Ben Dearnley
If you’re a holiday traditionalist, you’re already thinking about a Christmas pudding recipe to complete your festive feast. An irresistible dessert of brandy-lashed batter and glacé fruits, Christmas pudding can be made up to six weeks before the event itself — so it’s also the perfect way to lighten your load in the kitchen on Christmas Day. With sugar and spice (and all things nice…), Christmas pudding is classic closer for any holiday meal — whether it begins with a Christmas ham, seafood platter, or festive roast shared with your loved ones.
If you’re looking to try something new, consider one of our Australian summer-friendly frozen Christmas pudding recipes. From the traditional boiled pudding to plum pudding, and even Christmas pudding ice cream, browse our collection of Christmas pudding recipes to complete your Yuletide feast.
Our best Christmas pudding recipes
Traditional Christmas pudding with Pedro Ximénez and brown sugar and fig ice-cream
Easy boiled Christmas pudding
Rodney Dunn’s Christmas pudding
Ronda’s Christmas pudding by Jeremy Strode
Rich Christmas pudding with muscat custard
Sticky fig pudding with tahini butterscotch and fig leaf ice-cream
Classic boiled Christmas pudding
Double plum pudding with brown sugar hard sauce
Raspberry and peach butterscotch pudding
Frozen Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding semifreddo
Christmas pudding FAQs
A traditional Christmas Pudding is made from 13 ingredients: flour, eggs, suet, brown sugar, bread crumbs, raisins, currants, citron, lemon peel, orange peel, mixed spices, milk, and brandy. These 13 ingredients symbolise Jesus and the 12 apostles. In another Biblical reference, brandy is poured over the top of the boiled pudding and set alight to represent the passion of Christ.
The ideal time to make a Christmas pudding is approximately 5-6 weeks before Christmas Day. However, at a pinch you can make a pudding a day in advance, as most recipes take around six hours to prepare. The further in advance you make your pudding, the more your flavours will fortify and become richer. In his Christmas Pudding recipe, Rodney Dunn says people used to make their puddings up to a year in advance! Come Christmas Day, reheat your pudding by boiling in cloth (50 minutes to an hour) or microwaving (5-10 minutes on medium). Serve with custard or ice cream and enjoy!
