Dive into the holiday cheer with our festive 4-Ingredient Christmas Pudding. With just 4 ingredients, this easy-to-make classic exudes all the festive flavors without the fuss, proving that sometimes, less truly is more when it comes to creating memorable holiday desserts.
Enjoy in the spirit of the holidays with a delightfully simple yet splendid dessert that brings joy to your festive table without any fuss. This festive 4-Ingredient Christmas pudding is a recipe that’s as easy to make as it is delightful to savor.
With no need for a lengthy ingredient list or an extensive step-by-step process, this traditional treat is perfect for the season of merry-making where time is as precious as the moments you share with your loved ones.
Each ingredient is carefully chosen to ensure the classic, dense texture brimming with luscious dried fruits that this dessert is famed for. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner looking to impress, this recipe guarantees an effortlessly elegant and deeply satisfying conclusion to your Christmas feast.
Let’s dive in!
🥰 Why You Will Love This Recipe?
- It’s straightforward and stress-free, promising impressive results without the hassle, also, because it is so simple, it reduces the chance of mistakes.
- This quick-mix recipe saves time, allowing you to enjoy the holiday cheer without slaving over the stove.
- With dulce de leche and mixed dried fruits, this pudding offers a luxuriously rich taste that belies its simple preparation.
- Feel free to add nuts or spices to this versatile recipe, tailoring it to your taste.
🥘 Ingredients and Substitutes
- Mixed Dried Fruits: These are the jeweled crown of the pudding, bringing in a merry mix of sweet and tart chewiness. If your stash of mixed dried fruits has gone on holiday, reach for some chopped dates or raisins that you might have lounging in your cupboard. They’ll plump up nicely and give you that festive texture and concentrated fruitiness we’re after.
- Dulce de Leche: Oh, this one lends a creamy, caramelized sweetness that makes the pudding irresistible. If you’re fresh out, grab a can of sweetened condensed milk and give it a little cook until it’s reached a golden-brown nirvana.
- Eggs will help to “glue” all the ingredients together. Without them, we’d have a crumbly mess on our festive tablecloths. If eggs are playing hard to get, a couple of tablespoons of unsweetened applesauce per egg can step up as the binding agent. Plus, you’ll add a hint of fruity moisture to the mix.
- Breadcrumbs: These guys are the unsung heroes, absorbing all the goodness and giving the pudding its satisfyingly dense texture. If your bread bin is empty, crumble up some plain cake donuts or even some crushed-up crackers. They’ll soak up the dulce de leche and egg like they were born for the role.
🍴 Tools Needed:
- Pot
- Mixing Bowl
- Bowl
👩🍳 Step-by-step Directions
Start by grabbing a mixing bowl and combining the dulce de leche with one egg. Stir them together until they’re well mixed. Then, add the second egg, continuing this process until all four eggs are smoothly incorporated.
This step-by-step method helps blend the eggs into the thick dulce de leche more effectively.
Once all the eggs are in, fold in the finely chopped dried fruits until everything’s evenly mixed.
Next, stir in the breadcrumbs. The mixture might seem quite runny at first, but give it about 5 minutes to rest so the breadcrumbs can soak up the moisture.
In the meantime, prepare your heat-proof pudding bowl by greasing it thoroughly with butter or oil to ensure the pudding doesn’t stick when cooking.
After prepping the bowl, transfer the entire mixture into it. Cover the bowl with parchment paper, securing it firmly, then encase it in aluminum foil. These precautions are vital since we’ll be cooking the pudding in a water bath and we want to keep the water out.
Ready your pot by placing a small towel at the bottom—this will cushion the pudding bowl during boiling. Set the securely wrapped bowl on top of the towel, then pour in enough water to come halfway up the sides of the bowl.
Bring the water to a low simmer, and once it’s simmering, allow the pudding to cook for 60 minutes on the lowest heat with the lid on.
When the time’s up, carefully lift the bowl from the pot and remove the coverings, making sure no water drips in.
To serve, flip the pudding out onto a plate. It will present beautifully with a rich golden hue, dotted generously with fruits, and taste absolutely divine.
On the inside, it will be full of fruits and absolutely delicious.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Plop a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to a warm slice of your pudding. As it melts, it’ll create these delightful little rivers of cream that turn each bite into a yuletide dream. The contrast of hot and cold is a classic for a reason—it’s like winter meeting summer, and they get along famously.
- If you’ve got some extra dulce de leche, warm it up and drizzle it right over the top. It’s like your pudding is getting its own Christmas decoration. This ups the indulgence factor and ensures every forkful is moist and merry.
- A dollop of whipped cream on top can never go wrong. It’s like a fluffy snowcap that melts in your mouth with the spiced, fruity flavors of the pudding. And hey, if you’re feeling extra festive, a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on the cream can make it all the more merry.
- Scatter a handful of fresh berries—think raspberries or holly-berry-red strawberries—around your pudding for a pop of color. They’re not just there to look pretty; their fresh, tart zing will cut through the sweetness and make your taste buds dance.
- For a zesty kick, grate some orange or lemon zest over the top before serving. This adds a fragrant, citrusy note that brightens up the rich flavors and brings a bit of sunshine to a wintery dessert.
😻 Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- Easy 4 Ingredient Christmas Jam
- 4-Ingredient Cranberry And Brie Bites
- Irresistible 4-Ingredient Creamy Artichoke Dip
- 4 Ingredient Spiced Poached Pears
- 4 Ingredient Beetroot And Feta Tartlets
🏆 Expert Tips. What to Pay Attention To?
- When it comes to mixed dried fruits, think about variety and balance. Too many tart fruits can overshadow the sweetness, and too much sweetness can turn cloying. Aim for harmony. If you’re using larger dried fruits, chop them into smaller pieces to ensure even distribution and a perfect fruit-to-bite ratio in every spoonful.
- Dulce de leche is thick and luxurious, but if not handled correctly, it can become a sticky situation. Gently warm it before mixing it in, so it blends smoothly with the eggs and breadcrumbs. This helps avoid lumps and ensures that your pudding has a consistent caramel flavor throughout.
- Your eggs should be at room temperature to mix more effortlessly with the dulce de leche and avoid any sudden temperature changes that could affect the texture of your pudding. Beat them well; we’re not just talking a lazy Sunday whisk – you want to get some air in there to help give the pudding a bit of lift and lightness.
- If you’re using fresh breadcrumbs, ensure they’re fine and not too chunky. You don’t want to feel like you’re biting into a crouton in your pudding. Stale bread actually makes better breadcrumbs for this recipe because they’re drier and absorb more of the dulce de leche goodness without becoming soggy.
- Grease your baking dish well, and I mean, don’t skimp on the butter or non-stick spray. You want your pudding to slide out smoother than Santa down a well-polished chimney. A parchment paper lining can be a lifesaver for easy removal.
- Like a fine wine or a good nap, this pudding benefits from a little rest. Once out of the oven, give it some time to settle. This resting period allows the flavors to marry and intensify, giving you a richer, more cohesive dessert.
🤔 Answering Your Questions:
Can I Use Fresh Fruit Instead of Dried Fruit?
Absolutely! Fresh fruit can bring a different texture and a milder sweetness compared to dried fruits. However, remember that fresh fruits release more moisture when baked, which can alter the consistency of your pudding. If you choose to go fresh, consider fruits like apples or pears, and you might want to reduce the quantity a little to compensate for the extra juiciness.
What’s the Best Way to Store Leftover Christmas Pudding?
Leftover Christmas pudding can be a rare phenomenon, but if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, wrap them well in cling film or foil and store them in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to a week.
Can This Pudding Be Made Ahead of Time?
Certainly! This is a great make-ahead dessert. You can prepare it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. This can actually enhance the flavors as they have more time to meld together.
How Do I Know When the Pudding Is Done?
You’ll know your pudding is ready when the edges are set and have started to pull away from the sides of the pan, but the center still has a bit of a jiggle to it. Stick a toothpick in the middle; if it comes out clean, it’s done. If there’s a bit of batter clinging on, give it a few more minutes in the oven.
How Can I Prevent the Pudding from Sticking to the Pan?
Grease your pan well with butter or a non-stick cooking spray. Lining the bottom with parchment paper is also a fantastic way to ensure your pudding will release easily. When you’re done baking, let the pudding cool for a bit before trying to unmold it. This allows it to set and reduces sticking.
📋 Recipe Card:
Festive 4-Ingredient Christmas Pudding
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried Fruits Mixed
- 2 cups Breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup Dulce de Leche
- 4 Eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the dulce de leche with the eggs until the mixture is smooth.¾ cup Dulce de Leche, 4 Eggs
- Stir in the finely chopped dried fruit into the dulce de leche and egg mixture. Mix well to evenly distribute the fruit throughout.1 cup Dried Fruits
- Fold the breadcrumbs into the pudding mixture, mixing again until everything is well combined.2 cups Breadcrumbs
- Prepare a heatproof bowl lightly greased with butter or oil to prevent sticking. Place a piece of parchment paper inside the bowl, then pour the pudding mixture into the bowl.
- Wrap the bowl with parchment paper, leaving enough edge to cover the top of the pudding. Then cover with aluminum foil to seal.
- Place the bowl in a large saucepan and add hot water to the saucepan until it reaches halfway up the side of the pudding bowl. This will create a bain-marie, a kind of water bath that will help the pudding cook evenly.
- Simmer over low heat for 60 minutes after the water has started to boil. Make sure the water doesn't boil too vigorously to prevent the pudding from being excessively jostled and to keep water from seeping into the pudding.
- After the cooking time has elapsed, use kitchen gloves or a thick towel to carefully remove the bowl from the pot to avoid burns.
- Let the pudding cool slightly, then open the aluminum foil and parchment paper and flip the Christmas pudding onto a plate.
- The Christmas pudding is now ready to be served. You can serve it warm or allow it to cool completely, according to your preference.
Quick Note
I highly recommend reading the entire recipe to find more tips and notes about this recipe. Read Full Recipe ⇑
Notes
- The sweetness of your Christmas pudding can be adjusted based on the type of dried fruits used. If you prefer a less sweet dessert, opt for unsweetened or tart dried fruits, such as cranberries or cherries.
- For a finer texture in the pudding, consider giving your dried fruits a quick blitz in the food processor before adding them to the mix.
- This recipe is flexible regarding the size of the baking dish, but altering it can affect the baking time. A deeper dish will require a longer baking time, while a shallow dish will bake more quickly.
- If serving warm, let the pudding sit for 5-10 minutes after baking. This allows for easier slicing as the pudding sets.
- For an adult twist, you can soak your dried fruits in a bit of brandy or rum overnight before baking. This will give the pudding an extra festive kick!
- While not part of the original 4 ingredients, a pinch of cinnamon or mixed spice can add an extra dimension to your pudding.
- If you’re not bound to the 4-ingredient limit, adding a handful of chopped nuts can provide a delightful crunch.
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