Reach’s Rebecca Koncienzcy sampled four of Iceland’s new festive puddings, including the Belgian Chocolate Profiterole Star and Luxury Sticky Toffee Cottage – but one disappointed
Rebecca Koncienzcy and Chloe Dobinson Digital Production Editor
13:31, 26 Dec 2025
Rebecca got to try a range of the supermarket’s desserts(Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
Preparing a Christmas dinner can be stressful enough, let alone having to think about dessert as well. If you have picky guests who aren’t keen on a traditional Christmas pudding, or if you simply want to offer a variety of options, it can be challenging to plan.
Even the most meticulous hosts might be forgiven for opting for a cheeky shop-bought dessert to complete their festive spread. Iceland has a range of new puddings that are perfect for the Christmas season.
Reach’s Rebecca Koncienzcy was fortunate enough to try four of the best offerings for 2025, and there are some real winners here, along with one that she believes you should avoid to prevent disappointment over the festive period, reports the Express.
Iceland Strawberries and Cream Bauble scored highly, according to Rebecca(Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
Belgian Chocolate Profiterole Star – was £10, now £5
Despite being a defrosted pastry, this remains pleasantly light, with the delightful chewiness typical of choux pastry. The chocolate sauce on top is tasty, but Rebecca believes it could be made from better quality chocolate.
The profiteroles are generously filled with a fluffy cream, and you could easily consume three without realising. She appreciated the presentation and the convenience of simply defrosting them and they’re ready to serve.
The chocolate sauce is slightly less abundant on the profiteroles underneath, but this is a fantastic dessert for a party table that guests will adore.
8/10
Iceland Strawberries and Cream Bauble – £4.75
Rebecca wasn’t sure what to anticipate with this, but she was impressed by how festive it appeared. Again, this is another incredibly easy dessert, just remove it from the freezer six hours before serving.
Upon unboxing, it was perfectly wrapped. It’s easy to slice and she can certainly see it serving eight, as suggested.
The cake boasts a dense sponge base with an incredibly light sponge on top and through the middle.
Essentially, it’s a trifle sans fruit pieces and Rebecca absolutely adored it. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, despite her never having tasted it before.
The soft cream, reminiscent of custard, is delightful and the strawberry gel adds a lovely sweetness.
This would be an excellent choice for those who typically skip the Christmas pudding on 25 December.
8/10
Luxury Raspberry and Pistachio Pavlova Tree – was £12, now £6
Rebecca is a a fan of pistachios, but often find them overly sweet in shop-bought products. However, that’s not the case here.
It has a fantastic nutty taste that pairs well with the fresh tanginess of the raspberries.
The light, sweet meringue pairs wonderfully with the cream – when doesn’t it!?
The tree-shaped presentation is charming and would look perfect following Christmas dinner or on a party table. Rebecca enjoyed this so much she kept going back for more.
The light, sweet meringue pairs wonderfully with the cream(Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
However, one suggestion for Iceland to consider for next year: please package the macarons separately and allow the customer to add them at home once defrosted.
Her only gripe with this product is that as it thaws, the bottom of the macarons becomes soggy because they can’t defrost properly and are too close to the cream, which detracts from what would otherwise be Rebecca’s favourite item.
7/10
Luxury Sticky Toffee Cottage – £8
This dessert appeared promising, hinting at the taste of rich, dark and delightful caramelised sugars. However, proving that not everything can be a hit, Rebecca found it disappointing.
The preparation is straightforward: defrost the cake, heat the sauce, pour it over and serve. It looked appealing straight out of the box, and pouring the caramel over the cake added a touch of drama.
Rebecca’s issue was that even after defrosting, the cake was too dense to be truly enjoyable. Moreover, it seemed to lack flavour overall.
The sauce was necessary and did enhance the overall experience; however, despite a pleasant hint of ginger, it was excessively sweet for my liking. This is one dessert she would leave in the freezer.
2/10
All desserts and party foods for the festive season are available online and in store now.
Dining and Cooking