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The best Christmas desserts for 2026, from cascading caramel stars to chocolate gonks
The showstopping puds to finish off your feast in style
Tested by JoJo AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
From perfectly cooked turkey to crunchy (yet fluffy) roast potatoes, there’s quite enough to remember on Christmas Day, without having to make dessert from scratch.
So, to take the pressure off while still ending your meal in style, the Good Housekeeping Institute has found the best Christmas desserts for 2026 as part of its annual Christmas Taste Test.
Whether you’re looking for an indulgent star-shaped chocolate treat or a jiggly panna cotta for pud, we’ve found the most spectacular centrepieces to impress friends and family on the big day.
Best Christmas desserts 2026
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How we test Christmas desserts
The Good Housekeeping Institute tested 19 Christmas dessert centrepieces from all the major supermarkets and independent brands this year. To avoid brand bias, they were presented without packaging and evaluated on their flavour and presentation.
To earn a spot on our list, they had to deliver a suitably festive flourish, whether presented as a star, wreath or Christmas gonk. These are the sweet showstoppers sure to impress on the big day.
Iceland Luxury Chocolate Éclair Wreath 522g
Iceland Luxury Chocolate Éclair Wreath 522g
Score: 83/100
Our winning Christmas dessert combines light choux pastry with rich, vanilla-flecked cream and chocolate sauce, all prettily presented as a festive wreath. Testers praised the balance of pastry, cream and chocolate, with most finding the sweetness spot on. Better still, it can be stashed in the freezer ready for festive entertaining – just don't forget to defrost it in time!
Available 24 November 2026
Waitrose Mandarin Crown Cheesecake 750g
Waitrose Mandarin Crown Cheesecake 750g
Score: 81/100
Waitrose's vibrant centrepiece is a far cry from your run-of-the-mill cheesecake. The rich, baked vanilla filling sits on a crunchy biscuit base, topped with a glossy mandarin glaze that tastes as good as it looks. Zingy citrus cuts through the creamy sweetness, making this a refreshingly light finale after a heavy Christmas feast.
Available 18 December 2026
Lidl Christmas Showstopper Gonk 785g
Lidl Christmas Showstopper Gonk 785g
Score: 79/100
A little like a festive gnome, the Christmas gonk has gone mainstream, and Lidl has turned it into an impressive festive centrepiece.
Beneath the playful exterior is a layered mousse dessert combining creamy vanilla, sweet caramel, crumbly biscuit and crisp dark chocolate. Testers approved of the 'lovely mixture of textures', although it is rich, so a little goes a long way.
Available 18 December 2026
Tesco Finest Sticky Toffee Pecan Star 775g
Tesco Finest Sticky Toffee Pecan Star 775g
Score: 79/100
Festive and warming, this spruced-up sticky toffee pudding is laced with salted caramel and feels ultra-Christmassy. The cascading sauce adds theatre to the table, while the crunchy pecan pieces bring a welcome contrast.
Available 18 December 2026
Morrisons The Best Signature Chocolate Orange Star 840g
Morrisons The Best Signature Chocolate Orange Star 840g
Score: 75/100
Morrisons topped our test with a similar star-shaped dessert last year, and for 2026 it's back with a chocolate orange twist. Our panel said the combination of rich chocolate and zesty orange sauce was reminiscent of Jaffa Cakes, with the citrus cutting through the creamy ganache and sweet white chocolate layers. Finished with a dusting of gold, it's a fitting addition to the Christmas table.
Cutter & Squidge Loaded Christmas Tiffin Wreath
Cutter & Squidge Loaded Christmas Tiffin Wreath
Score: 73/100
Cutter & Squidge's showstopping Christmas wreath may look like a classic dessert but delve a little deeper and you'll discover dense chocolate tiffin packed with chewy marshmallow, smooth ganache and crunchy biscuit. Decadently rich, this is one to slice, share and revisit throughout Christmas.
Available 1 November 2026
Exceptional by ASDA Vanilla & Clementine Panna Cotta
Score: 71/100
If chocolate doesn't do it for you, this fresh and fruity dessert may appeal instead. The smooth, creamy vanilla panna cotta is topped with bright clementine jelly, which cuts through the richness nicely. Soft, jiggly and easy to eat, it's a refreshing way to round off a big Christmas feast.
COOK Sticky Toffee Roulade 1.08kg
COOK Sticky Toffee Roulade 1.08kg
Score: 70/100
Why choose between sticky toffee pudding and roulade when you can have both? COOK's hybrid dessert combines soft, toffee-flavoured sponge with a creamy filling, crunchy nuts and chewy toffee pieces for plenty of textural contrast (although be warned, they may get stuck in your teeth!). Sweet and gently spiced, testers described it as 'very moreish'.
More festive sweet treats
Looking for a more traditional end to your meal?
We’ve also found the best panettone, best Christmas cakes, best Christmas puddings and best stollen.
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!
