Because there's only so much Christmas pudding we can take.
We all love a good Christmas pudding, especially when it's served with cheese (according to our recent Facebook post). But eating the same old fashion dessert every single year does take the excitement out of the post-Christmas-dinner course.
Instead, we're all about trying out different alternatives and Leeds really has put on a feast for us this year. We've rounded up the best Christmas desserts around the city, so get ready to have your stomach rumbling and you mouth watering as we take you through our top picks.
It's not difficult to see why these alternatives to a traditional figgy pudding are going to be a popular choice at any dinner table. This White Italian sponge with Sicilian Pistachio cream and white chocolate is decorated with mini cannoli, profiteroles filled with cream and fresh berries, as well as some cute little festive creatures on top too. Add some Baileys and make this the boozy dessert of Christmas present by ordering from Poco until the end of the month.
From the outside, the unassuming, chocolate-covered pudding looks delicious, but it’s the gooey inside that’s the real show stopper. The giant cookie dough balls are available in a range of shapes, each with slightly different flavours. Choose from the traditional Chocolate Pudding or opt for a Reindeer, S’mores Snowball or a Christmas Bauble shaped dessert. Make sure you place your order before the 21st to get yours in time for the big day.
The Ambassador's Golden Balls. / Image: Bad Brownie Co.
Technically speaking, Bad Brownie have called this the 'The Ambassador's Golden Balls', but we all know where the inspiration has come from for this supersize chocolate. Imagine layers of Nutella and hazelnut praline, fudgy chocolate brownie, crispy wafer pieces and plenty of chopped hazelnuts, all sprayed in an edible golden shine to ensure that you don't complicate them with any other festive chocolates. Order these online for a supersize Christmas pudding nobody around the dinner table will want to forget any time soon.
Strawberry and White Chocolate Cheesecake, Dizlicious
White chocolate and strawberry cheesecake . / Image: Dizlicious
Supporting small businesses is a Christmas gift that we can all give whilst completing our Christmas shopping. Although many independent stores can't offer you same-day delivery like Amazon, you'll make a huge difference to their livelihood and can usually work to specific briefs with all sorts of deadlines. Take this delicious cheesecake from Dizlicious. A white chocolate and strawberry cheesecake, was requested and this incredible masterpiece was the result.
Vegan Chocolate Marshmallow and Stout Cake. / Image: Wapentake Leeds
If you buy enough slices from Wapentake's cake bar, you'll end up with enough to remake an entire cake and feed your loved ones some of the finest festive flavours around. This chocolate marshmallow and stout cake is just one example of the delicious options available. Plus, you can pair your selection with appropriate beers and get those last minute foodie gifts sorted too.
Feature Image- Dizlicious
Christmas
Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Popular TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Think it's too early for 'C word'? Never mind, you've already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn't exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner - but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right - Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there's arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that's charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it's now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films - including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
Sophie Smith -
17th December 2021 
