Vegan Christmas pudding

Delight your festive table with a Vegan Christmas Pudding, a delicious, cruelty-free alternative to the traditional holiday dessert. This rich and moist pudding is packed with dried fruits, spices, and the warmth of brandy, making it a perfect end to your Christmas meal.

Brief Description of the Recipe: Vegan Christmas Pudding is a plant-based version of the classic holiday dessert. It's made without any animal products, relying instead on ingredients like dried fruits, spices, vegetable suet, and a variety of binders such as flour and breadcrumbs to create a dense, flavorful, and moist pudding.

Cultural or Historical Context: Christmas pudding is a British tradition with roots dating back to medieval England. This vegan version adapts the classic recipe for those following a plant-based diet, ensuring everyone can enjoy a piece of history during the festive season.

Ingredients for the Vegan Christmas Pudding:

• Mixed dried fruits (such as currants, raisins, sultanas, cherries, and cranberries) - 260g
• Dates (dried) - 10 pieces
• Apricots (dried, optional) - 10 pieces
• Brandy, port, or dark rum - 80ml (for an alcohol-free option, see recipe notes)
• Plain flour - 50g
• Breadcrumbs - 65g
• Baking powder - 2 teaspoons
• Allspice - 1 teaspoon
• Coconut sugar or other dark brown sugar - 80g
• Medium apple, grated or pureed - 1
• Orange zest from one large orange
• Aquafaba (chickpea brine) - 3 tablespoons
• Blackstrap molasses - 2 tablespoons
• Coconut oil, melted - 75g

Preparation Instructions:

1. Soak the chopped dates, apricots, and dried fruits in brandy or your choice of liquid until the fruit absorbs the liquid.
2. Prepare a pudding basin by greasing it and placing a circle of parchment paper at the bottom.
3. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, breadcrumbs, baking powder, allspice, and sugar) into the soaked fruit.
4. Add the wet ingredients (orange zest, apple, aquafaba, molasses, and coconut oil) and mix until well combined.
5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared basin, cover with parchment paper and foil, and steam in an Instant Pot, steamer, or saucepan as directed.

Storage and Reheating: The pudding can be served immediately or cooled and stored. For storage, wrap it in fresh parchment and foil and keep in a cool, dark place. To reheat, steam again or microwave until warm.

Nutritional Information: A serving of Vegan Christmas Pudding is rich in carbs from the dried fruits and provides a good amount of dietary fiber. It's also a source of vitamins and minerals from the fruits and spices used.

FAQ about the Vegan Christmas Pudding:

• Can I make this pudding alcohol-free? Yes, there are alternatives like dark stout or juice options provided in the recipe notes.
• How long can I store the Vegan Christmas Pudding? When stored properly, the pudding can be kept for up to 6 months.
• Is it necessary to use a pudding basin for this recipe? Yes, a 0.9 to 1-litre pudding basin is recommended for the best results.

This delightful Vegan Christmas Pudding recipe, originally shared by A Virtual Vegan, is a testament to the versatility of vegan cooking and the joy of inclusive holiday traditions​​​​​​.