Pud to the test

We tuck in to classic Christmas desserts to find the best

TOUGH JOB Our Nada Finest 12 months matured Christmas pudding, 907g, £6 Moist with the right amount of spice and booze. Run a knife around the edge and it comes out perfectly. Good value. Rich, boozy flavours and abundance of nuts – which some of its rivals lacked – helped Iceland to the top of the table. The aroma of spice and alcohol filled my kitchen and it tasted delicious, but this was tricky to get out of the plastic basin. Smelled fantastic but it was aroma over substance – the spices were too overpowering and it didn’t taste great. Laced with brandy and cognac, and packed with plenty of delicious fruits and nuts, this is great value for money. Specially selected vintage Christmas pudding, 454g, £4.49 A bit gooey and too spongy. Also lacked fruit content. Nice festive packaging but doesn’t deliver on taste. This one has certainly got a kick to it. Great mix of Christmas spice and fruits. Eased out of the basin and on to a plate. The gold coating will make this pud the perfect table centre piece but its too sweet and a bit mushy. Expensive too. This came in a lovely porcelain bowl but the texture was loose so it fell apart. Flavour was fantastic, but a bit pricey. Plump vine fruits, glacé cherries, nuts and a generous splash of French cognac. Ticks all the boxes – including the price.