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Vegetarian and alcohol-free Christmas pudding

This vegetarian and alcohol-free pudding requires no time to mature, so it can be made in as little as a week before it's required, or even made on the day and served fresh.

  • 30 minutes prep. time
  • 5 hours cooking time
  • Serves 8
  • Cakes, bakes & desserts, Christmas
Vegetarian and alcohol-free Christmas pudding
Vegetarian and alcohol-free Christmas pudding | © National Trust Images/William Shaw

Ingredients

  • 180g mixed dried fruits 
  • 60g dates, stoned and chopped
  • 60g glacé cherries, chopped 
  • 60g dried apricots, chopped
  • 90g plain flour
  • 90g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 60g dark soft brown sugar 
  • 60g vegetarian spread
  • 60g carrot, grated
  • 60g cooking apple, grated
  • 30g walnuts, finely chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp black treacle 
  • 1 tsp mixed spice 
  • Grated rind and juice of a lemon
  • Milk

Method

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly, adding enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency, (when a small amount of the mixture will fall from a spoon if gently shaken).

Step 2

Grease a 1.2 litre pudding basin. Tip the mixture into the basin and level the top.

Step 3

Cover with greased paper, then foil, and tie down securely.

Step 4

Place the basin in a large saucepan and top up with water until it comes halfway up the basin. Steam for 5 hours, topping up the water, as needed.

Step 5

Either serve immediately or let it cool uncovered, wrap in clean greased paper and foil and store until required (this will require steaming for 2 hours from cold).

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