Come the end of Christmas lunch, you may be bursting from the seams after platefuls upon platefuls of glazed ham, prawns and Aunt Judy's potato salad. But let's face it – there's always room for dessert.
Fortunately, Melbourne is home to many artisanal bakers preparing traditional – and not-so-traditional – sweets for a show-stopping finish to the day. And best of all, most of them are available to order online so you can tick one thing off your to-do list (and avoid more time than needed in the kitchen). But don’t leave it too long, these stand-out desserts are selling fast!
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Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon has been perfecting his tart game for years, so you know you're in very good (and flour-dusted) hands here. This year, the the Christmas range has levelled up with a merry range of flavours like trifle, pavlova and cherry-gingerbread – but it's the famous eggnog and fruit mince tart that has stolen our heart (and made our tummies rumble) this festive season
Prices start from $47.50. Check it out in-store or make an order online until December 23.
The Melbourne faves with a cult following are bringing back the smash-hit pandoro gelato cake this Christmas – and it's the ultimate table centrepiece. Featuring layers of chocolate, cherry cream and redcurrant gelato encased in Italian pandoro sponge, the cake is finished with a raspberry chocolate spray and topped with a handmade edible bauble that you can hang onto your Chrissie tree.
It's $120 and available for pre-order until December 21 or in-store at the Carlton, Fitzroy and Windsor locations. To place an order, visit the website.
Love cherries, pineapple and all things summer fruits? Indulge in Stokehouse's refreshing tropical take on the traditional Christmas pudding, which comes ready-made with at-home instructions and the pastry chef's special brandy custard recipe to accompany. Your Stokehouse pudding can be picked up at the restaurant in the lead-up to Christmas, with final collection on December 24.
It's $80 and available to order now.
Once again, the legends over at Penny for Pound have concocted a truly mouth-watering selection of Christmas goodies. Starting with the summer trifle – a multi-layered beauty of mango and passionfruit jelly, custard, fresh fruits, passionfruit-soaked sponge, vanilla mascarpone chantilly and compote. It's topped with meringue kisses and white chocolate stars, and served in a glass trifle bowl you can keep. There's also the festive cookie pack (featuring choc-dipped florentines, melting moments, gingerbread and more); classic fruit mince tarts; and a Rudolph-inspired bûche de Noël.
The Christmas range is available for pick-up until December 24. You can place your order via the website.
Bread Club has promised a pie that will please both hardcore fruit mince fans and those who usually turn their nose up at the traditional treat. The French-owned bakery has made its mince with a mix of rhubarb, sour cherry and beetroot, creating a sweet-but-tart filling packaged in cracked, buttery pastry. Looking for a tasty stocking filler? You can also grab packets of choc-loaded gingerbread biscuits.
Pies come in packs of six for $26 each; gingerbread cookies in packs of seven for $16. Online orders are open now.
An Italian Christmas isn't complete without a panettone. If you're looking for something special this year, you'll want to check out the Olivieri range, which the DOC Gastronomia crew have exclusively imported to its delicatessens for more than a decade. This award-winning panettone is made from a natural sourdough starter, completely without preservatives. It's premium with a capital P – think 5 Crown sultanas, bourbon vanilla and artisan butter. Take your pick of flavours like classic, chocolate, gianduja, caramel and limoncello.
The panettone range is available for purchase online or via pick-up from the Carlton and Mornington stores.
Melbourne bakery queen Phillippa Grogan has launched her highly anticipated Christmas range, and you can find all sorts of goodies – think cranberry shortbread biscuits, caramel brandy sauce and ginger star decorations. But it's the traditional plum pudding that steals our heart every year. It's loaded with Phillippa’s own candied orange peel, Australian vine fruit, sweet spices, brandy and a touch of suet for a lighter texture. Yum.
It's $62 and available for click and collect until December 19. You can view and order from the Christmas collection via the website.
This is a panettone, but not as you know it. Piccolina's gelato-stuffed version is the stuff of Christmas dessert dreams – we're talking a classic Italian panettone soaked in a roasted hazelnut infused syrup, then filled with Piccolina’s signature Better
than Nutella gelato and layered with chocolate shards. It's then coated in a dark chocolate and roasted hazelnut glaze, dotted with milk and white chocolate crisp pearls, and topped with a gianduja bauble. Yep, we're drooling.
It's $110 and available for pick-up from all stores. Order yours here.
Are these some of the best festive mince tarts in Melbourne? We sure think so. Morning Market's version contain an intoxicatingly fragrant mix of organic apples, currants, brandy, pastis and warm spices that have been macerating together for months. Plus, aren't they so pretty?
Grab a whole box of 'em for just $32 (there's six to a pack). You can order them for pick-up from the Fitzroy or Prahran store until December 24.
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