WHERE TO BUY PUDDING

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS

— Our hot tip is the Authentic Bread Company’s pudding: nicely spiced and full of organic booze.£10.95; www.abel-cole.co.uk

— Rémy Martin Christmas pud is deliciously fruity, with a kick. £12.99, Waitrose

— A large Carved Angel pudding, made to Eliza Acton’s world-famous recipe. Sold in a ceramic bowl.£16; www.thecarvedangel.com

— Aunt Alice’s Christmas pudding, a favourite of Jamie Oliver.From £11, Borough market, SE1; 07986 598407

— A luxury Christmas pudding made at the family-run Craigie’s Farm, near Edinburgh. £10; www.craigies.co.uk

CHRISTMAS CAKES

— Popina’s luxury Christmas cake is moist, boozy and visually stunning.4.5kg, £90; www.popina.co.uk

— The Meg Rivers Classic Iced Christmas Cake comes in a Cath Kidston tin; £5of the pricegoes to charity.Feeds 16, £38; www.megrivers.com

— The Jewel cake is light and fruity, topped with glacé apricots, orange slices, cherries, plums, brazil nuts and pecans.1kg, £12.99, from M&S

— Harrods’s iced Christmas cake is spicy and luxurious.1kg, £20

— Bettys’ soft iced snowflake cake is another classic from the traditional Yorkshire bakers. 1.6kg, £25; www.bettysbypost.com

MINCE PIES

— Waitrose luxury butter mince pies have a wonderfully crumbly pastry.£1.99 for six

— Sharpham Park’s spelt mince pies are a relatively healthy option, but still have a deliciously nutty flavour. £6.50 for six; www.sharphamparkshop.com

— For tangy mincemeat wrapped up in organic pastry, you simply can’t beat Abel & Cole’s offerings. £3.75 for six, www.abel-cole.co.uk

— Bettys’ star-topped mince pies, cooked to a traditional homemade recipe, are as attractive as they are tasty. £16 for 12; www.bettysbypost.com

— Konditor and Cook’s cakes are renowned for being among the best, and its mince pies don’t disappoint. £5.65 for six; www.konditorandcook.com

CHOCOLATES

— Milk-chocolate Marc de Champagne truffles – Prestat has been making quality chocolate for more than 100 years.200g, £12; www.prestat.co.uk

— Mr Ozinda’s fine chocolate assortment is the richest you’ll find at the supermarket. £9.99, from Tesco

— Parisians know how to make seriously good chocolate, like Pearl of Ganache. £36 for 20; www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.uk Cioccolatini d’Oro brings a touch of Italian good taste.£9.95 for nine, Carluccio’s

— Hotel Chocolat’s Hand Piped Selection – if you’ve not tasted these, you haven’t lived. £16.75 for 30, www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

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