Alternative Christmas pudding recipes: Chocolate bombe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for rum in Christmas pudding? ›

However, if it is difficult then you can use alternatives. A sweet marsala or Madeira wine are good alternatives but if you only have a bottle of rum, whisky or brandy on hand then one of these could also be used.

We would tend to err on the side of using a spirit with a higher alcohol content (such as rum or whisky) but a fortified wine with a long shelf life, such as a sweet Marsala or Madiera could also be used.

Use gluten-free white flour and breadcrumbs made from gluten-free bread, and replace the stout and barley wine with the same amount of sherry.

We would also mention that after the first steaming the pudding may look a little lighter in colour than you may expect. On the second steaming the pudding will darken in colour. As it re-heats it will also become slightly softer in texture and should be easy to cut once it has been turned out from its basin.

Douse the pudding

Pour the lit brandy over the top of your Christmas pudding – the flames will transfer and – voilà! – a spectacularly festive flaming pud.

Christmas pudding is traditionally soaked with alcohol, preferably brandy, for flavour maturation. However, many people prefer rum and whisky spirit with high alcohol content.

La bûche de Noël

The quintessential French Christmas dessert is the bûche de Noël, or the Yule or Christmas Log, a rolled cake with filling and thick icing.

If you can't get it you could use a strong dry cider.

Once burning, the heat generated warms the liquid alcohol in the pudding, creating more vapour until eventually there is no more alcohol left to vapourise.

What can be used instead of suet in a Christmas pudding? My family recipe for Christmas pudding has melted butter instead of suet and it is flourless. It replaces all the flour with fine breadcrumbs. It is a great keeper and I've kept puddings in a cool dry place for 3 or 4 years.

What is a substitute for chocolate pudding? ›

You can replace pudding mix in baked goods with alternatives like cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or custard powder for thickening. Additionally, using Greek yogurt, sour cream, or applesauce can add moisture and a similar texture to your recipes.

The pudding should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. If the pudding is in a warm and humid environment (such as a steamy kitchen) then there is a risk that some mould will develop on the pudding. If you live in a warm or humid climate then it may be better to store the pudding in the fridge or to freeze it.

Superstitions say that Christmas pudding must be prepared with 13 ingredients, which are said to represent Jesus and his twelve disciples. It is also said that the mixture should be stirred in turn from east to west, by each family member, to honour the disciples' journey.

The essentials for the best puddings

Use a mixture of flour and breadcrumbs, not just flour. Though in older times the choice was more to do with economy, breadcrumbs give the pudding a much lighter texture. And again, use just enough flour to hold the mixture gently together.

According to experts, the secret to Christmas pudding perfection is to heat it to precisely 71 °C. If it gets hotter than 89 °C, the sugars within the fruits in the pudding start to caramelise. So no matter how luxurious its ingredients are, your precious pud will taste bitter.

Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative is made to have the same flavor profile as classic dark rum. It's highlighted by a warm vanilla taste that's rich with toasted spices.

Biscane Rum substitute is alcohol-free, and gluten free, too. Cheers! Biscane non-alcoholic Rum has only 1 gram of sugar per serving, gluten free, and vegan. Classic Rum flavors and aromas of sugar-cane and molasses emerge when it's stirred into your favorite Rum co*cktail.

Non-alcoholic substitutes:Rum extract: Use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of rum extract for each tablespoon of rum called for in the recipe. Apple juice or white grape juice: Substitute an equal amount of apple juice or white grape juice for the rum.