Historic Bedfordshire pub unveils festive Christmas pudding cheesecake with a modern twist

The Oakley Arms, a 400-year-old pub located in the village of Harrold, Bedfordshire (near the borders of Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire), has introduced a new seasonal dessert ahead of the Christmas period. The Christmas Pudding Cheesecake, created by pastry chef and landlady Elizabeth Slater, is now available, and it’s served with brandy butter ice cream.

The thatched-roof pub is located on High Street in the village of Harrold, which sits alongside the River Great Ouse. With Elizabeth and her husband, Andy, at the helm since 2021, it’s earned two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, and has become a local hotspot for seasonal menus and locally sourced ingredients. 

The “show-stopping” cheesecake, which was first served in early December, offers a modern reinterpretation of traditional festive flavours, and is visually innovative too: it is presented in a custom mould (developed in collaboration with design company Tasteshed) that’s shaped like a sixpence coin in reference to the age-old British tradition of hiding a silver coin in a Christmas pudding for luck. The new dessert features a base of Valrhona 35% white chocolate, infused with currants and set on a spiced sablé biscuit. At its centre is a whisky caramel made with Scapa single malt, offering what the team describes as a “molten richness”. While the presentation is contemporary, the flavours aim to evoke the comfort and nostalgia associated with traditional British Christmas puddings. “It reimagines nostalgic Christmas-pudding flavours with a lighter, modern touch,” said Slater.

The Christmas Pudding Cheesecake is available for the duration of December at the Oakley Arms, with reservations encouraged.

Food Desk

To book a table at The Oakley Arms, 98-104 High Street, Harrold, Bedfordshire MK43 7BH, call 01234 720166 or visit their website here.