“A mound of sticky, cloacal, saccharine sludge sloshed in alcohol butter” was how one Guardian journalist   described Christmas pudding. And while we’re sure that there are plenty of crimbo pud devotees out there, we’d posit there are a fair few South Africans who’d prefer something else instead. After all, even Heston Blumenthal’s Christmas offering for British supermarket Waitrose, this year, doesn’t actually taste like Christmas pud. We hear it’s flavoured like chocolate brownies instead.

Looking for something more suited to a sweltering hot South African summer? Here are 10 light, zesty and cooling pudding ideas that don’t involve even a smidgen of suet.

Berry and summer fruit lattice tartlets
Fresh berries, plums and peaches, all baked up under a lattice of flaky pastry. Serve with lashings of cream.

Cheat’s crème brulee with raspberries
This couldn’t be simpler: Greek yoghurt topped with a quick caramel and fresh fruit. It’s also low-fat.

Ariana Bundy’s ice in heaven
Try this delicate Persian custard for something a little different. Missing the drama of the flaming pud? Never fear: the recipe calls for gold leaf for garnish.

Chocolate mousse with macerated strawberries
A traditional classic, this recipe uses just milk, chocolate, cream and gelatine leaves.

Raspberry and rose sorbet
Rose water and raspberries make this a really special sorbet recipe. Best made with an ice cream maker.

Granadilla sorbet
No ice cream maker? Try this baby instead. It’s fresh, zingy and oh-so-moreish.

Pomegranate semifreddo
Chilly, creamy and unusual: sprinkled with pomegranate seeds this makes a beautiful dish for the festive table.

Boozy nougat and nut ice cream
Another one for busy cooks: stir up some good quality vanilla with nuts, nougat and liqueur for a delicious, festive dessert.

Low-fat creme caramel
Fat-free milk makes this classic dessert slightly less unhealthy than it might otherwise be. We reckon that means you can have seconds.

Mango skewers dipped in chocolate
Drizzle good quality chocolate over dried mango and you’ve got healthy(-ish) pudding kebabs. A great accompaniment to that braaied turkey.