Vegan Christmas pudding

This vegan Christmas pudding is rich, fruity and delicious...and not an animal product in sight. You can even set it on fire to enjoy some classic Christmas dinner theatre.

This pud is as packed with fruit as you'd expect with good portion of mixed dried fruit and grated pear. Alongside that, we have flaked almonds for crunch, breadcrumbs, suet and flour for texture and cohesion, sugar and black treacle for sweetness, and a range of spices, brandy and citrus for that perfect festive flavour. It's all bound together with chia seeds in place of egg.

It's easy to buy vegan-friendly suet from supermarkets - you'll find it in the baking aisle. Just make sure you pick up the kind made from vegetable fat, not the kind made from beef fat. The two packs will often sit side by side, so it's always a good idea to check the label to be absolutely sure.

The steps for making this pudding are super easy and shown in detail below. You'll cook the dried fruit in citrus juice and brandy until plump, then fold in all the other wet ingredients, followed by all the dry ingredients. And that's it! Your batter is ready to pile into a pudding basin and steam!

You won't need any special equipment to steam your pudding. I recommend using a pudding basin with a lid as it's a quick and easy option, but if you don't have one, you can simply make a cover with foil and paper following this guide from Leiths.

Now, let's get baking!

Instructions

Mix the chia seeds with 45ml (1.5 fl oz) of water in a small bowl. Pop in the fridge.

Put the mixed fruit, brandy, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and 1 tbsp of juice (reserving the rest) into a bowl.

Place in the microwave and zap on full power for 7-10 minutes until the liquid has been absorbed by the fruit and it looks sticky, almost like mincemeat. Allow to cool.

Once cooled, add the remaining orange juice, grated pear, soaked chia seeds, black treacle and sugar.

Mix well.

Add the flour, suet, breadcrumbs, flaked almonds, mixed spice, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder.

Fold together to give a wet batter.

Transfer into your pudding basin.

Fit the pudding basin lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour - or overnight if you have time. The mixture will firm up a little once chilled.

Place the pudding basin - lid still on - in a saucepan and add boiling water one third of the way up the pudding basin.

Place the lid on the saucepan and gently simmer for 3 hours. Check the water level occasionally and top it up if it looks like it might boil dry. Once cooked, it will be darker.

Carefully remove the pudding from the saucepan, remove the basin lid and leave to cool with the lid off.

Once cold, place the lid back on the basin and store the pudding in the refrigerator. It will keep for a week.

On Christmas Day, steam the pudding the same way for an hour and it will be ready to serve.

This vegan Christmas pudding is lovely served with lightly sweetened soya cream or a scoop or vegan vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Vegan Christmas pudding

Is vegan Christmas pudding easy to make?

To make this vegan Christmas pudding recipe easy, all of the instructions are detailed and shown with helpful pictures. So you can see how it should look as you go along and avoid any mistakes or confusion. 

If you’re unfamiliar with vegan ingredients the instructions will tell you everything you need to know.

Will I need any special equipment to make vegan Christmas pudding?

You shouldn’t need any special equipment for this recipe, just a Christmas pudding basin for steaming. You can usually find these in homeware stores during the festive season, or all year round on Amazon.

There is a full list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below.

Where can I buy vegan suet? 

As plant-based diets have become more popular, brands and stores have started to make vegan versions, and lucky for us that includes vegan suet!

 You might find vegan suet in your nearest large supermarket, or at a vegan or health food store like Holland and Barett or Whole Foods. If you can’t find it in person there are many places to buy it online like Amazon or independent retailers.

What are chia seeds? Where can I buy them?

Chia seeds come from a plant in the mint family that grows in South America. Chia was a staple food for the Aztecs as it’s easy to grow and is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. This means that chia seeds are a really useful ingredient for plant-based diets. 

Chia seeds are really versatile and you can use them for vegan bakes as they replicate the behaviour of eggs. You can also put them in smoothies or even make a chia seed pudding with them which looks a little like semolina.

If you grew up in the 70s you might have already heard of chia seeds as they were part of a popular toy, ‘chia pets’ (similar to ‘cress heads’).

You can usually find them in supermarkets around the world, with dried nuts and seeds or on a baking aisle. If you don’t live near a large supermarket, you can also buy them online from Amazon, Whole Foods or in health food stores.

Do I need to crush my chia seeds?

No, you don’t need to crush your chia seeds. Chia seeds are highly absorbent and can hold as much as 20 times their size in liquid. Because of this they have a thin shell that begins absorbing liquid quite quickly anyway.

Some people do crush their chia seeds as they want a smoother mixture, but as this is a Christmas pudding you won’t notice their texture among all the goodies in your pudding mix. 

Where can I buy a pudding basin like the one used in the images? 

To make this pudding you’ll need a 1 pint pudding basin. It’s important to get a 1 pint basin as the recipe amounts are based on using one. However, if you can only find a 2 pint basin you can always use the helpful quantity conversion tool in the recipe card below.

I’ve used a plastic, heatproof pudding basin. Amazon has similar types available but you should be able to find one in a homeware or department store during the festive period. 

How can I tell if dried mixed fruit has gone off?

Dried fruit has it’s moisture removed, which helps to intensify the flavour, give it a firmer texture and let it last much longer than fresh fruit. When stored correctly and unopened, dried fruit can last for over a year.

However, if your dried fruit is very hard, a much darker colour than usual or very chewy, it’s probably out of date or not suitable for use. 

Always check the packet for the sell-by or use by date. And remember that these dates are only accurate if you have stored your ingredient as the packet tells you to. So if your dried fruit is in date but you’ve left it open in a cupboard for months, it may have absorbed moisture from the air and spoiled.

Because dried fruit has minimal water content it means it’s unlikely to grow mould or rot, but it is still possible! So of course, if your dried fruit has a strange smell or a fuzzy outer layer, steer well clear!

Is vegan Christmas pudding suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this is a vegan recipe, so it has no animal-derived ingredients.

Vegetarians can still eat dairy, so if you decide to serve it with a cream or custard make sure to check that you’re using vegetarian products.

As always, when cooking for someone with dietary requirements you should double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are suitable for vegetarians. 

Is vegan Christmas pudding suitable for vegans?

Yes, this vegan Christmas pudding uses vegan suet and chia seeds instead of suet and eggs, so it is completely vegan and completely delicious!

If you’re using unfamiliar brands or ingredients remember to double-check all of your labels to make sure that they are suitable for vegans. 

If you want to serve this vegan Christmas pudding with any sauces or custard then remember to buy a vegan alternative and check the labels of anything extra you intend to serve the pudding with.

Is vegan Christmas pudding gluten-free?

This vegan pudding uses wheat flour and breadcrumbs, so it isn’t suitable for people on a gluten-free diet. 

You could try and substitute the breadcrumbs with a gluten-free version and the wheat flour with gluten-free flour. As this is a steamed pudding, it will probably lend itself well to a gluten-free recipe as it doesn’t need to rise or have a cake-like texture. 

Buckwheat flour could give your gluten-free version an extra nuttiness. Or you could use a prepared gluten-free baking flour which is made of a combination of non-wheat flours like rice, coconut, cornflour or potato starch.

If you do decide to make a gluten-free version of this vegan Christmas pudding, make sure you check that your vegan suet is also gluten-free. For example, this vegan suet is made with rice flour and oil, so it is suitable for people who don’t eat gluten.

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they’re gluten-free. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

Is vegan Christmas pudding keto-friendly?

This recipe is not suitable for a ketogenic diet as it contains wheat flour, alcohol, sugar and treacle which give it a higher carb content.

While I haven’t tested this recipe with keto-friendly ingredients, feel free to give it a try. You could try to create a keto-friendly version with a keto-friendly sweetener and keto flour replacement (almond flour might work well here).

Is vegan Christmas pudding healthy?

While this vegan Christmas pudding is dairy-free and has a lot of fruit and nuts, it also contains sugar and alcohol, so it’s intended as a festive treat. 

It’s perfectly fine to enjoy it as part of a healthy diet, especially during the festive season.

Is vegan Christmas pudding safe to eat while pregnant?

In many countries, it’s advised that drinking alcohol is avoided while pregnant. If you’re unsure, you should consult your local advice. The NHS has some guidelines here.

This recipe contains 90ml of alcohol, so it contains 9 units of alcohol in total and 1.125 units of alcohol per serving.

However, most of the alcoholic content should cook-off during cooking time. In a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture they confirmed that food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 per cent of the alcohol. This pudding is simmered for 3 hours, so most of the alcohol content should burn off.

Many people choose to soak or cover their Christmas pudding in alcohol so they can serve it with a bit of theatre and light it on fire. So if you decide to do this it won’t be suitable for someone who is pregnant.

There are no other ingredients in this recipe that would normally pose a risk to a pregnancy. So if you skip the flaming alcohol, as long as all the ingredients are in good condition, and the pudding is prepared and cooked hygienically, it should be fine. 

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

Is vegan Christmas pudding suitable for babies and toddlers?

While this vegan Christmas pudding will probably be irresistible, it contains a few things which make it unsuitable for little ones. First, this recipe contains alcohol, which of course isn’t suitable for children. 

This recipe also contains almonds, which aren’t recommended for children under 6 months, or for children from a family with a history of nut allergy.

The recipe also includes sugar and treacle, which the NHS advises people to avoid feeding to babies and toddlers. The NHS has a great explainer on common ingredients which aren’t suitable for babies and toddlers here.

A Mummy Too does not give medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a health professional or your local medical authority.

What goes well with vegan Christmas pudding?

A classic Christmas dessert goes with cream, custard, ice cream or any sweet sauce you choose really, and this vegan version is no exception. 

If you’re making this for a loved one or you’re unfamiliar with vegan food you might think that vegan food has a special set of rules, but at the end of the day, it's still food. Ask yourself what you would serve with a Christmas pudding and then look for vegan alternatives.

There are plenty of vegan alternatives for cream, ice cream and custard. In bigger UK supermarkets you can even buy vegan spray cream from the refrigerated aisle. 

Classic custard powder brand Bird’s is vegan and it always has been. Alfred Bird invented Bird’s instant custard powder as an eggless alternative to custard because his wife had an egg allergy.

Remember, if you’re cooking for someone with dietary requirements it’s important to check the packets of any ingredients or extras you serve with your recipe.

Can I make this recipe without alcohol?

Sure. I have a recipe for an alcohol-free Christmas pudding here. So you could replicate this for your vegan Christmas pudding and try using apple and blackcurrant squash (cordial) as an alcohol replacement.

In the last few years, there’s been a rise in ‘alcohol-free spirits’, so if you still want that decadent boozy flavour you could substitute the alcohol with the same amount of alcohol-free spirit.

I haven’t got dried mixed fruit, can I use something else?

You could try it with the same amount of dried tropical fruits for a lighter flavour. However, the texture of this vegan Christmas pudding is dependent on using dried fruit which is usually diced. 

So if you try to add a different quantity of fruit, or fruit in bigger pieces it will impact the texture and the pudding might not come together properly.

You definitely shouldn't try to use fresh fruit instead of dried fruit. This is because fresh fruit has a high water content, so you’ll most likely end up with a sloppy uncooked pudding.

Can I add extra fruit to this recipe?

The ratios in this recipe are balanced to give the pudding a nice soft texture while still holding firm. If you try to add more fruit your pudding won’t hold together and might not cook through properly. 

If you want to make a bigger vegan Christmas pudding you can use the conversion tool in the recipe card to change the ratios. Just find the ‘servings’ section and click on the number, then you can drag the slider up or down to increase or decrease the quantity you make. All of the ingredients will change and the ratios will remain balanced.

Should I ‘feed’ my vegan Christmas pudding?

Some people ‘feed’/ top up their pudding basin with extra alcohol so it remains moist or to help light it on fire. This recipe will give you a lovely moist vegan Christmas pudding so there’s no need to feed it for moisture. 

However, if you do want to maximise the booziness, feel free to feed your pudding with brandy or another dark spirit.

Remember to check the labels of any alcohol you use to feed this vegan Christmas pudding, as it might not be vegan friendly. Also, if you’re making this for someone who is pregnant you shouldn’t feed the pudding.

How should I store vegan Christmas pudding?

You’re probably going to make this Christmas pudding in advance. So you should let your vegan Christmas pudding cool in its basin after cooking and then store it in the fridge until you need to serve it. The basin should have a lid which will work well for storage. 

If you have any leftovers you should put them into a sealed container like a lunch box and refrigerate them. 

How long does vegan Christmas pudding keep?

Christmas puddings which are stored straight after cooking can sometimes be kept for up to two years and safely eaten. This varies depending on how much alcohol and sugar is in the recipe. 

The BBC recommends storing their Christmas pudding for two years in a cool dark place. Nigella advises that her Christmas pudding can be kept for 6 weeks in a cool dark place, or a 1-year freezer. However, that recipe isn’t vegan and contains much more alcohol and sugar than this recipe, which will help preserve it better.

For this vegan Christmas pudding, it will be safest to store it in the fridge for up to 1 week before serving. Then once you have reheated and served it, any leftovers will keep for up to 5 days if they’re stored in a sealed container in the fridge.

Can I leave this vegan Christmas pudding out on the counter?

If you make this vegan Christmas pudding ahead you'll be storing it twice. Once the vegan Christmas pudding has cooled down you should make sure it is sealed, either with the basin lid or with clingfilm, and put it in the fridge to keep it at its freshest. 

Once you’ve reheated it, if you have any leftovers you should keep them in the fridge or freeze it.

Can I make this vegan Christmas pudding ahead?

Yes, most people make their Christmas puddings ahead of time to save kitchen space on the day, and to help the flavours in the pudding develop. This pudding will last for 1 week in the fridge after cooking, so it’s fine to make it up to 1 week ahead. 

Can I keep this vegan Christmas pudding in the refrigerator?

Yes, the best way to keep this pudding is in the fridge. You can keep it for a week before serving, or 5 days for any leftovers.

Can I freeze vegan Christmas pudding?

I haven’t tried freezing this pudding, but Christmas puddings usually freeze and defrost well. It should last up to 6 weeks in the freezer. So you could be extra organised and make it weeks ahead.

If you do freeze it, remember to wrap it tightly and try to keep it in a container that it snugly fits into. This will help reduce the chance of freezer burn (the frosty layer that appears on frozen food).

What is the best way to defrost this recipe?

The best way to defrost this vegan Christmas pudding is to take it out of the freezer and put it into the fridge the day before you want to serve it. It’s best to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, rather than the counter, so it evenly defrosts. If you defrost it on the counter the outer layer might thaw too quickly.

What is the best way to reheat vegan Christmas pudding?

The best way to reheat this Christmas pudding is to cook it just as you did before. If you’ve removed it from the pudding basin, return it to the basin and seal the lid. 

Then place the basin into a saucepan and add enough boiling water so that the bottom third of the pudding basin is submerged. Simmer for 1 hour and then serve.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in a different size or quantity?

Yes, if you want to make a bigger or smaller vegan Christmas pudding then go right ahead. I have a helpful feature in the recipe card that can help you change the amount of ingredients and servings easily.

If you go to the recipe card below you'll see the ‘servings’ near the top. To change this to the number you want to make just click on it and a little slider will pop up. You can move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make.

All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the right ratios.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in individual portions?

Yes! This sounds like a great idea, especially if you’re making this for a loved one who might be the only vegan in the family. 

You can usually find individual or mini sized Christmas pudding basins in most kitchenware stores in the run up to Christmas. Or Amazon has several varieties of mini pudding basins, often in multipacks.

This recipe makes 8 servings, so you could portion the mixture into 8 mini pudding basins, or just make 1 vegan Christmas pudding. 

If you only want to make one individual pudding, the recipe card has a tool to help you work out the amount of ingredients you’d need for an individual portion. 

At the ‘servings’ section near the top there’s a number of serving sizes. To change this to the number you want to make just hover over the portion size on it and a little slider will pop up. Then you just need to move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in the oven?

In theory yes, though I haven’t tried it. Many people steam their Christmas puddings in the oven using the following method, so feel free to try it. However for the most reliable result it’s probably best to follow the recipe as oven steaming this recipe hasn’t been tested.

If you do try to steam your vegan Christmas pudding you’ll need to make sure you aren’t using a plastic pudding basin, as it won’t be able to go in the oven. You can safely use ceramic or aluminium versions in the oven.

To steam your pudding, place the pudding basin in a deep roasting tray with water deep enough to submerge half of the pan. Then tightly cover the tray with a layer of foil like a tent and cook it for 3 hours (the same length of time as pan steaming) at 160C /320F in a fan oven 140C / 140F in a gas oven. If you make mini vegan Christmas puddings they will probably take around 90 minutes. 

Again, this is a cooking method for other Christmas pudding recipes, so it hasn’t been tested and you may want to do your own research.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

This recipe doesn’t require you to do any heavy whisking or creaming of the ingredients, so it’s not really necessary to use a stand mixer. 

However, if you have a weakened grip or find mixing difficult then feel free to use a mixer. Just remember not to overmix your pudding as you might break the ingredients down too much and change the texture, or overmix the flour which can also affect the texture of your pudding.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding with a food processor?

A food processor wouldn’t be suitable for mixing the ingredients as the blades would break down the fruit, almonds and chia seeds and change the texture of the pudding.

It’s best to gently mix the ingredients together in a bowl or if you need extra help, on a low setting in your stand mixer.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in the slow cooker?

I haven’t tested this but in theory, it should be fine. A slow cooker does more or less the same job as a pan on the hob, only a lot slower. 

You will probably need to fill your slow cooker with enough water to cover half of your pudding basin and steam your pudding for a little longer than you would if you follow the recipe method. 

Feel free to give it a try, but for the most reliable results, it’s best to follow the recipe as it’s been tested for this cooking method.

Can I make vegan Christmas pudding in the instant pot?

An instant pot or pressure cooker uses heat and pressure to reproduce the results of a stewed or braised dish in a shorter amount of time. 

I haven’t tested this method of cooking this vegan Christmas pudding but there are recipes out there for Christmas puddings cooked in a pressure cooker. The BBC has a method here with a comparable recipe. Feel free to give it a try but again, this hasn’t been tested. 

(I’ve never used a pressure cooker so I redirected the reader to the BBC rather than write instructions as I don’t have the knowledge)

How can I make sure my vegan Christmas pudding is perfectly cooked?

Even if you’ve never made vegan food before, this recipe is easy and should cook perfectly if you follow the steps. The pictures with the recipe should give you an idea of the way the pudding will look when it’s cooked.

There are a couple of steps to focus on to make sure you get a perfect pudding. This recipe doesn’t require any advanced technical skills, just good timing. So make sure that once you’ve put your pudding mixture into the basin you give it at least an hour in the fridge to rest before steaming it. This will help the mixture hold together and firm up. 

Chia seeds keep absorbing liquid for hours so you might prefer to let it rest overnight in the fridge to be sure it sets really well.

Steaming your pudding is a low maintenance cooking method, but you should keep checking that there is enough water in the saucepan so that the bottom doesn’t burn.

You'll know your pudding is done when it’s risen and starts to come away from the sides of the bowl slightly.

Why did my vegan Christmas pudding turn out wet or mushy?

If your vegan Christmas pudding turned out wet or mushy it might be undercooked. You could try steaming it for longer and see if it sets a little more. 

It may also be because the pudding didn't have enough time to rest in the fridge before steaming. This stage is crucial as it helps the binding ingredients do their magic and give it it’s firmness.

If you didn’t have any dried fruit and used fresh fruit instead then that will most likely be the culprit. Fresh fruit has a much higher water content so your vegan Christmas pudding mix will be much looser and wetter and struggle to cook through properly. 

Why did my vegan Christmas pudding turn out dry, hard or fall apart?

If your vegan Christmas pudding has turned out hard or dry then it probably means it was cooked for too long, or all of the water evaporated from the pan before the cooking time. It’s important to make sure that the saucepan is covered so the water doesn’t evaporate. So make sure to keep checking on your pan and topping up the water if you think the water level is lower.

Why didn’t vegan Christmas pudding rise?

If your vegan Christmas pudding didn’t rise then it could be because you forgot to add the baking powder, or if you did you might not have added enough or your rising agent might be old and has lost its potency.

 If you followed the recipe exactly, check the date on your baking powder. As rising agents get older they lose their potency and stability so they can have inconsistent results, so before you start baking always make sure your ingredients are in date and have been stored correctly. 

How can I add/change the flavours in this vegan Christmas pudding?

If you want to experiment with flavour but still get the same delicious and soft Christmas pudding, you can make a few changes. You could try swapping the dried fruit in this recipe for dried tropical fruit of a similar size for a lighter flavour. Or you could substitute half of the dried mixed fruit for dried cherries and cranberries for a more festive flavour.

Feel free to experiment with the spices in the mixture. If you did go for a more tropical route you could try adding ginger and allspice (different from mixed spice) and using rum instead of brandy which will give it a Caribbean flavour. 

Allspice is a common flavour in the Caribbean and South American cooking. It has a similar flavour to nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves and gives jerk seasoning that distinctive rich and cinnamon flavour, so it lends itself well to Christmas. It’s also a key ingredient in fried chicken seasoning. It’s a spice superhero! 

What is the origin of Christmas pudding?

Christmas pudding was originally invented in medieval Britain. It’s used to be known as ‘plum pudding’ and is still often called that in the US. However, Christmas pudding contains no plums. It was called plum pudding because for some reason this is what raisins used to be called (yes, confusing). 

Christmas pudding has so many variations because for generations families have passed down their own versions of the pudding. It usually contains dried fruits, nuts, flour, suet, spices and some form of alcohol.

Though there are various methods of combining these ingredients. For example, some people soak the fruit in alcohol for months to get a depth of flavour. Some recipes even use dark beers like porter or stout which can add a rich chocolatey flavour.

What are the traditions around Christmas pudding?

As Christmas pudding is such an old dish there are many variations and myths around it’s origins and traditions. Some people have said that the dish was traditionally made with 13 ingredients to represent Jesus and his disciples, but this has been refuted.

Before the Victorian era, Christmas pudding was wrapped in a piece of muslin or cotton and steamed, which gave it a more rounded shape. It then became popular to hang the pudding for days or weeks in a pantry to encourage the flavours to deepen. 

Whatever the cooking method, it’s traditional to pour warm brandy over the Christmas pudding and set it alight before serving. Then top with a sprig of holly - though if you do decide to use some holly from your garden take care not to eat any as it can be toxic.

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