Asda Christmas pudding is named best for Christmas 2020

Asda Extra Special 9 Month Matured Christmas Pudding has been named the best Christmas pudding in a blind tasting of 10 premium supermarket Christmas puddings.

Our tasters were won over by its well-balanced flavours and moist texture, and it impressed so much it was named the only Which? Best Buy for Christmas 2020.

It's the cheapest we tested at just 77p per 100g, showing you don't have to splash out to get a premium-tasting pud.

Christmas pudding 2020 taste test: runners up

If you can't get to an Asda this year, you can still pick up a tasty supermarket Christmas pudding.

Here are three other high-scoring puddings we uncovered in our taste test. Co-op's is ideal for those who favour a fruity pudding, while fans of boozy puds might prefer Lidl's offering. Unfortunately the Morrison's pudding is out of stock at the time of writing.

• Co-op Irresistible 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, 74%, £4/400g (£1 per 100g)
• Morrisons The Best 9 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, 73%, £8/800g (£1 per 100g)
• Lidl 24 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, 71%, £12.49/907g (£1.38 per 100g)

Find out how your favourite supermarket scored in our round up of thebest Christmas puddings. Or buy our Best Buy Christmas pudding from Asda.

How we tested

• We heated each pudding in a microwave according to pack instructions and served blind to a panel of 61 tasters
• The panellists rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of each product
• The order they sampled the Christmas puddings in was fully rotated to avoid any bias
• Each panellist had a private booth so they couldn't be influenced by others.

Salted caramel cheesecakes for Christmas dessert compared.

How to get the perfect Christmas pudding dome

Christmas puddings always look delectable on the packaging, but getting a neat dome of cake from the plastic tub on to your plate isn't always easy. If you've ever been left scraping half your pudding from the side, follow these easy steps to serve.

1. While it's tempting to start serving your Christmas pudding as soon as possible, giving it the resting time specified on the pack is crucial for a decent dome. Resting gives the dessert a chance to settle and keep its shape better.
2. When the time's up, run a knife around the edge of the pudding to separate it from the basin.
3. Put a plate over the top of the basin, and turn the plate and basin over. Wait a minute or so, or until you feel the pudding come free. It should be a satisfying thud.
4. If your pudding comes in a plastic tub and shows no sign of shifting, take a corkscrew and make a hole in the base of the tub. This will allow some of the pressure to escape and you should feel the pudding drop on to the plate soon afterwards.

All prices correct as of November 2020.