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Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding coated in brandy sauce and a holly decoration on top
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5 from 23 votes

Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding

Jump into the festive season with our Easy Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding Recipe. Whether you're a newbie in the kitchen or a seasoned pro, this recipe is a piece of cake...or should we say pudding?
Our twist on the classic Figgy Pudding is chock-full of dried fruit, with an adjustable amount of brandy. If you love a little crunch, go ahead and toss in some nuts too.
If brandy isn't your thing? Feel free to swap it out with whiskey or rum. For those who prefer an alcohol-free Christmas Pudding! You can easily substitute the brandy with extra orange juice.
This recipe will whip up enough pudding to fill:
3 x small 650ml (1.1 imperial pint) pudding basins
2 x medium-sized 900ml (1.6 imperial pint) pudding basins
1 x large 1750ml (3 imperial pint) pudding basin
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time9 hours
Total Time9 hours 10 minutes
Course: Christmas, Dessert, Sweet
Cuisine: British, European, UK
Keyword: british christmas pudding in slow cooker, can you cook xmas pudding in slow cooker, Christmas Pudding in the Slow Cooker, christmas pudding recipe for slow cooker, classic christmas pudding cooked in slow cooker, crockpot christmas pudding, slow cooker christmas pud, slow cooker dessert christmas, slow cooker figgy pudding, slow cooker plum pudding, slow cooker steamed christmas pudding, Slow Cooker Xmas Pud, Suet Christmas Pudding in Slow Cooker, UK Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding, Vegetable Suet Christmas Pudding, Vegetarian Christmas Pudding, Xmas Pudding in the slow cooker
Yield: 16 Servings
Calories: 251kcal
Author: Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 115 g Bread
  • 110 g Vegetable Suet
  • 225 g Soft Dark Brown Sugar
  • 50 g Self Raising Flour sifted
  • 2 teaspoon Mixed Spice
  • 500 g Dried Mixed Fruit
  • 1 Cooking Apple peeled and grated
  • 1 Large Orange zest and juice
  • 50 ml Brandy can use other spirits
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Butter to grease basin

To Serve your choice of the below

  • Brandy Sauce
  • Brandy Butter
  • Cream
  • Custard
  • Icecream

Instructions

Christmas Pudding Mixture

  • This recipe will make enough scrumptious pudding to fill:
    3 x small 650ml (1.1 imperial pint) pudding basins
    or
    2 x medium-sized 900ml (1.6 imperial pint) pudding basins
    or
    1 x large 1750ml (3 imperial pint) pudding basin
    A steamed Christmas pudding and a slow cooker Christmas pudding in there pudding basins on a wooden board
  • Tear up 115 g Bread into smaller pieces and into the blender, pulse until fine breadcrumbs
    Slow cooker christmas pudding served on a red plate with a holy reef on top
  • Add breadcrumbs with all the following ingredients into a mixing bowl. 110 g Vegetable Suet, 225 g Soft Dark Brown Sugar sift the 50 g Self Raising Flour, 500 g Dried Mixed Fruit and 2 teaspoon Mixed Spice.
    Stirring together the Christmas pudding dry ingredients in a large bowl
  • Give all the ingredients a good stir so evenly combined.
    Christmas pudding dry ingredients and mixed fruit in a large bowl being picked up with a spoon
  • Peel and grate the apple.
    Grate the outer peel of 1 Large Orange only the orange part avoid the white.
    Add both to the bowl.
    Pouring grated apple and orange zest to the Christmas pudding dry ingredients in a large bowl
  • In a small bowl, whisk the 2 Large Eggs and add to the mix.
    Pouring whisked eggs into the slow cooker Christmas pudding ingredients in a large bowl
  • Now chop the orange and squeeze out the juice.
    It should make about 100ml. If making a Alcohol-Free Christmas Pudding version use 150 ml of orange juice.
    Pouring orange juice into the slow cooker Christmas pudding ingredients in a large bowl
  • Next add 50 ml Brandy /Whiskey/Rum to the orange juice until they measure 150ml together.
    You can use less orange juice and more brandy. If you like a strong taste. Remember you can add more after it is cooked too!
    Pouring 50ml of Brandy into the slow cooker Christmas pudding ingredients in a large bowl
  • All that's left to do is stir the Christmas Pudding mixture well.
    Stirring together Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding using a spoon in a large bowl
  • Set the mixture aside as you get the pudding basin ready.
    Optional * Consider letting the mixture soak overnight for a richer flavour.
    Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding mixture in a large bowl being covered with a towel

Pudding Basin Preparation

  • Put the basin upside down onto parchment paper. Draw around the rim of the basin. Cut out to create a circle for the top of the basin. (If you plan to store the pudding, make two.)
    A pudding basin upside down on parchment paper and drawing around the basin using a pen
  • Grease the parchment circle and basin with 1 teaspoon Butter.
    Greasing a pudding basin bowl with butter
  • Spoon the Christmas pudding mix into the basin. Leave about 2 cm of space from the rim.
    Slow cooker Christmas Pudding mixture being spooned in a pudding basin
  • Make sure the top is flat. Add the greased round paper on top.
    A cut out circle of parchment paper greased with butter being placed on top of the christmas pudding in a pudding basin
  • Place a sheet of greaseproof paper on the worktop, with the same size foil on top. Fold the foil and greaseproof paper together in the middle.
    A sheet of parchment paper and a sheet of kitchen foil getting folded in half by hands
  • Fold it back again, leaving a 2½ cm pleat in the middle. (see picture) This pleat allows for a some movement during steaming and prevents the foil from splitting during cooking.
    A sheet of parchment paper and a sheet of kitchen foil getting folded in half in the middle of both sheets by hands
  • Place the pleated foil and paper over the centre of the basin, and keep the pleat flat whilst you wrap the remaining foil over the sides of the basin.
    Placing a sheet of parchment paper and a sheet of kitchen foil being placed on top and around the Christmas Pudding basin by hands
  • Secure it firmly under the rim with string, leaving plenty of extra length. Repeat the process with another piece of string on the opposite side.
    Tying the foil and parchment paper lid using cooking string around the pudding basin
  • Use the leftover strings to tie a handle above the basin.
    Creating a handle on top of the Christmas pudding basin using cooking twine
  • Cut away excess foil and parchment.
    Cutting away excess foil and parchment paper away from the pudding basin lid using scissors

Slow Cooker Cooking Method

  • Place a small plate or saucer on the base of the slow cooker for the basin to sit on, to avoid the direct heat of the base.
    A small dish at the bottom of a slow cooker pot
  • Place the Christmas pudding basin/s into the slow cooker. If there is enough room, you can cook more than one at a time, with no change in time.
    It is important not to get water into the mixture. So, only fill with boiling water from the kettle halfway up the basin.
    Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding in a slow cooker pot with boiling water being poured into the pot by a kettle
  • Add the slow cooker lid.
    Placing the lid on top of a slow cooker pot with a Christmas pudding inside

Slow Cooker Cooking Time for Christmas Pudding

  • Cook on Low for:
    650ml (1.1 imperial pint) - 8 hours
    900ml (1.6 imperial pint) - 9 hours
    1.75l (3 imperial pint) - 10 hours
    Halfway through, check the water level and top it up with boiling water if it evaporates.
    Lifting the slow cooker lid and pouring boiling water into the pot from a kettle
  • When the pudding has cooked, remove it by the handle from the slow cooker.
    Lifting the slow cooker Christmas pudding out of the slow cooker using a the handle made by string
  • Remove the foil and parchment.
    Removing the parchment paper and foil lid away from the pudding basin by hand
  • Place a rimmed plate over the basin, tip it upside down and now lift the pudding basin away. Use oven gloves!
    Christmas Pudding can be slow-cooked and eaten straight away or cooked ahead and kept for 6 weeks prior to the big day.
    Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding basin lid upside down being held by hands with orange oven gloves on

Storage if Made Ahead.

  • If making ahead, wrap the cooled Christmas pudding with cling film.
    Clean the basin. Pop the basin back over the top of the cooled pudding.
    900ml Pudding Basin with a Christmas Pudding cooked in the slow cooker. With Christmas foliage next to it.
  • Place the spare parchment you cut earlier on top and seal the whole basin well with cling film and foil. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 weeks. Follow reheat advice when ready to serve.
    Wrapping a Christmas pudding in its basin with kitchen foil

How to Light Christmas Pudding (Optional)

  • Heat another 50 ml Brandy in a pan. Carefully pour over the Christmas Pudding
    Pouring warm brandy over the top of a slow cooker Christmas pudding and holding a lighter next the pudding
  • Immediately, use a long-handled lighter or match to light the alcohol. Be careful!
    Slow cooker Christmas Pudding with burning flames of brandy on top of the pudding

Brandy Sauce Topping (Optional)

  • We use our brandy sauce recipe to pour over the Christmas pudding.
    Pouring brandy sauce over our slow cooker Christmas pudding
  • Add some holly leaves for decoration. (We used artificial leaves, if using real holly make sure no one eats the holly as it is poisonous!)
    Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding coated in brandy sauce and a holly decoration on top
  • Cut the pudding into thin slices to serve. Serve with more
    A piece of Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding on a spoon with brandy sauce on top

Other Serving Suggestions

  • Instead of Brandy Sauce you could add a sprinkle of icing sugar on top.
    Serve with Cream Icecream, Brandy Butter or Custard.
    Slow cooker christmas pudding served on a red plate with a holy reef on top

Reheat

  • Microwave:
    The easiest method to reheat Christmas Pudding is to remove the foil and cling film, place a plate on top and microwave for 5 minutes
    Re-steam
    Unwrap and prepare the pleated foil and parchment as before. Then steam for 1 ½ hours.
    Individual Slices
    You can reheat slices individually in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated. (time will vary depending on serving size)
    A slice of Christmas pudding with brandy butter on the side

Video

Notes

Optional Extras

Feel free to put your own spin on this classic Christmas pudding with some additional ingredients.

Nuts

Many people love adding nuts to their Christmas pudding for some extra crunch. You can choose to include them finely chopped or in larger chunks. Ground almonds, are my favourite choice.

Other Spirits

While Brandy is traditionally used in Christmas pudding, you're not limited to it. Feel free to experiment with other spirits like whiskey or rum.
Try spiced rum - Captain Morgan's is a good one we often enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg