Microwave Christmas pudding recipe

Instead of hours of steaming, this amazing microwave Christmas pudding is ready in under 20 minutes - a fitting end to our favourite meal of the year.

Not only that, it's also gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so the whole family and guests with common dietary requirements can enjoy it too. A classic Christmas pudding (opens in new tab) recipe will call for hours of steaming and has to be prepare weeks ahead of the big day. However this one is insanely quick and easy to throw together and pop in the microwave. Be sure to use a microwavable dish, and, of course, skip the addition of the traditional silver coin with this recipe.

Ingredients

• 40g (1½ oz) gluten-free plain flour
• 30g (10z) ground hazelnuts
• 60g (2oz) dark brown sugar
• 20g (¾ oz) egg replacement powder
• ¼ tsp each ground mixed spice and cinnamon
• 40g (1½ oz) dairy-free spread
• 175g (6oz) mixed dried fruit
• 30g (1oz) apple, peeled, cored and chopped, optional
• ½ lemon, finely grated rind and 2tbsp juice
• 1 tsp golden syrup
• 1 tsp gravy browning (suitable for vegans)
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 6 tbsp soya milk
• Icing sugar, for dusting
• ¾ litre (1¼ pint) pudding basin greased and a disc of greaseproof paper placed in the bottom

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together. Spoon into the pudding basin.
2. Cover loosely with a piece of greaseproof paper.
3. Microwave on high (calculated for an 800 watt oven) for 2½ mins and leave to stand for another 2½ mins, then cook for a further 2½ mins.
4. Remove the paper. The pudding won't look fully cooked in the middle, so leave it to stand for 5 mins before turning it out and serving, dusted with icing sugar. Not suitable for freezing.

Top tips for making this microwave Christmas pudding...

Walnuts or almonds will also work well in place of hazelnuts. Serve with Soya Dream, a dairy-free alternative to single cream.

Why can't you put a coin in this Christmas pudding?

You must never put metals inside a microwave. Rather than absorbing the microwaves, metals can reflect them causing sparks and fires that can damage the microwave, so skip the coin in the Christmas pud.

You might also like...

• Figgy pudding (opens in new tab)
• Plum pudding (opens in new tab)
• Vegan Christmas pudding (opens in new tab)