Christmas pudding is definitely a “Love it or hate it” thing. So with Stir Up Sunday coming up on the 22nd November, Waitrose has challenged me to create a Christmas pudding recipe with a twist, something that even 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 Christmas Pudding. How can anyone not love this combination?
Stir Up Sunday, for those who don’t know, is a British tradition for making the Christmas pudding.
This tradition dates back to Victorian times, held on the last Sunday before advent, when everyone in the household gives the Christmas pudding mixture a stir and makes a wish! This is my first year to follow this tradition and although my pudding is quite non-traditional, it’s been very satisfying to create my own Christmas pudding from scratch.
Whilst stirring the fruit, spices and liquor together, it’s very hard not to feel festive and uplifted…
Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding (Vegan)
A Christmas pudding even Christmas pudding-haters will love! A non-traditional Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding that's vegan friendly too.
Ingredients
- 60 g plain flour
- 3 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp xanthum gum
- 120 g dark brown muscovado sugar
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 150 g fresh white breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp ground mixed spice
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Zest and juice of 2 oranges, approx 100ml orange juice
- 60 ml vegetable oil
- 80 ml water
- 4 tbsp contreau or brandy
- 1 tsp natural orange extract, optional
- 100 g dark chocolate chips
- 350 g brandy soaked mixed dried fruit & citrus peel*
- 100 g pitted dates, chopped into small pieces
You will also need
- 1 litre pudding basin/tin
- Greaseproof paper
- Tin foil
- String and scissors
- A pot large enough for the pudding basin
- A small trivet or heat-proof saucer
Instructions
To prepare the pudding mixture
- If you can't get hold of ready-soaked mixed fruit, prepare it the previous day by adding the mixed fruit and peel to a bowl with approx 3 tbsp brandy. Leave overnight.
- Prepare a 1 litre pudding basin by greasing it with vegetable oil and placing a circle of greaseproof paper at the bottom.
- Mix the flour, arrowroot powder, baking powder, xanthum gum, cocoa powder, sugar, breadcrumbs and spices together in a bowl.
- Stir in the orange juice and zest, vegetable oil, water contreau and orange flavouring.
- Fold in the dried fruits and the chocolate.
- Transfer the mixture to the pudding basin.
To steam the pudding
- Tear off a large square of the greaseproof paper and tin foil, placing the greaseproof paper on the bottom. Create a pleat by making a 1-inch thick fold in the centre of both layers.
- Place on top of the pudding tin and scrunch the foil around the sides to secure. Tie securely with a piece of string.
- Fold in the excess paper and foil to help make it water-tight.
- Create a handle by tying another piece of string to one side of the tin (where you made the knot from the previous string) and tying it on the opposite side so you can easily lift the pudding out of the pot.
- Place a trivet or upturned saucer at the bottom of the pot (I used a small heat-proof container lid) and place the pudding on top. Fill the pot half way up with hot water and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and leave to steam for 3 1/2 hours.
- After 3 1/2 hours, lift the pudding out of the pot and leave to cool for a few minutes, until the pudding starts to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Carefully, using a spatula knife, loosen the pudding from the sides and turn over onto a plate.
- This pudding can be kept, wrapped in the fridge, for up to 6 weeks.
- To serve, you can eat it as it is at room temperature, or re-steam it for 2 hours to serve warm. Add some melted chocolate sauce and a scoop of ice cream for Christmas dessert!
For more Christmas puddings with a twist, visit the Waitrose recipe collection!
Could you please tell me why there is an asterisk* after (Brandy soaked mixed dried fruit &) citrus peel in the ingredients list?
If you look further down, it is because she explains that if you can’t find bandy soaked dried fruit, then do it yourself the night before.
I have made this recipe a few times, and it is lush.
Hi! I made this last year – last minute – and everyone loved it! Im trying to be more organised and make it in good time this year. Fridge space is at a premium so can this be frozen? Thank you. Xx
Can I make it without guar gum or do you know a substitute please
Oops xanthum
Xantham gum is a binding agent that’s often used with gluten free flour to ensure binding occurs. If you are not using gluten free flour the arrowroot should be enough to bind the pudding. To be extra sure you could add a tablespoon of soya flour or cornflour instead.
To re heat, can the pudding be microwaved?
Hi Sally – Sure! I would say 3-5 minutes on full power :)
Hi Aimee I made this last year and it went down a storm! Can I ask you though, please:
1. How do you make the chocolate sauce?
2. Do you ‘feed’ the pudding?
3. Is there an alternative resteam heating method? I’m a guest and I don’t fancy using my hosts hob for 2 hours and heating the sauce.
Hi Tiff, sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Glad to hear you enjoy this recipe! To answer your questions:
1) The chocolate sauce was literally just melted chocolate with a bit of dairy-free butter or coconut cream.
2) No need to feed it but you can certainly try it if you want to make it extra juicy.
3) You can cover it in foil and heat it in the oven for 20-30 minutes. You might need to add a few drops of water into the tin with it.
Hope that helps!
Thank you for this recipe–it looks like it would go really well with a little bit of grand marnier! I’m thinking of making mini versions of this recipe, but it would require baking the pudding in the oven instead of steaming it…would you advise against this? Any tips?
Hi Katie sorry for the late reply! I have never tried baking them but I think it would be a very different outcome. I think steam is what gives it that classic christmas pudding texture so perhaps if you used a pan of water in the oven, to create steam? That might work but I’ve never tried it so can’t say for sure! Let me know if you give it a go :-)
I love the choc/orange twist you’ve put on the traditional Christmas pudding. Definitely a winner in my book ;)
Stunning photography too ♥
yum!!! this will be my first vegan christmas & i’ve been thinking a lot about what to make for pudding – i think this could be a winner!
Normally I’d stick with my own recipe for cherry and pecan Christmas pudding but you’ve really made me want this version now! Love the flavours.
Wow Aimee! That’s an incredibly decadent and luscious pudding!