The best Christmas puddings for 2026 revealed, and the winner is only £7.99
From traditional to chocolate, The GHI reveals this year’s best puds to round off your feast
Tested by JoJo Anastasiou and Harriet King
If you're planning to make your own Christmas pudding this year, you'll need to leave plenty of time for the vine fruit to soak up all that lovely booze.
However, if you're going to miss Stir-up Sunday (which falls on 23 November this year, FYI), or you're simply too busy working your way through the best mince pies (same), we're confident these shop-bought Christmas puds will do an excellent job of impressing guests without all the prep.
Best Christmas puddings 2026
- 1
Best Christmas pudding and best value
Aldi Specially Selected 24 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 800g
Read review - 2
- 3
Waitrose No.1 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 800g
Read review - 4
Best flavoured Christmas pudding
Morrisons The Best Limoncello And Clementine Christmas Pudding 400g
Read review - 5
How we test Christmas puddings
The Good Housekeeping Institute tested 26 classic and flavoured Christmas puddings for 2026 with the help of our panel, including options from both supermarkets and luxury retailers. To avoid brand bias, they were tasted blind and cooked according to the packet instructions.
As well as the super traditional options, we've also found the most exciting Christmas puddings with a twist for 2026 – perfect for those who prefer more unusual flavours, from zesty limoncello to an indulgent chocolate and Guinness combination.
These are the best Christmas puddings for 2026, tried and tested by the GHI.
Best Deal
Aldi Specially Selected 24 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 800g
Aldi Specially Selected 24 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 800g
Score: 85/100
This year's winning Christmas pudding has been matured for 24 months, resulting in a rich, deeply festive flavour. Packed with plump vine fruit and citrus peel, it impressed our testers with its warming spice, juicy fruit and crunchy almonds. Don't forget a generous dollop of brandy cream on the side.
Bettys Large Classic Christmas Pudding 800g
Bettys Large Classic Christmas Pudding 800g
Score: 84/100
As a nod to its Yorkshire heritage, this classic recipe includes a glug of local ale. Testers loved the deep, brown sugar sweetness and generous fruit, which is lifted with bright orange notes and a lick of ginger on the finish.
Waitrose No.1 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 800g
Score: 81/100
What sets this boozy pudding apart is its zesty citrus flavour, with pronounced clementine cutting through the sweet vine fruit and rich molasses. Testers praised the soft, moist texture, with juicy fruit and crunchy walnuts adding interest, while one summed it up as 'Christmas Day in a pud'.
Morrisons The Best Limoncello And Clementine Christmas Pudding 400g
Morrisons The Best Limoncello And Clementine Christmas Pudding 400g
Score: 78/100
A delicious twist on tradition, Morrisons has spiked this year's Christmas pud with a generous glug of limoncello, bringing a little taste of Italian sunshine to Christmas Day. Clementine and candied peel give it a refreshing, citrus-led flavour and sweetness, while plenty of fruit keeps things suitably festive.
Moist and chewy, testers described it as 'a good balance between traditional and flavoured'.
Aldi Specially Selected Tiki Rum Christmas Pudding 400g
Score: 76/100
For a boozy twist on the classic, look to Aldi's well-priced pud. Testers loved the 'super fruity' flavour, with notes of butterscotch and caramel alongside gentle warming spice and a subtle kick of rum. Soft and chewy with plenty of plump fruit, it's a lighter, crowd-pleasing take on traditional Christmas pudding.
Abel & Cole Luxury Organic Christmas Pudding 900g
Abel & Cole Luxury Organic Christmas Pudding 900g
Score: 76/100
Abel & Cole gets the vine fruit-to-sponge ratio spot on here, ensuring there's plenty of booze-soaked fruit and candied peel in every bite. Fragrant Cognac, warming nutmeg and brown sugar give it a distinctly traditional feel, while zesty lemon and orange peel keep things from becoming too heavy. A very classic Christmas pud for the traditionalists.
Tesco Guinness Christmas Pudding with Belgian Chocolate 400g
Tesco Guinness Christmas Pudding with Belgian Chocolate 400g
Score: 73/100
Christmas pudding purists may want to look away now, because there's nothing traditional about this chocolate version. Dark chocolate, treacle and caramel notes combine for a rich, indulgent sweetness, while Guinness adds a delicious malty depth.
Dense and sticky, it's the perfect Christmas pudding for those who don't like Christmas pudding.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Cognac Laced Christmas Pudding 400g
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Cognac Laced Christmas Pudding 400g
Score: 73/100
With delicate spice and subtle alcohol, this 18-month matured Christmas pudding centres around notes of brown sugar, orange peel and vine fruit. Testers enjoyed the chewy fruit and crunchy nuts, although some found the texture a little dry. Our advice? Serve with a generous dollop of brandy cream for extra richness.
Exceptional by ASDA Luxury Christmas Pudding 800g
Score: 73/100
With notes of orange peel, raisins and treacle, ASDA's traditional pud combines balanced sweetness with warming spice and a boozy finish. Flaked almonds add crunch to the hearty, chewy texture, making this a classic crowd-pleaser, with one tester praising its 'really traditional' flavour.
Meg Rivers Traditional Christmas Pudding 800g
Meg Rivers Traditional Christmas Pudding 800g
Score: 73/100
Meg Rivers’ pud impressed the panel with its spicy aroma, and testers loved the bold marmalade-like citrus notes and traditional sticky sponge. Made with brandy, sweet apple chunks and zesty citrus, it’s a premium, full-flavoured treat.
These also passed...
- Tesco Finest 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, £9 for 800g, Score: 71/100
- Daylesford Organic Christmas Pudding, £32 for 900g, Score: 70/100
- Morrisons The Best Christmas Pudding, £9 for 800g, Score: 70/100
- Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Alcohol Free Orange and Cranberry Christmas Pudding, £4.50 for 400g, Score: 70/100
Is it better to steam or microwave Christmas pudding?
All the puddings in our round-up can be either steamed or cooked in the microwave; however, many brands recommend the former for the best results.
Microwaved puddings can overheat, making them a little tough in the process. If time allows, steaming should result in a lighter texture.
Read more: How to steam a Christmas pudding
How to light a Christmas pudding
For the ultimate grand finale to your festive feast, you’ll want to light your Christmas pudding. Follow these instructions for a guaranteed flame.
- Once you’ve cooked your pudding, turn it out onto a serving plate and ensure a clear surface area.
- Gently warm the brandy in a small saucepan, before pouring it over the pudding — this way you can be confident it will ignite when you put a flame to it.
- Tip the brandy to the side of the pan before lighting.
- Point the pan away from you when pouring over the pudding.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
