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
Eats
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant
Clementine Hall
Much-loved Leeds Bistro The Swine Bistro, formerly known as The Swine That Dines, has moved to a bigger space in Headingley.
Although it’s gone through a few name changes over the years since launching as The Greedy Pig cafe in 2012, this independent spot has long been a firm favourite for Leeds locals for some time now.
Run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers, they’ve been operating out of North Street where it’s all about cooking seasonal produce simply and with an added ‘little bit of sunshine’.
But now Swine Bistro has moved up over to Headingley, taking up a unit previously occupied by Jam hairdressers on Otley Road.
Image: Supplied
And the time has finally come for them to open their doors, as they announce their first service will take place on Friday 4 April with bookings open from today, Thursday 20 March.
The Myers will be welcoming head chef Kirsty Cheetham, who won Observer Food Monthly’s Best Sunday Lunch award in 2018 and 2022 when she ran The Queen o’t owd Thatch in South Milford, Leeds.
The expanded space in the restaurant has allowed the team to curate a bigger wine list which will include natural wines from Wayward Wines and Latitude Wines as well as local beers from Ilkley Brewery and Horsforth Brewery.
Image: Supplied
The team remains passionate about locally sourced ingredients and has partnered with a variety of Yorkshire suppliers including R&J Yorkshire for its fresh meat, Tarbetts fishmonger, cheese from George & Joseph cheesemongers and beans from micro roaster, Chipp Coffee Co.
Jo Myers, co-owner of the Swine Bistro said: “It’s taken a huge amount of time and effort to realise our dream to revamp what was previously a hairdresser into a fully functioning kitchen and restaurant. It’s been a wild ride but we’re excited, and slightly nervous, to finally open our doors.
“We love the vibe in Headingley and the time out has allowed us to have fun with our menu as well as take part in lots of essential taste testing of ingredients and drinks from our brilliant local suppliers. We can’t wait to welcome guests into our new restaurant!”
Sophie Smith -
17th December 2021 
