Mini Christmas Pudding

“These cute and tasty puds make the perfect Christmas canapé. The recipe is quick and easy to make unlike a traditional Christmas pudding.”

Prep time - 30 minutes

Soak time - 60 minutes

Difficulty - Medium

Serves / makes - 10 puds

70g chopped dates (these can be bought pre-chopped)

70g dried cranberries (try to find the cranberries that are not covered in sugar)

70g raisins

70g sultanas

Zest of 1 lemon

Zest of 1 orange

1/2t ground cinnamon

A good grating of fresh nutmeg

60g toasted and chopped hazelnuts (you can buy these pre-toasted and chopped from Sainsburys)

60g pecans

140g ground almond

50g cacao butter

3T dairy and sugar free yoghurt

2T rice syrup or other syrup

1/2t vanilla essence

A few fresh thyme leaves, use the very top of the stalk

2 bowls

Chopper attachment of hand blander or food processor

Pan with boiling water

Put all of the dried fruit in a bowl, add hot water to cover the fruit by a couple of centimetres. Allow the fruit to soak for around one hour, drain and rinse well.
Put the hazelnuts and pecans in the chopper attachment of a hand blender or in a food processor. Grind until they are like breadcrumbs. Add the zest, spices and dried fruit. Blend again, pour into a bowl, add the ground almond and stir until it is all combined. Mould into balls using either your hands or a mould. Chill in fridge whilst you are making the custard.
Melt the cacao butter in a bowl in a pan of boiling water. Once it is melted remove the bowl protecting your hand as it will be hot. Add the yoghurt, syrup and vanilla essence. Mix well and chill in the fridge, it will thicken but will not set hard.
Once the puds have firmed up put them onto a serving plate pressing down slightly so they won’t roll around. Add a dollop of custard to each, you should have a decent amount of custard left. Using a cocktail stick or skewer poke a hole in the top of each pud, then carefully place the thyme into that hole. Serve with the extra custard on the side.

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