The traditional Christmas pudding is given a modern twist with the additional popular flavour combination of chocolate and orange. This chocolate orange Christmas pudding is lighter than the classic dense pudding and makes a great alternative for those who still want a special pudding that is a little less rich.
A Lighter Christmas pudding
I love a rich Christmas pudding but I know they are not everyone's cup of tea so this is an alternative version of the traditional Christmas dessert.
So now you really can have the best of both worlds, a traditional style pudding that is totally delicious and shouts Christmas pudding but is lighter in both texture and flavour.
Even if you do love a rich pudding there is no getting away from it, they can be a bit heavy at the end of a Christmas dinner when we are stuffed full of turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing and a million pigs in blankets. This lighter version is equally delcious and incredibly easy to make.
A Christmas pud that can be made ahead or left to the last moment
Traditionally Christmas Pudding, once cooked, is cooled and then wrapped up and stored somewhere dark for a few weeks. That time allows for the flavours to mature and develop
Likewise this pudding can be made in advance on Stir up Sunday to get ahead of the game and kept in a cool dry place until the big day. But you can also make it much nearer the day if that suits you better as it doesnt need time to mature.
Indeed you could even make it the day before if should you so wish.
The pudding is alcohol-free. It doesn't need the rich flavours of added alcohol with the chocolate orange flavour. But if you feel you must you could add a splash or rum or brandy as they both work well with the chocolate and orange.
Soaking the dried fruits in the orange juice overnight allows them to become beautifully plump and juicy.
Time Saving Tip:
If you want to speed this step up, place the fruit and the juice in a saucepan. Heat gently until the juice is just simmering. Cover the pan and leave to stand for 30 minutes
Can I make the pudding Gluten free?
Both the self-raising flour and the breadcrumbs can easily be replaced with gluten free equivalents. As there is no suet in this recipe you do not need to worry about finding a gluten free alternative as you would with a traditonal recipe.
Is this Christmas pudding suitable for Vegans?
I've used butter in this pudding recipe as I like the flavour and it is my preferred fat for most of my baking but you could replace this with a dairy-free alternative to make it suitable for Vegans.
Serving suggestions
Serve with custard, whipped cream, brandy or rum butter or brandy or rum sauce.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Christmas pudding
Equipment
- Large pan with lid or steamer
- 600ml (1¼pt) pudding basin
- Steamer trivet or small plate
Ingredients
- 1 orange juice and zest plus additional juice if required.
- 250 g (9oz) dried mixed fruit
- 50 g butter softened, plus extra for greasing
- 75 g dark muscovado sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 50 g (2oz) glace cherries, quartered
- 100 g (3½oz) plain chocolate, we used 52% cocoa solids, finely chopped
- ½ eating apple grated
- 50 g (2oz) fresh breadcrumbs
- 75 g (3oz) self-raising flour
- 25 g (1oz) ground almonds
Instructions
- Grate the zest from the orange and squeeze the juice. Make the juice up to 150ml (¼ pt) with additional orange juice if required. Place 250g (9oz) mixed fruit into a bowl and add the orange juice and zest. Cover and set aside to soak overnight.
- Grease a 600ml (1¼pt) pudding basin and place a disc of baking parchment in the bottom.
- Beat the 50g (2oz) butter and 75g (3oz) sugar together either with a wooden spoon or an electric beater until pale and fluffy. Gradually add 2 beaten eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in the soaked fruits and any juice, 50g (2oz) glace cherries, ½ a grated apple and 100g (3½oz) finely chopped chocolate and mix well.
- Add the 50g (2oz) breadcrumbs, 75g (3oz) self-raising flour and 25g (1oz) ground almonds and fold in.
- Spoon the pudding batter into the prepared bowl, packing it down well. Avoid over filling it, leave a little space (about 1-2cm) for it to expand during cooking. Cover with a sheet of greaseproof paper or baking parchment. Then cover with foil and tie securely with string. Sit the bowl in a saucepan on top of a trivet or upturned saucer. Pour boiling water down the side of the bowl into the pan so that it comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Place the lid on the pan. Return the water to a boil then reduce the heat so that the water just simmers and steam the pudding for 2 ½ hours topping up the water as required.
- Once cooked remove from the steamer or pan and remove the covers. Allow to cool completely then cover again with fresh parchment and foil. Store in a cool dry place until required.
Joanna says
How long will the pudding last without alcohol in? I've made mine now and am just concerned it wont last until christmas without fat or alcohol it wont last? Please tell me it will haha
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Most Christmas pudding will keep for several weeks even without alcohol. This recipe was actually written by angela my predecessor at Crumbs and I was about to revisit it this year to give it an update and taste for myself. It certainly looks good. Having looked at it I can see no reason why it shouldn't keep until Christmas Just make sure you store it in a cool dry place.
Joanna says
Thank you! (I did add extra chocolate which was chocolate orange and cocoa powder which made it extra tasty compared to last year!)
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Extra chocolate has got to be good. Right! I'm looking forward to tryig this
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
I have never made a steamed pudding before! This looks perfect for Christmas time! It doesn't even involve soaking of fruits for a month! And the best part is chocolate and orange!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Wow, you'd have some seriously plump fruit if you soaked them for a month Deepika 😉 If you've never tried it, it's a great dessert for this time of year - packed with fruits and yumminess! So easy to make too 🙂
Angela x
Monika Dabrowski says
There are so many flavours you can use in Christmas pudding and I really like your choice of chocolate and orange, I've actually never made Christmas pudding before, by the time I start thinking about it I run out of time, and look it's late already, but maybe I'll still try...
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
I'm a huge fan of chocolate orange (infact I have another choc orange recipe on going at the moment!), so when I realised it would work in a Christmas Pudding there was no stopping me giving it a try 🙂
Ooh it's definitely not too late to make on Monika, after all Stir up Sunday (when they're traditionally made) was only yesterday. I completely agree that a pudding tastes better the longer it's left to mature, but it would still be good if you made it just a few days before 🙂
Angela x
Recipes Made Easy says
I like the idea of chocolate and orange in the Christmas pudding although I am going to confess that this year Im not making a pudding as I still have one left over from last year, otherwise I would be tempted. Thank you for linking this to #CookBlogShare
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou Jacqui 🙂 We're in that position with our Christmas cake because we still have an undecorated one from last yr! I'm so looking forward to peeling the layers of tinfol away and trying it once its been decorated - Christmas puddings and cakes become even more delicious the longer you leave them 🙂
Angela x
Kat BakingExplorer says
They look delicious, I love the chocolate orange touch and the photos are gorgeous!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Aw thankyou so much Kat 🙂
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
Genius idea to combine two Christmas favourites in one!! And must be good if Mr E polished his portion off. Gorgeous photos too!! Eb x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
I know I was so happy when he cleared his bowl Eb - plus he had a regular portion rather than an itsy bitsy piece - so very happy! Aw thankyou, just wish FoodGawker had shared your opinion!
Angela x
Corina Blum says
This sounds delicious and as it has chocolate in I might even be able to get my family to eat it. That would be fantastic as I love Christmas puddings! Unfortunately they are not big fans of Christmas pudding so it's not usually worth me making one. Maybe I'll test them out with this one. THanks so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Haha, chocolate always helps doesn't it 😉 Hubby isn't a fan of Christmas Pudding either, he always passes on it and has another dessert over the festive season, but he reluctantly tried a portion of this - he enjoyed it so much that he quickly cleared the bowl! Fingers crossed your family will respond the same and enjoy it if you decide to give it a go 🙂
Angela x
Johanna GGG says
I love a good home made christmas pudding - and definitely would choose one with chocolate and orange flavours - looks delicious
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain says
Thankyou Johanna, you can't beat chocolate orange flavours - it's definitely one of my favourites.
Angela x