With The Traitors back on the telly and the Good Housekeeping Christmas taste test out today, cosy season has officially begun. And what better way to settle in than with a warm pudding all to yourself?
M&S has got the memo, launching six new single-serve desserts today – including two cookie dough flavours, two crumbles and two sponge puddings.
If M&S’s famous loaded cookies are your idea of a good time, the Double Chocolate Cookie Dough pot (£3) is the ultimate winter upgrade. Pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds and out comes a pot of super soft cookie dough laced with chocolate chips, and little bursts of hot chocolate sauce throughout. In my opinion, a drizzle of cream or a scoop of ice cream would make this a solid ten.
The other cookie dough flavour is a fruity raspberry and white chocolate version which is every bit as soft and squidgy as the chocolate one, but with zingy raspberry compote.
The two crumbles come with a clever twist: the crunchy topping sits in its own insert, so you can heat the fruity filling and custard before adding it. No soggy bottoms around here! Choose between Bramley apple with Madagascan vanilla custard, or summer berries with the same creamy custard. Both are topped with crisp, all-butter oaty crumble – and cost just £2.50.
And for old-school sponge pudding fans, there’s a Banana, Caramel and Pecan Pudding topped with caramel sauce and crunchy pecans, plus a Chocolate, Orange and Hazelnut Pudding with real orange pieces, chocolate sauce and a nutty finish. Think mug cakes, with zero prep.
So light a candle, draw the curtains and settle in: these hot puds are made for a cosy night on the sofa.
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