Originally posted on my Aiken Anecdotes blog, I wanted to share my paleo Christmas Pudding here on Northwest Cavegirls too.
Please read all the way to the bottom of the page for the outcome… Thank you!
On my endeavor to create a paleo Christmas dinner this year, I had to, of course, master a paleo Christmas Pudding. I was unable to find a true paleo Christmas pudding but I did come across these two gluten free ones which I used as my starting point. Gluten Free Christmas Pudding by Cookinlovebird found on JamieOliver.com and the other from the BBC Food website. I opted to base my Paleo Christmas Pud on Jamie’s guest recipe… Thanks for the inspiration Cookinlovebird!
Here it is…
Ingredients:
- 1000grams of mixed dried fruit
-Trader Joe’s Bing Cherries
-Trader Joe’s Jumbo Raisin Medley (whole 454g bag)
-Trader Joe’s Organic Thompson Seedless Raisins
-Trader Joe’s Dried Cranberries Fortified with Cranberry Seed Oil (whole 227g bag
- 2 apples peeled and chopped small
- 1 orange zest and juice
- 150ml brandy (optional but highly recommended
- 6 free range organic eggs
- 250g palm shortening frozen before grating
- 350g pure maple syrup
- 175g almond flour/meal
- 1 tbs. coconut flour (new addition, see outcome below)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. allspice
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- Handful of chopped prunes
Directions:
You need 2 x 2lb pudding case or 4 x 1lb ones, greaseproof paper, a big saucepan, coconut oil and a pastry brush.
- Mix together apples,orange juice and zest, grated palm shortening ( I began hand grating and then decided to shred it in my food processor), beaten eggs, maple syrup in a large bowl.
- Add the flour, baking soda, dried fruit and spices
- Stir all together adding a the brandy at this point if required!!
- Divide into the pudding bowls leaving about an inch from the top in the 1lbs and about 2 inches in the 2lbs, just so they can rise a bit.
- Place on the top of the mixture an oiled piece of grease proof, make it bigger than the top, then place the lid on top and seal down.
- Place puddings into a pan, add the water so its an inch from the top of the pudding, bring to the boil and simmer for 6hrs, adding more hot water every 20mins or so, you must keep your eye on it
. 
- Put your kitchen back together again!
- When cooked leave to cool, wipe off any excess fat from the case,it does happen sometimes, re-wrap with greaseproof paper and foil, make a little hand grip with the foil, because you need to simmer it again on the day its to be eaten for about 30mins to serve hot.
Please be careful at all times with the removal of the pudding from the hot water.
Outcome:
This is interesting! The Christmas pudding looks like a Christmas pudding and tastes EXACTLY like a Christmas pudding but the consistency is different. It was ve
ry juicy, a lot of liquid ran out of it when I tipped it onto the plate. I wonder if it could have done with being cooked longer. I still have one more on the stove as I type and I plan to leave it cooking for another hour or so. I found that the bottom of the pud was cooked better than the top, which makes me think that with the simmering and evaporating water that the top of the pud was not getting direct heat all the time. Hmmmm?! It is going to be interesting to see.
Anyhow… the pud, as is, is super yummy and if that is what we have for Christmas Day then I am very happy! I am super pleased that it tastes just as it should and the consistency is nice and yummy, just different.
From Aiken Anecdotes I received a number of comments with great suggestions to reduce the liquidy issue, one of which was from our Angie, who suggested adding a tablespoon of coconut flour to the recipe as this is a great soaker-upper! Next time I make these I will definitely add this to my recipe!!
Also steam the puds in 2 inches of water rather than up to an inch from the top of the pud basin as to not risk seepage into the top of the basin. The puds in theory steam from the steam in the pan not from the water so this is a great point to which I will take use next year.
Also, these DO need to cook for ages. Your recipe looks yummy, but I think I will be going for the slightly-more-user-friendly Christmas Cake instead. Not sure if I can handle watching a pudding boil for 8 hours… Thanks for the recipe thought ! Consider yourself bookmarked
Cheers !
Molly
I was considering making a Christmas cake. I love fruit cakes. Thank you Molly for your comment
Am looking forward to trying these. We had the family “What would you like to see appear on the table this Christmas season” talk this evening… way too many sugary things came up from my non-Paleo crowd. BUT… figgy pudding came up again and I’m gonna try yours with figs, Kate, my friend!
Ooooh, how long did these keep, Kate?
Hmmm mine only lasted for 3 weeks as we ate them. In theory, they should last months wrapped in a cool place. I doubt they would ever last that long in any household, FAR TOO YUMMY
I think they mature with age too. I know regular Christmas Puds and fruit cakes do. Add more alcohol that would do it! Ha-ha
Ok Kate (or Kates Paleo friends) What can I use instead of Palm shortening . Because It’s not available in the UK.
From what I can gather you could use Flora White (A blend of sunflower oil and vegetable oils) if you can find it in your supermarket. The more I read about Flora White, I think it’s been discontinued – sorry! Good Lard might work too OR real butter. I know it’s not paleo but it is primal and it’s Christmas
When looking at substitutes here in the US the sub is butter. In the UK, Flora White or butter. Good luck!!
Pingback: Paleo Christmas Puddings Revisited | Northwest Cavegirls
Sue, I often just use coconut oil as a subsstitute for palm shortening. I think the taste is a little different when I do that, but it seems to turn out fine. Otherwise, I’d use raw butter if you can find it.
Thank’s Angie and Kate . I will stick to coconut oil, or maybe I will just have one of my fruit muffins and coconut icecream. That would certainly be easier.. I will see how I feel.
Hi, Could I use Almond butter or cashew butter. Both readily available at stores and are paleo.
I don’t think they would work Mam. I think giving coconut oil a go would be your easiest option. If you are making Christmas puds then make less mixture as the mixture in the recipe makes 3 puds and if they are not to your liking then big waste and expense. Good luck!