Christmas pudding has been an inseparable and almost rightful part of the whole Christmas celebrations for centuries, even before 1800 in the Victorian era! The exotic recipe and luscious taste of Christmas pudding take us way back to those historic days.
Not with the origin itself and the classic recipe, unique picks of ingredients and flavours often make us speculate and question its way of cooking, serving, and so on.
In this list, we jotted down 7 most commonly asked Christmas pudding-related questions many people from different cultures and ethnicities wondered.
This has always been one of the most asked questions and heated debates every year when it comes to Christmas pudding. Keeping the traditions aside, brandy or rum sauce with warm mince spices, brandy butter or custard sauce has also been a common preference to many.
And the good news is, all of these sauces are very easy to make. For example, brandy sauce is a white sauce with a splash of brandy or rum. Brandy butter is brandy whipped with butter to add extra richness to the dessert. Custard sauce is another popular choice to serve with Christmas pudding. Because of the density of the pudding itself, vanilla custard sauce is used because of its light, smooth and creamy flavour. For children, scoops of ice cream on top of Christmas pudding is a nontraditional yet popular choice.
Christmas pudding is most often prepared, typically four weeks before Christmas approaches and served as long as it's not devoured. Christmas pudding, unlike any other Christmas dessert, has a unique and traditional recipe. The longer Christmas pudding is stored- the better it tastes because the alcohol absorbs the moisture of the fresh fruits and soaks the whole pudding.
Since traditional Christmas pudding is made with a variety of dried fruits and nuts along with eggs and suet (animal fat)- the high content of the liquor helps it taste better and better over time, with no risk of spoiling even two years after they are made! Unfortunately, if you want to serve the pudding after storing it for a long time, you have to remove the foil and reheat the pudding by steaming or microwaving it all the way through.
As Christmas pudding is traditionally prepared and eaten in the cold European winter rather than hot and humid Australian summer, you need to be extra cautious with storing Christmas pudding. Warm environments or steamy kitchens risk the possibility of deterioration or mould growth on the pudding because of the temperature fluctuation. Therefore, after preparing Christmas pudding, it's better to be stored or refrigerated in a cool, dark place after the pudding is cooled down.
If you can't manage to store the pudding in a dark place, make sure it's well-wrapped with double-layered foil papers and clingfilms or (plastic wraps). If wrapped properly, you can refrigerate the pudding for up to a year or more!
If you want to give the pudding the second streaming, defrost the pudding at room temperature (20˚C) for 24 hours beforehand. While unrefrigerated, however, we would not suggest keeping the pudding out for more than 3 hours.
The short answer is absolutely!
Christmas pudding is rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, iron, potassium and high antioxidant components as the recipe includes vegan ingredients like currents, nuts, sultanas, pears and apricots. Mixed spices like ginger, cinnamon, or cloves are also excellent aromatic antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Even though the classic steamed Christmas pudding contains shredded suet and animal fat, you always have the choice to add vegan-friendly alternatives without compromising the taste. For example, you can replace suet with grated fruits or vegetable pieces.
Just by replacing or omitting eggs and animal fat from your Christmas pudding recipe, you can easily turn your gluten-free pudding into a moist, fruity and boozy vegan Christmas pudding without it being overly heavy or dense!
For a safer bet, you can order gluten-free Christmas pudding from gourmet plum pudding places online.
Christmas pudding is traditionally soaked with alcohol, preferably brandy, for flavour maturation. However, many people prefer rum and whisky spirit with high alcohol content.
Although alcohol is the key ingredient in traditional recipes, you can always make alcohol-free Christmas pudding using the finest fruit pulps or juice instead of apple juice, grape, cherry or peach juice.
You can also use Darjeeling tea to give your pud a sweet-subtle aroma with refreshing floral notes. You can store your non-alcoholic pudding in the fridge for up to 5 days ahead and serve after steaming in an aluminium steamer.
The traditional Christmas pudding recipe does contain a good share of gluten in the forms of breadcrumbs and flour- the two main ingredients. But that doesn't mean you cannot plunge into delicious, gluten-free Christmas pudding. There are many gluten-free grain alternatives like almond meal flour, buckwheat, corn flour etc., to keep your gluten-free dietary requirement in check. You can also purchase gluten-free gourmet Christmas pudding online.
If you're lactose intolerant, here is some good news for you. Even though the classic Christmas pudding recipe contains milk, it is easy to replace dairy or milk-based ingredients with non-dairy almond milk or oat milk without making any other changes in the recipe. In addition, modern Christmas pudding now has gluten-free, non-dairy, vegan recipes widely popular for festive seasons to keep health in check.
Interestingly, there are many traditions, rituals and superstitions surrounding Christmas puddings. For many years, the traditional Christmas pudding was made with 13 ingredients very consciously, representing Jesus and his disciples. The pudding recipe includes 13 elements – representing Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples. The ingredients are flour, mixed spices, animal suet, milk, eggs, brown sugar, bread crowns, raisins, currants, orange peel, lemon peel, and brandy. Brandy is traditionally poured all over the budding and set alight, which symbolises Jesus's passion.
Female members of the family used to gather around and take their turns to shirr the mixture of the Christmas pudding from east to west in honour of Jesus, precisely on Sunday, for weeks before Christmas. This tradition is known as "Stir Up Sunday".
Traditionally, Christmas pudding often hides a silver coin, usually a sixpence, as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. This tradition is believed to bring fortune to the person who discovers the coin in their serving.
In addition to coins, some families include charms with unique meanings—such as a ring for impending marriage, a thimble for thriftiness, or a wishbone to signify future good luck. These additions make the pudding a fun and meaningful part of the Christmas celebration, especially for children eagerly searching for the hidden treasures.
Making the perfect Christmas pudding is an art that begins with selecting the finest ingredients. Start by soaking a mix of dried fruits like raisins, sultanas, and currants in alcohol, such as brandy or rum, overnight to allow the flavours to blend beautifully.
When mixing the batter, ensure it's dense but moist, incorporating nuts, spices, and zesty peels for depth. Steam the pudding slowly over several hours, as this ensures it remains soft and rich. Many people prepare their pudding weeks or even months in advance, as aging the pudding enhances its flavour. Remember to let everyone in the household stir the mixture—it’s a fun tradition throught to bring good luck!
Australia boasts an impressive selection of Christmas puddings, but "PUD For All Seasons" is often considered one of the best. Our puddings are celebrated for special gourmet quality, combining traditional recipes with modern flavours like chocolate orange or brandy and fig.
Other notable brands include Coles Finest and Maggie Beer, each offering delicious variations of the classic dessert. For those who prefer homemade options, many local markets across Australia sell freshly crafted puddings made with love and care by small-batch artisans.
The tradition of hiding objects inside a Christmas pudding has roots in British history. Small silver charms, such as coins or trinkets, were added to the batter to bring luck, wealth, or good fortune to the person who found them. These charms weren’t just fun but also symbolic.
For example, a ring signify romance or marriage, while a boot or anchor might symbolize travel or safety. While this practice is less common today, it still adds a layer of joy and excitement to serving the pudding, especially for families with children.
Lighting a Christmas pudding is an iconic moment during festive meals, adding a dramatic flair to your dinner table. To do this, warm a few tablespoons of brandy or another spirit with high alcohol content in a small saucepan or microwave.
Carefully pour the warmed alcohol over the pudding, ensuring it is evenly covered. Dim the lights, then ignite the alcohol using a long match or lighter. The pudding will produce beautiful blue flames that last for about 30 seconds to a minute. Always exercise caution during this process, keeping children and flammable items at a safe distance.
Christmas puddings are famous for their long shelf life. With their alcohol content and dense ingredients, they can last for over a year if stored properly. Some believe the flavours actually improve with time as the alcohol infuses the dried fruits and spices further.
To store, wrap the pudding tightly in foil and clingfilm, and place it in a cool, dark location, such as a pantry or refrigerator. If you freeze it, allow 24 hours for thawing before reheating. Properly stored puddings can even remain safe to eat for two years or more!
Reheating Christmas pudding is simple and can be done in multiple ways. Steaming is the traditional and best method, ensuring the pudding stays moist and evenly heated. Place it in a steamer or a heatproof bowl over simmering water for 1–2 hours.
Alternatively, you can microwave individual portions by slicing the pudding and covering it with clingfilm. Heat in 30-second intervals until it is thoroughly warmed. Another method is oven heating—wrap the pudding in foil and warm it in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for 30 minutes. Always check that the pudding is hot in the centre before serving.
Serving Christmas pudding at the dinner table brings the fullness of joy and celebration. Nevertheless, to bring more versatility to the plate, try Melbourne based PUD For All Season's traditional and contemporary gourmet pudding with exquisite flavours of Christmas for all occasions, all seasons!
