Christmas Day is a gastronomic marathon that requires pacing yourself, both in terms of how much you eat and serveware that helps set the decorative scene.
What’s the sweet you most want to eat after turkey and ham on December 25th?
There is a myriad of options from tart cheesecake to filling-busting meringues.
Traditionalists champion a whiskey or brandy-soaked flaming pudding, while some prefer the childhood charm of trifle.
Here are easy yet impactful ways to present yours:
Child's play spread
Moomins, the troll-like characters first drawn by Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson in the 1940s, still evoke a certain nostalgic childhood, making Moomin Arabia’s Festive Moments, available through Finnish Design Shop, the perfect partner for your dessert spread.
You can fill the mugs, €29.50 each, with hot chocolate, and present baked goods on its 28cm pie dish, €39.40, or on a large serving plate, €49,30, or a smaller 28 cm one, €29.50.
Stack bowls, €29.50, and let guests help themselves.
Sugar rush chic
While everyone loves the theatre of the Christmas pudding, not everyone is a fan of the fruity fare.
Avoca’s serving suggestions put a variety of other ideas on a pink tablecloth decorated with fresh peony roses, as shown in the lead image.
The Pip Studio Royal Multi serving dish, €29.95, Royal Stripes plates, dessert size €13.50 each, and dinner, €19.95 each with the top of its handleless mug and tea sip set used as coasters for the champagne coupes, €18.50 each.
The dessert range shown includes mince pies, €10.95 for six to the star-shaped rice krispmas cake, €22.95 and its signature meringue roulade, €33.95.
All can be viewed and ordered here.
Not to be trifled with
Trifle forms a central part of the Irish Christmas experience.
It’s a crowd pleaser and when served in a glass bowl, such as this vintage-style footed dish by Bimuyi and similarly styled, a traditional sherry trifle is a festive hit.
It costs about €41.95, ex delivery through Amazon.
Mood-enhancing napkins
Tori Murphy’s washed linen napkins ask the question everyone is thinking but daren’t ask.
What indeed is for pudding?
A pair of these large 50cm square washed linen napkins poses the embroidered query – minus an apostrophe. Who will be the person to point this out in your household?
They cost about €68 for two.
Make mine a dark roast
A caffeine pick-me-up with the sweet is essential.
Bodum’s Colour Mix eight-cup French press is a really easy way to serve coffee to the masses and can be refilled in a jiffy.
The one-litre size costs €49, Arnotts.
Haute hot drop
Feldspar’s tiny teapot fits two mugs perfectly.
It has the same elegant spout, a little looping handle on the lid and an uneven dimpled profile as the large model.
Handmade and hand-painted in our Devon workshop using fine bone china from Cornwall, it costs about €208, ex delivery, and the handle comes in four possible colour options.
Sweet treat station
Add an Italian flavour to the season with a panettone and biscotti station where guests can help themselves.
Italian brand Alessi’s Delight range by Nika Zupanc includes star-topped biscuit jars in the shape of a snow-covered Christmas tree, €89 each, a panettone serving plate, €65, and candlesticks €35.
There’s also a mug with a star incorporated into its handle, €34 each.
