Messina Is Releasing a Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding Trifle to Level Up Your Christmas Lunch

Each year, we all anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, that includes the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and for dessert fiends, it also includes Gelato Messina's annual Christmas cake. We hope you like a certain quintessential Australian dish, because that's what is on the gelato chain's menu again. Yes, Messina is bringing back its version of the trifle.

The Christmas Coma will return for its sixth year running — and, although it seems like we say this every festive season, this time it's especially decadent. In fact, it's a sticky date and toffee pudding turned into a trifle, combining multiple beloved desserts into one seasonal — and epic — treat.

2022's Christmas Coma will once again feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? Well, Messina is going with layers of caramel cremeux, that all-important sticky date and toffee pudding, crème fraîche chantilly and chocolate-coated biscuit crumble. On top? 'Tis the season to eat a handmade white chocolate and coffee chocolate wreath.

Plus, it'll come with some Messina brandy custard to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit).

All of the above comes in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which costs $250 and can be pre-ordered from Tuesday, November 1 — with times varying depending on your state, as the gelato chain has been doing with its specials lately.

Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT, Victorians at 9.15am, and New South Wales customers are split across three times depending on the store (with Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick, Circular Quay and Miranda on sale at 9.30am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 9.45am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Norwest, Rosebery and Penrith at 10am).

You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Wednesday, December 21–Saturday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour.

In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out ridiculously fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one.

The 2022 Christmas Coma will be available to order from Tuesday, November 1 for $250. Head to on the Messina website for further details.