol in your Christmas pudding to apple or orange juice or brewed tea such as Darjeeling.
How do you light a Christmas pudding?
Gently warm a small pan until the alcohol is hot. Remove from the heat, and quickly but carefully pour over the warm Christmas pudding. Carefully and swiftly ignite the alcohol using a lighter or match. Tilt the serving plate to one side, and gently, use a spoon to return any excess alcohol back onto the pudding.
For those of you looking for more Christmas inspiration, take a look at our roundup of the best Christmas food hampers for 2023 - highly rated by our Food Editor, Jessica.
Not sure what to do with leftover Christmas pudding - how about making our Christmas crumble or you could try making Christmas pudding ice cream.
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