A vegan twist on the classic Christmas Pudding with a drool-worthy chocolate orange flavour! This can also be cooked and reheated in the microwave for a quick treat.
Christmas pudding is definitely a "Love it or hate it" thing.
Stir Up Sunday, for those who don't know, is a British tradition for making the Christmas pudding.
And with that event coming up on the 22nd, I decided to create something that even some Christmas pudding-haters will love...
My first thought was "Add chocolate!!!" and to make it even more festive, I paired it with orange to create a Chocolate Orange Vegan Christmas Pudding.
How can anyone not love this combination?
Tools you'll need
- 1 litre pudding basin/tin
- A large pot - Large enough to comfortable sit the basin inside
- A small trivet - This will sit underneath the basin, inside the pot. You can also make use over other kitchen tools/accessories, such as a small heat-proof lid or upside down bowl.
- Greaseproof paper
- Tin foil
- String
- Scissors
Ingredients
- Oil - Mild vegetable oil for the cake and for greasing
- Flour
- Cornflour (cornstarch) - or arrowroot powder.
- Baking powder
- Dark brown sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Breadcrumbs - I use fresh white breadcrumbs in this recipe
- Spices - Including cinnamon and mixed spice
- Orange - Zest and juice of a fresh orange and some natural orange flavouring, if you can get hold of some.
- Mixed dried fruit and peel - Soaked in brandy! Plus some dates.
- Chocolate chips - Dark or dairy-free chocolate chips or broken chocolate bars
FAQ
Yes! I love making this in the microwave for a quick treat. Simply divide the batter into 4 microwave-safe mugs or containers and cook at 600W for approximately 3-4 minutes.
Please note: These timings are based on splitting the batter into 4 portions. Larger portions will take longer.
For steaming: Follow the same instructions as cooking but for 45 minutes.
For the microwave: Cook at 600W for 5 minutes.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Vegan Christmas Pudding
A Christmas pudding even Christmas pudding-haters will love! A non-traditional Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding that's vegan friendly too.
You will need a 1 litre pudding basin/tin, a pot large enough for the pudding basin, greaseproof paper, tin foil, string and scissors.
Ingredients
- 60 ml / 2 fl oz (¼ cup) vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing
- 60g / 2 oz (scant 1⁄2 cup) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 3 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 120 g / 4 1⁄4 oz (heaped 1⁄2 cup) dark brown sugar
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 150 g / 5 1⁄2 oz (3 cups) fresh white breadcrumbs
- 1⁄2 tsp ground mixed spice (apple pie spice)
- 1⁄2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges (about 100 ml / 3 1⁄2 fl oz (scant 1⁄2 cup) orange juice)
- 1 tsp natural orange extract
- 350 g / 12 oz (heaped 2 1⁄2 cups) mixed dried fruit and peel, soaked in 4 tbsp brandy overnight
- 100 g / 3 1⁄2 oz (3⁄4 cup) pitted dates, chopped
- 100 g / 3 1⁄2 oz (2⁄3 cup) dark chocolate chips
For the chocolate sauce
- 100 g / 3 1⁄2 oz dark or dairy- free chocolate
- 2 tbsp dairy-free milk
Instructions
Before you start
- Grease a 1 litre/35fl oz (1 quart) pudding basin with the oil and place a circle of greaseproof paper at the bottom.
To prepare the pudding mixture
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornflour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa powder, breadcrumbs, spices and orange zest.
- Whisk the orange juice, oil, orange extract and 80ml/21⁄2fl oz (1⁄3 cup) water together in a small jug.
- Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then fold in the soaked dried fruits, dates and the chocolate chips. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pudding basin.
To steam the pudding
- Cut a large square of greaseproof paper and another of foil, both slightly bigger than the basin. Place the foil over the paper and make a 2.5cm/1in thick fold in the centre of both layers. Place on top of the pudding basin, paper-side down, and fasten securely with a piece of string around the basin, under the lip.
- Tie another piece to this one, run it across the top of the basin and tie the other end to the string on the opposite side of the basin to create a handle, so that you can easily lift the pudding out of the pan.
- Place a trivet or upturned saucer at the bottom of the large pan and place the pudding basin on top. Fill the pan with hot water, so that it comes about two-thirds of the way up the pudding basin. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a gentle simmer, then let it steam for 31⁄2 hours, checking occasionally and topping up the water if needed so it doesn’t boil dry.
- After 31⁄2 hours, lift the pudding out of the pan and leave to cool for a few minutes, until the pudding starts to shrink away from the basin. Carefully, using a palette knife, loosen the pudding from the sides and turn over onto a plate.
To serve
- Make the quick chocolate sauce. Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water and add a few drops of milk to loosen it into a pourable consistency. Pour over the pudding, to serve.
Notes
You can store the pudding in its basin and covered with foil, for up to a year in a cool dark place. To reheat the pudding, steam in the same way for 45 minutes, or microwave for 5 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 428Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 1mgSodium 215mgCarbohydrates 78gFiber 5gSugar 39gProtein 4g
Gail Moran says
Hi. I followed this, except I also added (drained) dried cranberries soaked in Cointreau. I made a sauce from melted dairy free dark chocolate and soy cream whisked together. It was fantastic. I've bookmarked this because it it one of the most sublimely tasting desserts I've ever had/made. Thank you so much. De-licious.
Madelyn says
Hi! I made this today and the taste is wonderful but the mixture is so dry and crumbly, the pudding didn’t come out as dense and cuttable as I feel puddings generally are. I triple checked and I didn’t forget any ingredients or measure wrong. What could I be doing?
Aimee says
Hi, I'm sorry it didn't turn out! Did you definitely add the hot water to the mixture? I recall a reader did this before last Christmas. The mixture should definitely be wet before you put it into the basin. So if you try it again, make sure you've added the water and if you have, maybe add a drop or two more until you have more of a batter consistency. I'm glad it tasted good at least!
Laura Armstrong says
What dried fruit did you use? My grandmother made Steamed Pudding every Christmas and this recipe has inspired me to follow in her footsteps. Wish me luck!
Aimee says
Dried mixed vine fruit works great (raisins, sultanas, diced dried orange and lemon peel etc.) Hope you enjoy!
H says
Hello, I am making this lovely looking pudding but I am confused how its possible to soak 350g of dried fruit on 4 Tbsps of liquid? I have added the liquid to the fruit and it barely even coats the fruit. Most previous recipes I have used would soak the fruit in much more liquid. Is this is typo or are you using pre soaked fruit?
Many thanks :-)
Aimee says
Hi, yes I know it doesn't seem like much! But too much liquid will result in a soggy pudding. This is just enough for the fruit to absorb the flavour without too much moisture. It will absorb more liquid as it cooks and be nice and plump and juicy for the end result.