Complete Christmas pudding balls – they didn’t last long on the plate in our house!
I came across a recipe for dough balls which looked yummy and adjusted it for taste and to make it more Christmassy.
It is easy to make, doesn’t need to be cooked, and could be a nice snack to leave out for Santa, or on a plate to take to a function. I’m finding these quite handy to send along to the kids’ Christmas parties at school and scouts because they are quick and easy and kids love them!
I don’t think they quite fit the nice gift category but that could just be me 🙂 Try the recipe and let me know if you’d give them as a gift…
Christmas pudding balls
100g unsalted butter (room temperature or almost melt it in the microwave to make it really soft if kids are helping you cook!)
3/4 cup raw sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 teaspoons red food colouring
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup fruit mince (or dried mixed fruit plus 1-2 tablespoon of liquid*)
1 cup plain flour
125g white chocolate
1/2 teaspoon green food colouring
An easy recipe for little people to help with – although you may get a bit of flour splatter around the kitchen!
How to make Christmas pudding balls
Cream the butter and sugar.
Mix in the essence, red food colouring, cinnamon and flour.
Stir in choc chips and fruit mince.
Form balls of dough. I found it needed some moisture to really hold together and be able to roll it – dry fruit alone will be fairly crumbly and impossible to roll (forming shapes is ok) thus fruit mince or some liquid is required.
Put them in the fridge to harden – I left them for a few hours but half an hour or so is probably enough. Note they taste much better at this stage now when just mixed 🙂
Melt the while chocolate until liquid. Then add green food colour.
It’s not easy to make neat balls with this mix, so be comfortable with a rustic effect!
Dip each ball into the green chocolate and place on a tray.
Put back in the fridge for the chocolate to set, and for storage. Enjoy!
* You could use a liqueur or some orange or cranberry juice
I like the sound of Christmas pudding balls! Kids could have a whole lot of fun making these too.
I haven’t even started thinking about my Christmas baking yet, although I do like to be organized and start researching recipes by this time every year. I think I’ll definitely be putting this on on my list 🙂
You do sound organised to be researching this early, iloveshristmas – but imagine what beautiful treats you will end up cooking – yummo!
Wonderfull recipe. I Will have to try this when christmas is coming (which is soon). Look forward to it!
I love this recipe and I am sure it will go down really well with children and adults alike. Even Santa will love it!
I can tell you that my family all loved them (they didn’t last long, that’s for sure!) and I can tell you that Santa ate all the ones left out for him so I take it that you’re right about that, Oraclemay 🙂
Hmm…I’d give them as a gift by wrapping them up in a nice semi-transparent looking red plastic bag and then wrapping a green bow around the top. I would also do vice-versa with the color scheme. On the matter of the food itself, I’d probably make it without the fruit parts. I don’t know why but I like to take the fruit out of Christmas pudding when it’s chunky.
That sounds like a nice presentation, sorrowscal 🙂
I wonder how these will go without the fruit – I think they add a nice moisture – let us know how they turn out.
I’m going on holiday to visit family for Thanksgiving, but I’ll be making these as quick holiday treats for friends when I get back, so I’ll be able to tell you then. Oh! I’m also good at perling so there might be a beaded Santa hat attached to the ribbon as well when I make it for that extra effect.
A bearded Santa looks good with just about anything 🙂
These look great! I love how you decorated them with the green icing. I think that I might let my little ones put some Christmas colored candy sprinkles on top of them too.
Hey Ally 🙂 Adding some sprinkles will also add to the appeal for young children (and many adults!)
This looks interresting, and very Christmas-y. A must try for sure. And there is this one thing on which I absolutely agree: the cinnamon. Cinnamon is the perfect christmas spice, and it’s unbeatable. And frankly, I just adore cinnamon so much that I always end up putting it everywhere.
Cinnamon is one of my favourites, too, Florence, and not just at Christmas! I often have it with fruit and yoghurt for breakfast. It is apparently good for your metabolism, too.
This looks yummy and fun for the kids. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow and I was looking for a treat. This may be just the right one. I think anything with cinnamon is perfect for Christmas time, it is just such a warm and aromatic spice.
I like cinnamon, too, Juno, and it does seem to match Christmas beautifully. Did you make some Christmas pudding balls, and maybe leave some out for Santa?