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 | © National Trust Images/William Shaw

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

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).