Monday 19 December 2011

Chocolate Ice-Cream Christmas Pudding


To be totally honest I've never really liked Xmas pudding, which is the main reason that I've never even bothered to try and make it vegan. In Australia Xmas is so damn hot (although probably not this year, damn climate change) that boiled fruit cake is really not the most appropriate of desserts - the solution is Chocolate Ice-Cream Christmas Pudding! Not only is it much tastier but it is also a LOT quicker and easier to make. So think outside the box this year and surprise your family with this rich and chocolatey Xmas treat. 

Initially my plan was to do the whole thing and make the ice-cream myself but then I thought 'hey! Xmas is stressful enough so nobody wants to be making freaking ice cream, right?' - so this is the quickie version with store bought ice cream, but I promise that soon I will post an ice cream pudding recipe with home made ice cream (I'm thinking Passion fruit, Mango and Vanilla Bean Ice-cream Pudding - what do you think?). But back to the point in hand:

Ingredients
300g mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas, mixed peel, cherries)
100g glacé cherries (I used red but go red and green if you want to be festive)
2 tbsp brandy
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg 
1.5L vegan chocolate ice cream
100g dark vegan chocolate
3 tbsp soy milk
2 tsp maple syrup
Slivered almonds, to garnish

To Make:
1. Chop the mixed fruit up into smaller pieces and place in a bowl. Add the brandy, glacé cherries, orange zest and spices and leave to soak for at least an hour (you can leave it over night if you like).
2. Line a small-medium pudding bowl with plastic cling wrap (my pudding bowl was abut 21cm diameter and 11cm tall - only makes a smallish pudding but you won't need more because it is very rich).
3. Take the ice cream out of the fridge and leave for about 5 minutes to soften a bit (but not too melty).
4. Mix the chocolate ice cream into the fruit mix, mixing very thoroughly.
5. Pour into the plastic lined pudding bowl and put in the freezer to set overnight. You can also make this several days in advance (saves you doing all your cooking on Xmas eve!). 
6. When ready to serve, heat the soy milk in a small saucepan until hot but not simmering or boiling. Remove from heat and add the broken up dark chocolate and the maple syrup. Stir continuously as the chocolate melts and you should end up with a lovely glossy ganache (the ganache topping is optional but it does make the final product look more impressive).
7. Just before serving remove the pudding from the freezer and turn out onto a flat serving plate (the plastic wrap should make this nice and easy). 
8. Drizzle the ganache down the sides and sprinkle with slivered almonds. Serve immediately!


Should serve about 13-15 people.


More great Xmas ideas?
Try our Edible Christmas Gifts Specials:
Spiced Christmas Shortbread

Or try our Mulled Spiced Cider - because Christmas is a time for spices!

This post is part of the Festive Favourites Sweet Adventures Blog Hop hosted by 84th & 3rd.





11 comments:

  1. Yum!!! Chocolate ice cream pudding sounds like my kind of Christmas dessert!!! It looks fabulous and I love the chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. Perfect for the hot Australian Christmas.

    Thanks for joining us in the blog hop and Merry Christmas :D

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  2. Another one who doesn't like Christmas pudding. Interesting. Me neither, so this dessert sound delicious and looks festive!

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  3. Yeah, I find that I like the taste of the Xmas pudding mix but I think cooking it just ruins it :) When I was a kid (well, teenager to be honest), my mum used to put aside a bit of the uncooked Xmas pudding mix in a little ramekin for me to have on Xmas day while everyone else ate the boiled-for-six-hours pudding.

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  4. This is brilliant! We usually have ice-cream for Christmas dessert too, though Mum stil likes to pull out the pudding and custard as well. I vote mango ice-cream for your next one; love mangos at this time of year.

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  5. What a clever idea! I love mixing ice cream with different toppings. This chocolate pudding would go down so well on a hot Aussie Christmas Day.

    So glad that you joined the blog hop!

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  6. I've read so many blog posts this December saying they don't like Christmas pudding...and I agree! This looks like the perfect alternative and absolutely delicious. Anything with ice cream gets my vote :-)

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  7. This looks decadent, but with the vegan plus! Thanks for sharing! Now, I can indulge and not feel too guilty.

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  8. Fantastic! I'll have to send the link to my vegan work colleague. He'd enjoy that for sure :)

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  9. Thanks Monica, all the recipes on this blog are vegan so your work colleague might like to peruse the other recipes as well

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  10. What a delicious vegan treat! I love it :D thanks so much for joining the hop!

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