My family has many Christmas traditions, one of my favorite of which is this Christmas cranberry pudding. My grandma makes this dessert every year on Christmas Day. As a child, I was wary of it (a dessert without chocolate?!). But when I finally reached the age to be adventurous enough to try it, I realized what all the adults had been talking about. This stuff was amazing! It’s the style of Christmas pudding referenced in those old carols and Christmas stories, and a total treat.
How to make Christmas cranberry pudding
This Christmas cranberry pudding is a steamed pudding, like the traditional English puddings. To make it, you’ll need a steamer with 9-inch round pan or large stock pot and 9-inch round cake pan to create your own steamer. The Christmas pudding steams for about 2 ½ hours, so it’s easiest to make the morning or day before eating it. You can steam the pudding and then store it refrigerated until ready to enjoy. Jump to the recipe below to get started making the recipe.
The star: Christmas pudding butter sauce
The secret to this pudding is the magic butter sauce. My entire family goes crazy over it. The interesting thing about this Christmas cranberry pudding is that it contains no sugar, so it tastes pretty unsatisfying on its own. However, add the butter sauce and you have deliciousness incarnate. This Christmas cranberry pudding may be one of our favorite desserts ever – and it’s so rich that we’re happy to enjoy it to the fullest just once a year. (Well, twice this year, since we wanted to share it with you!) The Christmas cranberry pudding does take a bit of time to make, but most of the time is hands-off while you wait for the pudding to steam. And it’s very worth the wait. If you are feeling adventurous, give this recipe a try for a special holiday meal – we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as our family does!
Looking for Christmas desserts?
Aside from this classic Christmas pudding, here are a few of our favorite easy Christmas desserts:
Make Gingerbread Cake or Soft Gingerbread Cookies Try classic Peanut Butter Balls, Ginger Molasses Cookies or Linzer Cookies Opt for Peppermint Meringues or Hot Chocolate Cookies Make homemade Chocolate Bark or Peppermint Ice Cream
This Christmas cranberry pudding recipe is…
Vegetarian. 5 from 5 reviews
12 ounces cranberries 2 2/3 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 pinch salt 1 cup dark molasses 1 cup warm water Special equipment: Steamer with 9-inch round pan OR large stock pot and 9-inch round cake pan
For the butter sauce
½ cup butter ½ cup half and half 1 cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
